Chapter 18 Section 1
Origins of the Cold
War
Former Allies Crash
• Problems building
between the US and
SU before and during
WWII
Former Allies Crash
• Soviet Communism:
– State controlled all
property
– All economic activity
– Totalitarian
Communist Party
allowed no opposition
party
Former Allies Crash
• The United States:
– Capitalist system
– Private citizens
controlled almost all
property and economic
activity
Former Allies Crash
• US furious at StalinSigned
nonaggression pact
with Hitler in 1939
Truman Becomes President
• Key American figure
in early part of the
Cold War
• Became President
when FDR died
• 82 days as Vice
President-met with
FDR only twice
Truman Becomes President
• FDR left Truman
uninformed on military
matters
Truman Becomes President
•
With the war ending
Truman would have
to
1. Make difficult military
decisions
Potsdam Conference
• Truman’s 1st meeting
with other major world
leaders-Potsdam,
July 1945
Potsdam Conference
• Not only did the
Soviets not allow free
elections in Poland,
but they banned
democratic parties
Potsdam Conference
• Truman pushed for
free elections-Stalin
refused
Tension Mounts
• Refusal to allow free
elections convinced
Truman that
American and Soviet
goals were at odds
Tension Mounts
• Americans and British
opposed Soviet
demands
Tension Mounts
• At odds over Eastern
Europe
• US wanted Eastern
Europe to stay open
to trade
Soviets Tighten Grips on Eastern
Europe
• Soviets felt justified to
stay in Eastern
Europe
Soviets Tighten Grips on Eastern
Europe
• Stalin propped up
communist
governments in
Eastern European
nations
• The Satellite
Nations-
Soviets Tighten Grips on Eastern
Europe
• Stalin seized the
industry of these
nations to rebuild the
Soviet Union
United States Establishes a Policy
of Containment
• US institutes a policy
of Containment
towards the Soviet
Union
United States Establishes a Policy
of Containment
• Containment Policy
worked by:
– Creating alliances
– Supporting weaker
nations
United States Establishes a Policy
of Containment
• March 1946 Churchill
gives his “Iron
Curtain” speech
Cold War in Europe
• Conflicting US and
Soviet aims in
Eastern Europe led to
the Cold War
Cold War in Europe
• During the Cold War,
the US and Soviet
Union tried to spread
their economic and
political influence
wherever they could
– Eventually spread to
Asia, Africa, and Latin
America
The Truman Doctrine
• US 1st tried to contain
communism in
Greece and Turkey
The Truman Doctrine
• US spent $400 million
to help Greece and
Turkey
• Truman Doctrine-
Marshall Plan
• After WWII, Europe
was in economic
chaos
Marshall Plan
• 1946-47-harsh winter
• Food shortages
• Fuel shortages
Marshall Plan
• June 1947 US
Secretary of State
George Marshall
proposed that the US
help
Marshall Plan
• Congress debated
plan for several
months
• Then…
Marshall Plan
• Invasions showed the
need for congress to
move quickly and
help create strong,
stable governments in
Europe
Marshall Plan
• The Plan was a
success
• By 1952 Western
Europe was
flourishing
Superpowers Struggle Over
Germany
• Europe starts to get
back on its feet
• Western allies and
Soviets arguing over
German reunification
Berlin Airlift
• 1948-Western Zones
combine into 1 nation
• Soviets respond by
holding Berlin
Hostage
Berlin Airlift
• Soviets cut off all
access to Berlin
• No supplies could get
in
Berlin Airlift
• Americans and British
started the Berlin
Airlift-fly food and
supplies to West
Berlin
Berlin Airlift
• 277,000 flights made
delivering 2.3 million
tons of supplies
• West Berlin survived
Berlin Airlift
• May 1949 West
Germany becomes
known as the Federal
Republic of Germany
with its capital at
Bonn
• East Germany
becomes German
Democratic Republic
with its capital in East
Berlin
NATO
• Blockade increased
fear of Soviet
aggression
NATO
• NATO-North Atlantic
Treaty Organization
• An attack on one
regarded as an attack
on all