Start of the Cold War

Start of the Cold War

• 1.
  The Origins of theCold War
• 3.
  Why did theUSA & the USSR become Cold War enemies? Reasons for the Cold War • Background: Ideological conflict • WWII: An alliance of necessity with continued distrust • Post-WWII: Worsening relations between the USA & the USSR Manifestations of the Cold War • Carving out spheres of influence • Superpower confrontation • Formation of military alliances • Extension & international impact of the Cold War
• 4.
  Background: Ideological conflict WWII: An alliance of necessitywith continued distrust Post-WWII: Worsening relations between the USA & USSR
• 5.
  Background: Ideological conflict
• 6.
  Background: Ideological conflict TheUSA: Democratic & Capitalist • Vision: Protect the individual rights & right to self-determination • Political system: Right to choose ruling party from among two or more • Economic system: Free market economy The USSR: Communist • Vision: Destroy capitalism to create a utopian world where all are equal • Political system: Only 1 party allowed – i.e. the Communist Party • Economic system: Command economy
• 7.
  Background: Ideological conflict • RussianCivil War after the Russian Revolution in 1917 • America sent 5000 troops and other aid to help the ‘Whites’ topple the communist Bolshevik government in Russia • Bolsheviks eventually won, but America’s involvement sowed the seeds of distrust towards the USA
• 8.
  Background: Ideological conflict WWII: An alliance of necessitywith continued distrust Post-WWII: Worsening relations between the USA & USSR
• 9.
  WWII: An alliance ofnecessity with continued distrust Underlying tensions • 1939: Stalin signs the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact  Britain & France began to distrust the Soviet Union • 1941: Hitler betrays Stalin and invades the Soviet Union  The Soviet Union is forced to join the Allies against Germany  ‘Marriage of convenience’ against a common enemy  ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’ (…but for how long?)
• 10.
  WWII: An alliance ofnecessity with continued distrust Perceived delay in opening a second front • Stalin wanted the USA & Britain to open a ‘second front’ in France against Germany (see map on the next slide) • This was only done in June 1944 with the D-Day landings • The Allies waited until they were confident of its success • Stalin suspected that they delayed the attack so that Germany & the USSR could weaken each other first
• 11.
  Second Front
• 12.
  WWII: An alliance ofnecessity with continued distrust Disagreements during negotiations for a post-war settlement Two major meetings between the victorious powers: Yalta (Feb 1945) & Potsdam (July-Aug 1945)
• 13.
  Spot the difference! YaltaPotsdam
• 14.
  WWII: An alliance ofnecessity with continued distrust Yalta • Stalin, Roosevelt & Churchill • The Big Three seemed to agree on a number of points (p.6) • However, some slight differences began to emerge over: • Control of Poland • Germany’s economy • Sphere of influence in Europe Potsdam • Stalin, Truman & Attlee • Truman was less dependent on Stalin and less willing to compromise than Roosevelt (see next factor) • Major disagreements emerged over the USSR’s treatment of Poland, German reparations & the fate of Eastern Europe
• 16.
  WWII: An alliance ofnecessity with continued distrust American nuclear monopoly • America developed the atomic bomb without informing the Soviet Union • Truman wanted to use the atomic bombs so that the Soviet Union wouldn’t be needed to defeat Japan However… • Soviet spies had already informed Stalin before Truman officially told him! • This made the Soviets even more suspicious of the Americans!
• 17.
  And just 4years later…
• 18.
  Background: Ideological conflict WWII: An alliance of necessitywith continued distrust Post-WWII: Worsening relations between the USA & USSR
• 21.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers The Devastation of Europe • WWII left Europe in ruins (p.12) • The governments in Germany & Italy completely collapsed • Britain & France were severely crippled by the war • This created a power vacuum in Europe • The USA and the USSR emerged as superpowers due to their overwhelming military might at the end of WWII
• 22.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers End of wartime alliance  competition for influence • The destruction of Nazi Germany meant that the USA & the USSR didn’t need to remain as allies • The USA was afraid that the USSR would begin to spread communism across the rest of Europe through revolution • The USSR was afraid that the USA would create a ring of capitalist countries to encircle it [the USSR]
• 23.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers Establishment of Soviet satellite states (1945 onwards) Kennan’s Long Telegram & the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech (Feb & Mar 1946) Truman Doctrine (Mar 1947) The Marshall Plan (Jun 1947) Cominform & Comecon (Sep 1947 & 1949)
• 24.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers Soviet Satellite States • The USSR established communist governments in Eastern Europe using salami tactics (see p.13 margin) • These countries were supposed to be independent, but heavily influenced by the USSR • The USA interpreted this as an aggressive plan to spread communism
• 26.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers The Policy of Containment • Reversed America’s former policy of isolationism • Adopted to prevent the spread of communism • Reduce Soviet influence around the world • Increase American influence around the world
• 27.
  CONTAINMENT Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram’ Marshall Plan Truman Doctrine Iron Curtain
• 28.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram’ • Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram’ shaped American foreign policy towards the USSR • Advised the USA to: • Be wary of Soviet expansionism & aggression • Shift away from the policy of isolationism • Pursue a ‘long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment’ of Soviet expansionism Effect: Established containment as the central focus of America’s foreign policy
• 29.
  March 5, 1946 ‘FromStettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central Europe: Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia. All these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere. And all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence, but to a very high and, in many cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow.’
