The Cold War 1947-1991

The Cold War (1947-1991)

  • Dominated international relations from the late 1940s to 1991.
  • Intense rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States.
  • Competition through diplomacy, arms race, space race, sports, espionage, and proxy wars.
  • Never involved direct armed conflict but came close to nuclear war.

Roots of the Cold War

  • Casablanca Conference (1943): FDR and Churchill declared unconditional surrender for enemies; Italy invaded first.
  • Tehran Conference (1943):
    • First meeting of the "Big Three" (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin).
    • Stalin committed to war on Japan after Germany's defeat.
    • Stalin wanted control of Eastern Europe and to divide Germany.
  • Yalta Conference (1945):
    • Stalin agreed to enter Pacific War and "Declaration of Liberated Europe."
    • Free elections in Poland and Eastern Europe.
    • Germany divided into occupied zones; USSR kept pre-1939 territories.
  • Potsdam Conference (July 1945):
    • Stalin, Truman, Clement Attlee.
    • Warning to Japan: unconditional surrender or face devastation.
    • Stalin reversed position on Eastern Europe.
    • Approval of war-crimes trials, demilitarization, and de-Nazification of Germany.

Hard Feelings

  • Stalin wanted Allies to open a “second front” by invading France to relieve pressure on the Soviet Union.
  • Invasion was delayed until 1944.
  • Stalin accused Allies of delaying intentionally so Germany could weaken Russia.

Relationship Between the Allies

  • Allies agreed on destroying Hitler and preventing fascism's resurgence but had different approaches.
  • Churchill wanted spheres of influence.
  • The US wanted friendly (democratic and capitalist) governments.
  • Stalin wanted a buffer zone in Eastern Europe.
  • Conflicting views on Germany post-war: Stalin wanted it crippled, while the US and England wanted to protect its economy.

Relationship Between the Allies: Summary

  1. Lack of prior cooperation.
  2. Different visions for the postwar world.
  3. The US misunderstood Stalin and Soviet policy.

Post-War Decisions

  • Yalta and Potsdam Conferences: Germany divided into four occupation zones (US, British, French, Soviet). Berlin also divided.
  • Nazi leaders to be tried at Nuremberg.
  • Formation of the United Nations.

Creation of Soviet “Sphere of Influence”

  • Stalin agreed to allow Eastern European countries to determine their governments, but refused to withdraw the Red Army.
  • Communist regimes established in several countries, known as “Satellite Nations.”

The Iron Curtain

  • Stalin was perceived by the US as seeking world domination.
  • Winston Churchill warned of an “Iron Curtain” dividing Europe into Democratic Western Europe and Communist Eastern Europe.

Truman Doctrine

  • Policy of Containment: Blocking Soviet expansion and preventing the spread of Communism.
  • Truman Doctrine provided $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey.
  • Justification: US would support “free peoples” against subjugation.

The Marshall Plan (1949-51)

  • The US provided aid to European nations to promote recovery and contain communism.
  • Increased American political and economic influence in Western Europe.

Berlin Crisis and the Struggle for Germany (1948-49)

  • Soviets attempted to remove Allies from Berlin by cutting off land access.
  • Provoked a major Cold War test of wills between the US and Soviet Union.

Berlin Airlift (1948)

  • Truman ordered an airlift of supplies to West Berlin.
  • Stalin did not challenge the airlift, and the Soviets lifted the blockade in May 1949.
  • The US, France, and Britain formed West Germany; the Soviets established East Germany.

NATO Alliance

  • The US joined a military defense pact with Western European nations, forming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
  • Aimed to deter Soviet invasion.

Warsaw Pact

  • The Soviet Union responded to NATO by forming the Warsaw Pact with Eastern European countries.

National Security Act

  • The US modernized its military.
  • Created the Department of Defense, National Security Council (NSC), and CIA.
  • Implemented a peacetime military draft.

Arms Race

  • The US and the Soviet Union competed to develop superior weapons systems.
  • 1949: Soviets tested an atomic bomb, ending the US nuclear monopoly.
  • 1952: The US developed the Hydrogen Bomb.

Cold War Heats Up

  • The policy of Containment led the US into wars and efforts to halt Communist expansion.

Cold War in Asia

  • Former Asian colonies resisted US influence. Japan was under US control after WWII.

Fall of China

  • Civil war between Chinese Communists (Mao Zedong) and Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek).
  • The US supported the Nationalists but the Communists won control of mainland China by 1949.

US Policy in China

  • The US refused to recognize Mao’s regime.
  • Stalin and Mao formed a pact in 1950.

Domino Theory

  • The US believed that if one country fell to Communism, others would follow.
  • Influenced US involvement in Korea.

Korean War (1950-1953)

  • Korea was divided along the 38th Parallel after WWII.
  • North Korea (Communist) invaded South Korea in 1950.

Invasion

  • North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950.
  • The UN authorized the use of force to defend South Korea.
  • General Douglas MacArthur led UN forces.

Counterattack

  • MacArthur launched an amphibious assault at Inchon.
  • Chinese forces intervened, pushing UN forces out of North Korea.

Truman vs MacArthur

  • MacArthur wanted to expand the war into China, but Truman dismissed him.
  • The war became a stalemate along the 38th Parallel.

Armistice and Political Consequences

  • In July 1953, an armistice was signed, ending the fighting but not officially ending the Korean War.
  • Truman’s containment policy was considered successful.
  • The war led to an expansion of the US military.
  • Republicans criticized Truman and the Democrats as “soft on Communism.”