MW

The Cold War

The Cold War

  • Was a time of great tensions between the US and the Soviet Union and allies of each

    • political and ideological differences between capitalism and communism

    • prolonged stalemate without a “hot” war between the US and the SU

      • series of proxy wars

      • approximately 1946 - 1991

Before 1946

  • the US, Britain, and the SU were allies in WWII

    • sometime a tense relationship within the big 3

      • Truman replaced FDR in 1945

        • he was responsible for the decision to drop the atomic bombs

          • Stalin was angry because the US had atomic bomb technology but did not share it with the SU nor dropped one on Germany

  • at Yalta and Potsdam, Stalin demanded Eastern European territory

    • made them communist and placed those countries under Soviet control

  • the Soviets lost the most people in WWII

    • wanted Germany to pay and assurances of Soviet safety

1946, Beginning of Cold War

  • Churchill declared “an Iron Curtain had descended across the Continent”

    • separated between Eastern and Western Europe

  • after WWII, (most of) the world was divided between the SU and the US

  • FDR + Churchill had established the Atlantic Charter in 1941

    • anticipated post war peace and economy

      • Stalin rejected most proposals

  • US policy became Containment

The Marshall Plan

  • US econ assistance to Europe after WWII

    • basically, US econ investment to countries who reject communism

      • to rebuild and stabilize trade

      • replaced former Britain and France investment in Europe

    • many countries leaned toward communism after WWII

  • offered to any European country

    • rejected by Stalin and or Eastern Europe

  • Truman Doctrine

    • like the Marshall Plan for Greece and Turkey

Germany after WWII

  • Germany and Britain divide into zones

    • West Germany and Berlin - FRG (Federal Republic of Germany)

      • Britain, France, and the US

    • East Germany + Berlin → DRG (Democratic Republic of Germany)

  • Berlin Airlift - 1948

    • Stalin closed Eastern Germany to Allies

Postwar Defense Organizations

  • NATO

    • Began with northern atlantic countries

  • Warsaw Pact

    • Soviet response in Eastern Europe

  • the US recognized it “lost” Eastern Europe, but sought to keep Western Europe communist-free

    • focused on Asia after China became communist

  • greatly invest in the arms race with the SU

Korean War

  • divided at the 38th parallel

    • North Korea = communist, backed by the SU and China

    • South Korea = “free” and backed by NATO

      • both claimed to support a unified Korea

  • by 1950, NK invaded SK

    • NATO forces under MacArthur fought back

      • MacArthur tried to fight for North Korea, but failed

        • led to his dismissal

      • ceasefire was call and border reset to the 38th parallel

Arms Race

  • each side built nuclear arsenals to deter the other

    • M.A.D

      • SAMs (surface to air missiles), ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles)

  • led to the space race

  • Red Scare

    • McCarthyism

      • HUAC

Decolonization

  • European powers were losing colonies

    • the US became “Watchdog of the World”

      • assumed to create a pax-Americana

  • the Domino Theory in Asia

    • SE Asia would fall like dominos to communism