The Cold War PDF

the cold war https://youtu.be/I79TpDe3t2g?si=IJjJvOrnrQ_JaTPY only until ~ 9:50 The Grand Alliance against the the Axis The Grand Alliance: USA, UK, France, Soviet Union Previously, the had a common enemy: the...

the cold war https://youtu.be/I79TpDe3t2g?si=IJjJvOrnrQ_JaTPY only until ~ 9:50 The Grand Alliance against the the Axis The Grand Alliance: USA, UK, France, Soviet Union Previously, the had a common enemy: the Axis allies The Axis allies are Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan With that, they work together USA supplied for the Soviet Union in a system called Lend-Lease which charged them nothing at the time The USA and Soviet Union had different ideology USA was capitalist (voting rights, multi-party elections) USSR was a communist (one-party state) They both had suspicion upon each other that the other is desiring to force their ideology upon other countries. They shared two common objectives, however, that is to limit Germany’s power and to prevent another war. As they work together, they had disagreements Example: (1942) Stalin wanted the USA and Britain to invade western Europe to relieve pressure on the Red Army in the east. It was continuously postponed by Roosevelt. The first conference: Yalta Conference the cold war 1  Stalin wanted more reparations from Germany than was agreed, because of the massive destruction They divide Germany and the capital, Berlin, into four Poland is give to the Soviet, but The West rejected demands to send Germans in Poland back to Germany Stalin agree to join the war against Japan The USSR joined the UN - Security Council member Stalin wanted governments to be friendly to the USSR He wanted Polish to be friendly to Soviet Union so he supported a communist party while the West supported the non-communist He was worried that free elections would make them hostile to the USSR The second conference: Potsdam Conference Soviets were only given limited reparations Disagreed about the de-Nazification which led to each zone implement separately (Soviets worry that the Nazi would return with the Western power) Stalin agreed to let more non-communist party (London Poles) join communist (Lublin Poles) but reject Truman’s request for elections in Poland USA was concern about the Soviet’s control in Eastern Truman attempts to keep the USSR out of the complications with Japan Truman refuse to share atomic secrets with the USSR, with that, Stalin immediately ordered the manufacturing of atomic bombs With the USSR, USA, Britain, France and China being the members of the Security Council, each with a veto, the increasingly used their power of veto to block of delay the UN actions that didn’t suit them Veto: a no vote that blocks a decision. The disagreements the cold war 2  At Yalta, Roosevelt and Churchill had agreed that Soviet will receive back from Poland the land it had seized. However, Stalin broke the promise of free elections and used the Red Army to force his way At Potsdam, Stalin argued he wanted the industrial goods from the West. Eventually, they agreed to send 25% of teh machinery if the USSR send 60% of the value of these industrial goods to the West in the form of raw materials (especially coal) The USSR did not fulfill the promise and stopped the reparation of machinery Soviets were also treating the eastern zone as if it was part of the USSR (he wanted to punish them for taking the USSR’s good) The difficulties in implementing and interpreting the Yalta and Potsdam agreements was a significant cause of the Cold War Changes between February and July 1945 Roosevelt died in April and replaced by Harry S. Truman Truman met with Soviet Foreign Minister, Molotov and lectured him on the importance of sticking to agreements Molotov complained of how rude he was Truman then abruptly ended the Lend-Lease scheme Truman bombed Japan without the Soviet Union Truman hardened the people’s heart against the USSR In the UK, Churchill was replaced by Clement Attlee USA attitude towards peace-making Roosevelt wanted to free nations to independence. He hoped democracy would flourish so people could enjoy free elections and free speech (capitalist's pov) the cold war 3  Truman saw USSR as a threat and did his best to avoid the policy of appeasement that was done to Hitler and took the approach of containment Containment: the action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits. Truman’s thinking was influenced by economic considerations, too. He feared the repeat of Great Depression, and believed free trades is the way to prevent He wanted to use Europe as a market place for their economy boost and so their demand would not drop Both the spread of communism and the closing of markets to free trade had to be oppose The US government failed to understand the Soviet Union’s concern with security, seeing their every act as an act of expansion than of defense Truman and the atomic bomb When the USA bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this threatens the Soviets However, the US Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, argued that the Soviet Union can have partnership in atomic bomb if they were granted something However, Truman and his Secretary of State, James Byrne, saw it as a way of ending the war against Japan without the Soviet’s help and preventing their influence in Asia Soviet Union’s attitude toward peace-making Stalin’s foreign policy was shaped by the severe losses and devastation that the Soviet Union had twice suffered He desire to ensure that the Soviet will not be invaded He wanted to strengthen the Soviet influence the cold war 4  He wanted to use the Eastern Europe as a buffer zone A buffer zone is a neutral zonal area that lies between two or more bodies of land, usually pertaining to countries. Additionally, he was looking for financial assistance to repair the