The Cold War 1945-1989

Part 1: Origins of the Cold War

I. End of WW2

A. Soviet Union occupies central & eastern EuropeB. Germany is divided between Soviets & Allies

1. West Germany democratic government; achieved self-government

2. East Germany dominated by Soviets; did not establish self-government

Improve your knowledge• The Russians took very high casualties to

capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.

C. Japan occupied by US forces 1. Adopted democratic form of

government2. Resumed self-government 3. Became strong US ally

II. United Nations

A. Established at Yalta Conference 1. Stalin want to charge Germany $20 billion2. Stalin would join war against Japan3. Disagreements over Poland 4. Established United Nations

B. Replaced League of NationsC. Goals:

1. Prevent future global wars2. Solve differences peacefully & promote

justice

YALTA (in the USSR)Date: Feb 1945

Present: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin

III. Cold War

A. Lasted from end of WW2 to collapse of Soviet Union (1989)

B. Causes1. Economic & political differences

between U.S. & Soviet Union2. U.S.: democratic government &

capitalist economy3. Soviet Union: totalitarian

government, communist economy, & satellite nations

IV. Cold War policies

A. Potsdam Conference1. Meeting between

Truman, Stalin, & Attlee 2. Stalin insisted on German

war payments3. Truman warned of secret

US weapon

B. Truman Doctrine

1. Focused on containment of communism 2. Resist communist aggression into other

countries 3. Keep Iron Curtain from advancing

Winston Churchill coins the phrase “Iron Curtain”

Domino Theory

Communism spreads like a disease

Part 2: Cold War Heats Up

I. Marshall Plan

A. U.S. did not want same mistakes as WW1

B. George C. Marshall writes plan for European economic recovery1. Leaving Europe on their own may

cause countries to turn communist 2. Building up other countries making

allies & future partners3. European Recovery Plan; over $13

billion in aid to Europe (ERP)

II. Berlin Airlift A. Stalin tries cutting off West Berlin from AlliesB. Truman did not want to lose Berlin or risk war

C. British & US Air Forces deliver supplies to Berlin

1. 13,000 tons of supplies arrived daily 2. Soviets give up Berlin blockade

*1 plane every 3 minutes *227,000 flights

Stalin removes the blockade when he realizes the allies are not going

to give up their sector of Berlin.

Vittles, the boxer dog flew 131 missions with his owner, Lt. Russ Steber, during the Berlin Airlift. Gen. Curtis LeMay

ordered the parachute made for him to ensure his safety. Vittles accumulated around 2,000 flying hours, but never

had to use the parachute

Halverson received the Bundesverdienstorden in 1974 and carried the placard for Germany during the Salt Lake City Olympic opening ceremony in 2002

US Air Force Lieutenant Gail Halverson throws chocolate and chewing gum with mini parachutes he made himself out of his

aircraft in October 1948

III. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A. Alliance between U.S. & western European countries to prevent Soviet invasion of Western Europe

B. Soviets alliance with Eastern Europe forming Warsaw Pact in response

Two sides of Cold War

• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• USA, France, Great Britain, West Germany

• CAPITALISM

• Warsaw Pact – pro Soviet countries – USSR, and all countries controlled by the USSR.

• COMMUNISM

IV. Communist advances A. Soviet atomic threat

1. Evidence of Soviet nuclear explosion2. Race for hydrogen bomb

B. China falls to Communists

1. Mao Zedong establishes People’s Republic of China

2. Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists forced to retreat to Taiwan

V. Cold War at homeA. Red Scare continued

1. World seemed divided between communist & democratic countries

2. Communists develop nuclear weapons 3. Both sides have nuclear buildup threatening

safety of worlda. Schools have bomb drillsb. People build bomb shelters

B. Fearing growth of communism

1. Alger Hiss and Julius & Ethel Rosenberg convicted of spying for Soviet Union

2. Senator Joseph McCarthy recklessly accuses people of being communist a. Accusations based on little or no

evidenceb. McCarthyism: false accusations based

on rumor or guilt by association

C. Cold War & Virginia

1. Heavy military expenditures benefit Virginia a. Hampton Roads; naval & air basesb. Northern Virginia; Pentagon & companies contracting with

government

Part 3: Korean War

I. Growth of Communism

A. Chinese Civil War1. Communist take over

China2. Small democratic section

of China exiled to Taiwan

B. Dividing up Korea 1. Korea divided at 38th

parallel 2. Soviets controlled North

Korea3. U.S. controlled South Korea

US & USSR both remove their military from Korea, USSR supply N. Korea w/ tanks, airplanes & $ to take over S. Korea.

II. War begins (1950)A. North Korea invades

South to unify Korea B. President Truman sees

attack as act of Communist aggression

C. Truman dedicated to containment of communism & attacks North Korea

Truman compares this to when Hitler began to take over Europe and the other countries appeased him, he decides to support S. Korea.

III.Fighting the war

A. Douglas MacArthur leads U.S. forces deep into North Korea

B. China comes to North Korea’s aid

C. U.S. fears U.S.S.R. will get involved & start WW3

MacArthur leads the troops and pinches the N. Koreans at the bottom of the peninsula.

I Surrender!

MacArthur pushes all the way up to the Yalu River!!

Yalu River

This wigs out the Chinese who send in troops to push back the Americans.

The Chinese outnumber the US and UN forces and push back, taking the capital of S. Korea, Seoul

The Shifting Map of Korea[1950-1953]

IV. War ends (1953)A. Both armies fought to

stalemateB. President Eisenhower

negotiates peace with China & North Korea (cease fire)

C. War ends with Korea still divided at 38th parallel

*** Truman desegregated military in 1948; first war fought with an integrated military

The Korean War• In 1953, both sides called for a cease-fire

• The cease-fire is still in place today and is the reason why there are still 2 Koreas

Eisenhower warned the Soviets that the US would follow a plan of MASSIVE

RETALIATION if the US was bombed.

V. U-2 Incident (1960)

A. U.S. had spy plane flying over USSR

B. USSR shoots it down; U.S. denies any of this

C. USSR has body of pilot as evidence; great embarrassment to US

VI. GI Bill (nothing to do with Korean War)

A. During WW2, FDR wanted returning veterans to be given great opportunities; GI Bill passed

B. Gives returning soldiers – payment for college tuition; low-interest home loan; unemployment pay up to six months

VII. Baby boomA. Following WW2, US economy was strong & it was a great

time to start a familyB. 1945-1965 – about 75 million babies born!!!!