The EarlyCold War:1947-1970

The EarlyCold War:1947-1970

Harry S Truman

• Family financial struggle prevented him from going to college

• Worked full time at various jobs

• Army at age 33 during WW I

• Men’s clothing store – bankrupt during depression

• County politics– Corrupt political machine got him elected– He ignored them

Politics

• US Sentate– Saved the gov. billions by investigating

corrupt contracts

• Vice Pres. Candidate in 1944

• 3 months later, FDR dies

• April 12 Truman becomes POTUS

• By August makes decision to drop A bombs bio

Stalin

• Teased as a child because of small pox scars

• Driven to achieve

• Cruel to those that crossed him

• Joined revolutionary movement

Post War

• Never trusted the West

• Established communist regimes in Eastern European nations as buffer

• Marx: Communism must be spread worldwide to achieve utopia

• Clip

Part I:

“Reconstruction &

Confrontation”

Part I:

“Reconstruction &

Confrontation”

The Ideological StruggleThe Ideological StruggleSoviet &

Eastern Bloc Nations[“Iron

Curtain”]

US & the Western

Democracies

GOAL spread world-wide Communism

GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world.[George Kennan]

METHODOLOGIES:

Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]

Arms Race [nuclear escalation]

Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy] “proxy wars”

Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

The “Iron Curtain”The “Iron Curtain”

From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an the Adriatic, an iron curtainiron curtain has descended has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies across the Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe.Europe. -- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946-- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946

Truman Doctrine [1947]Truman Doctrine [1947]

1.1. Civil War in Greece.Civil War in Greece.

2.2. Turkey under pressure from the Turkey under pressure from the USSR for concessions in the USSR for concessions in the Dardanelles.Dardanelles.

3.3. The U. S. should support free The U. S. should support free peoples throughout the world peoples throughout the world who were resisting takeovers by who were resisting takeovers by armed minorities or outside armed minorities or outside pressures…We must assist free pressures…We must assist free peoples to work out their own peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.destinies in their own way.

4.4. The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400 million in aid.$400 million in aid.

Marshall Plan [1948]Marshall Plan [1948]

1.1. ““European Recovery European Recovery Program.”Program.”

2.2. Secretary of State, Secretary of State, George MarshallGeorge Marshall

3.3. The U. S. should provide The U. S. should provide aid to aid to allall European nations European nations that need it. This move that need it. This move is not against any country or is not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.poverty, desperation, and chaos.

4.4. $12.5 billion of US aid to Western $12.5 billion of US aid to Western Europe extended to Eastern Europe Europe extended to Eastern Europe & USSR, [but this was rejected]. clip& USSR, [but this was rejected]. clip

Post-War GermanyPost-War Germany

Berlin Blockade & Airlift Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49)(1948-49)

 the airlift carried over two million tons of supplies in 270,000 flights.Candy bomber

The Arms Race:The Arms Race:A “Missile Gap?”A “Missile Gap?”

} The Soviet The Soviet Union Union exploded its exploded its first A-bomb in first A-bomb in 1949.1949.

} Now there Now there were two were two nuclear nuclear superpowers!superpowers!

NNorth orth AAtlantic tlantic TTreaty reaty OOrganization (1949)rganization (1949)

United StatesUnited States

BelgiumBelgium

BritainBritain

CanadaCanada

DenmarkDenmark

FranceFrance

IcelandIceland

ItalyItaly

LuxemburgLuxemburg

NetherlandsNetherlands

NorwayNorway

PortugalPortugal

1952: Greece & 1952: Greece & Turkey Turkey

1955: West 1955: West GermanyGermany

1983: Spain1983: Spain

Warsaw Pact (1955)Warsaw Pact (1955)

} U. S. S. R.U. S. S. R.

} AlbaniaAlbania

} BulgariaBulgaria

} CzechoslovakCzechoslovakiaia

} East East GermanyGermany

} HungaryHungary

} PolandPoland

} RumaniaRumania

Premier Nikita Premier Nikita KhrushchevKhrushchev

About the capitalist About the capitalist states, it doesn't states, it doesn't depend on you depend on you whether we whether we (Soviet Union) exist.(Soviet Union) exist.If you don't like us, If you don't like us, don't accept our don't accept our invitations, and don'tinvitations, and don'tinvite us to come invite us to come to see you. Whether to see you. Whether you like it our not, history is on you like it our not, history is on our side. our side. We will bury youWe will bury you. -- . -- 19561956

De-Stalinization De-Stalinization ProgramProgram

Mao’s Revolution: 1949Mao’s Revolution: 1949

Who lost China? – A 2Who lost China? – A 2ndnd }} Power!Power!

The Korean War: A The Korean War: A “Police Action” (1950-“Police Action” (1950-

1953)1953)

Syngman RheeSyngman Rhee

Kim Il-SungKim Il-Sung

““Domino Theory”Domino Theory”

Sputnik I (1957)Sputnik I (1957)

The Russians have beaten America The Russians have beaten America in space—they have the in space—they have the

technological edge!technological edge!

Nixon-KhrushchevNixon-Khrushchev“Kitchen Debate”“Kitchen Debate”

(1959)(1959)

Cold War ---> Cold War --->

TensionsTensions

<--- Technology <--- Technology

& Affluence & Affluence