• 30.
  (swapped)
• 31.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech • Churchill delivered his famous ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in Missouri, America • Created the visual metaphor/motif of Europe divided • Helped to turn American public opinion against the USSR Effect: Increased popular support in the West for containment
• 32.
  I believe itmust be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation (*ahem*COMMUNIST RULE*ahem*) by armed minorities (*ahem*COMMUNIST REBELS*ahem*) or by outside pressures (*ahem*THE USSR*ahem*).
• 33.
  (swapped)
• 34.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers Truman Doctrine • Doctrine: a stated principle that guides government policy • Taken from a speech by Truman • Triggered by rising communist influence in Greece & Turkey • Promised to provide political, military and economic aid for countries trying to stop the spread of communism Effect: Outlined how containment would be carried out
• 35.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers Marshall Plan • Practical implementation of the Truman Doctrine • Free economic aid from America to help European countries rebuild • Offered to all countries – including those under Soviet influence • Reduce the appeal of communism • Establish Europe as America’s main export market
• 38.
  Post-WWII: Worsening relations betweenthe superpowers Marshall Plan • Some Eastern European countries wanted Marshall Aid… BUT • Stalin forbade them from doing so!!! • The USSR offered its own alternatives to these Eastern European countries: Cominform (vs. Truman Doctrine) & COMECON (vs. Marshall Plan) Effect: Divided Europe into two blocs – pro-American & pro-Soviet
• 39.
  CONTAINMENT Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram’ Marshall Plan Truman Doctrine Iron Curtain
• 40.
  Background: Ideological conflict WWII: An alliance of necessitywith continued distrust Post-WWII: Worsening relations between the USA & USSR
• 41.
  Why did theUSA & the USSR become Cold War enemies? Reasons for the Cold War • Background: Ideological conflict • WWII: An alliance of necessity with continued distrust • Post-WWII: Worsening relations between the USA & the USSR Manifestations of the Cold War • Carving out spheres of influence • Superpower confrontation • Formation of military alliances • Extension & international impact of the Cold War
• 42.
  Spheres of influence Berlin Blockade Military Alliances Extension of the Cold War
• 43.
  Manifestations of theCold War Carving out spheres of influence • Europe became divided into two competing blocs • Beginning of bi-polarity • The Cold War came to be seen as a zero-sum game • Every loss for ‘us’ is a win for ‘them’ and vice versa
• 44.
  Spheres of influence Berlin Blockade Military Alliances Extension of the Cold War
• 45.
  Manifestations of theCold War Superpower confrontation: The Berlin Blockade • Germany was divided into four zones after WWII: French, American, British and Soviet • The city of Berlin was also divided into four zones (see map on next slide) • America & Britain wanted to rebuild Germany’s economy • The USSR (and France) wanted to punish Germany with huge reparations • The USSR also wanted to make sure Germany had a communist government
• 46.
  Germany, 1945 Berlin Capital of Germany
• 47.
  Superpower confrontation: TheBerlin Blockade Jan 1947: America & Britain merge their zones into Bizonia Jun 1948: • June 21-22: Bizonia releases a new currency, which causes the old currency to flood into the Soviet zone, which triggers inflation in the Soviet zone (see the table on p. 21) • June 24: In response, Stalin cuts off all land and sea movement into West Berlin. He also cuts off all communication, food supplies and electricity • June 26: Berlin Airlift begins, where America & Britain flew supplies into West Berlin for the next 11 months – at its height, one plane landed in West Berlin every 30 seconds Sep 1949: Stalin officially ends the Berlin Blockade
• 49.
  Manifestations of theCold War Superpower confrontation: The Berlin Blockade Effects: • Humiliated the Soviet Union • Boosted the credibility of the Western powers • Convinced the French to work more closely with the USA & Britain • Germany became formally divided into West Germany & East Germany
• 50.
  Spheres of influence Berlin Blockade Military Alliances Extension of the Cold War
• 52.
  Manifestations of theCold War Formation of military alliances • NATO (1949) – an American-European alliance led by the USA • Allowed US troops to be permanently stationed in Europe • Departure from America’s previous policy of isolationism • The Warsaw Pact (1955) – military alliance led by the USSR • Formal recognition of Soviet military presence in Eastern Europe • Real objective was to defend the Soviet Union from possible invasion Effects: Contributed heavily to bipolarity & hostility between the superpowers Established the USA & USSR as dominant forces in Europe
• 54.
  Spheres of influence Berlin Blockade Military Alliances Extension of the Cold War
• 55.
  Manifestations of theCold War Extension of the Cold War • The Korean War (1950-1953)  first armed conflict since WWII • The Bandung Conference (1955)  an alternative to bipolarity
• 56.
  Manifestations of theCold War Extension of the Cold War beyond Europe • The Berlin Wall (1961)  Physical symbol of Cold War division & the Iron Curtain • Cuban Missile Crisis (1963)  world almost killed itself with BIG NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS 
• 57.
  Spheres of influence Berlin Blockade Military Alliances Extension of the Cold War
• 58.
  Why did theUSA & the USSR become Cold War enemies? Reasons for the Cold War • Background: Ideological conflict • WWII: An alliance of necessity with continued distrust • Post-WWII: Worsening relations between the USA & the USSR Manifestations of the Cold War • Carving out spheres of influence • Superpower confrontation • Formation of military alliances • Extension & international impact of the Cold War