The Origins of the Cold War · 2018. 5. 31. · United States vs. Soviet Union. ... Democracy vs. Dictatorship •Democracy - A form of government in which power is held by people

The Origins of the Cold WarUnited States vs. Soviet Union

What is a ‘Cold War’• A cold war is a state of conflict between nations that does not involve

direct military action but is pursued primarily through economic and political actions, acts of espionage is a state of conflict between nations that does not involve direct military action but is pursued primarily through economic and political actions, acts of espionage or conflict through surrogates. The surrogates are typically states that are "satellites" of the conflicting nations, i.e., nations allied to them or under their political influence. It might also mean giving military aid (such as weapons or economical aid, or perhaps even soldiers) to lesser nations oppressed or in guerilla war with the opposing country of a cold war.

The Cold War• U.S. and Soviet Union had

diff. goals and ideologies (ways of thinking about things), this causes a Cold War

• U.S. is Democratic and Capitalist.

• Soviet Union was a Dictatorship and Communist.

Democracy vs. Dictatorship

• Democracy - A form of government in which power is held by people under a free electoral system.

• Dictatorship - A government controlled by one person or a small group of people.

Capitalism vs. Communism

• Capitalism – Economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and distribution, and characterized by profit, a free market, and open competition.

• Communism – Economic idea that the community as a whole should own all property and run all business and industry

Origins of the Cold War● Former Allies Clash

○ US■ Disliked Stalin had been an ally of Hitler

for a time● Non-aggression Pact● Only joined Allies after Hitler

invaded○ Soviet Union

■ Resented Western delay in attacking German troops

■ Worsened relations after learning of US atomic capability

■ Did not keep Yalta Conference promise to allow free elections & banned democratic parties in Poland

Formation of United Nations● Created with the hope for world peace● Representative of 50 nations● Peacekeeping body

○ Ironically used by US and Soviet Union to compete to try to influence governing philosophies

Tensions Mount● Bargaining at Potsdam

○ Truman desired free elections for nations that had been under Nazi rule■ Goal to create a world order in which all nations had right of self-determination■ US establishes policy of containment

● Preventing extension of communist rule to other countries■ Truman implements Truman Doctrine

○ Soviets wanted reparations from Germany to repay wartime losses■ Felt justified in maintaining claim to Eastern Europe■ Believed region domination would help stop future invasions from the west

● Installed satellite nations with communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland

○ Agreed Soviets, British, Americans and French would take reparations mainly from their own occupation zones

• The Soviets were dominating Eastern Europe with communism, and the U.S. wanted to stop them.

U.S. adopts 2 policies:• 1st - Containment(1947) – stop the

spread of communism, or contain it.

– 2nd - Truman Doctrine(1947) – U.S. would give money to countries to help them fight communism

Marshall Plan

● June 1947, Secretary of State George Marshall proposed that the US provide aid to all European nations that needed it

○ Expanded ideas of Truman Doctrine to be “..not against any nation or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.”

○ Revived European hopes■ 16 countries received some $13 billion in aid

○ By 1952, Western Europe was again flourishing■ Effect led to communist party loss of voter appeal

Let’s Talk Germany… What happened to it after WW2?

East and West Germany• Germany was divided into

4 sectors, and 2 countries.

• Soviet Union controlled East Germany

• The U.S, France, and Great Britain controlled West Germany.– Originally 3 zones

West Germany ● Although the 3 democratic nations intended to unify zones, they had no written agreement with Soviet Union to guarantee free access to Berlin

○ Berlin was Germany’s capital■ Like the country itself, it was divided among

the Allies after the war■ Stalin sought an opportunity to take over all of

Berlin● Berlin located in Soviet controlled area

of Germany● Blocked all highway and rail routes into

West Berlin○ No food or fuel could reach city○ 2.1 million citizens had enough

supplies for approximately 5 weeks

Sectors of Berlin

Berlin Airlift

The Berlin AirliftJune 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949

• The Soviets made no determined effort to disrupt the airlift. There are 2 likely reasons for this.– 1st - The Soviets saw no need to interfere with the

airlift at first, because they believed it would fail.– 2nd - Disruption ran serious risks of triggering a

war.

Berlin Airlift● Led by American and British officials● Flew food and supplies into West Berlin for 327 days● 2.3 million tons of supplies

○ Food, fuel, medicine and even Christmas presents donated by plane’s crews

● Mission aid boosted American prestige around the world● By May 1949, Soviet Union lifted blockade● Increased Western European fea of Soviet aggression

Alliances• North Atlantic Treaty

Organization (NATO) – Military alliance with U.S. and 11 other countries to help defend each other in case of attack.

• Warsaw Pact – Alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations (Stalin controlled)