country How did the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe? Basically, they rigged most of the countries elections to side with communism, which eventually lead to the control of the whole Eastern Europe Czechoslovakia Friendly to them because they felt betrayed when Britain and France give in their territory to Hitler In 1948, communists staged a coup with Soviet backing, taking control of the government. The Soviets used economic pressure and threats to force Czechoslovakia to comply with their wishes. Hungary After World War II, the Soviet Red Army occupied Hungary. This meant they had a strong military presence to enforce control. They created a secret police to spy on people and punish those who disagreed with the government. Poland The Red Army occupied Poland after World War II, giving the Soviets direct military control. The Soviets installed a communist government loyal to them. Elections were rigged to ensure communist control. Romania There was a gradual takeover of the police and security services. the cold war 5  A communist government was installed with strong ties to the Soviet Union. In 1946 falsified elections produced an overwhelming victory Bulgaria A communist government was installed with strong ties to the Soviet Union. In 1946 the monarchy was abolished. Yugoslavia Unlike other countries, Yugoslavia didn't become fully controlled by the Soviet Union. It was led by a strong leader named Josip Broz Tito. Tito was a communist, but he didn't want to be told what to do by Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union. Independence: Tito managed to keep Yugoslavia independent from the Soviet Union. This was a big deal because most other countries in Eastern Europe were forced to follow the Soviet's rules. Own Way of Communism: Yugoslavia developed its own kind of communism, which was different from the Soviet model. This meant they had more freedom than other countries. Non-Aligned Movement: Tito helped start a group called the "Non- Aligned Movement." This was a group of countries that didn't want to choose sides between the United States and the Soviet Union Iran During World War II, the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain agreed to divide Iran into zones of occupation. When the war ended, the Soviet Union didn't want to leave. Other countries, like the United States, didn't want the Soviet Union to have so much power in Iran. They put pressure on Stalin, and eventually, the Soviet Union had to leave. Turkey the cold war 6  The Soviets sent ships to the area to increase pressure on the Turkish government. However, USA and British were supporting Turkey. This made Stalin reconsider Imagine Turkey as a big, strong door between Europe and Asia. The Soviet Union, with its ideas of communism, was on one side, and the Western countries, like the United States, were on the other. Turkey was the door that helped keep the two sides apart. This is why Turley played a crucial role during the Cold War. 1945: End of WWII, Yalta & Potsdam Conferences Yalta Conference (Feb 1945) Context: The Allied powers (U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union) met to discuss the post-WWII reorganization of Europe. Key Points: Division of Germany: Germany would be divided into four occupation zones controlled by the U.S., U.K., France, and the Soviet Union. Eastern Europe: Stalin sought control over Eastern Europe for security reasons, and the Allies agreed to allow Soviet influence in the region. Creation of the United Nations (UN): The Allies agreed to form the UN to maintain international peace and security. Significance: This conference deepened tensions as the Western Allies and the Soviets began to disagree over the fate of Eastern Europe. Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945) Context: Held after Germany's defeat, the conference was attended by Truman (U.S.), Churchill (later Attlee, U.K.), and Stalin. Key Points: Truman’s role: President Truman replaced Franklin D. Roosevelt after his death, and his more confrontational stance toward the Soviet Union became clear. the cold war 7  Soviet Influence: Stalin’s control over Eastern Europe was solidified, despite growing concerns from the West about Soviet expansion. Post-War Germany: Discussions continued on how to handle Germany’s reconstruction and the demilitarization of the country. Significance: The Potsdam Conference marked the beginning of deeper ideological divides between the West and the USSR, setting the stage for the Cold War. 1946: Churchill’s "Iron Curtain" Speech Iron Curtain: A term used by Winston Churchill in his speech in Fulton, Missouri, to describe the political and ideological divide between Western Europe (democratic/capitalist) and Eastern Europe (communist). Meaning: Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech described how the Soviet Union had tightly controlled Eastern Europe, blocking Western influence and creating a stark division in Europe. This term highlighted the geopolitical boundaries that would define the Cold War. Impact: It marked the formal recognition of the growing Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe and the beginning of the "containment" strategy by the U.S. to stop the spread of communism. 1947: Truman Doctrine Truman Doctrine: A U.S. policy introduced by President Harry S. Truman to provide military and economic assistance to countries resisting communist insurgencies. Meaning: The Truman Doctrine was the U.S. commitment to support free nations under threat of communist takeover, particularly in Greece and Turkey, both of which were seen as vulnerable to Soviet influence. Significance: The Truman Doctrine marked the beginning of the U.S.'s active involvement in containing communism around the world and set the tone for the Cold War, signaling the U.S.'s strategic commitment to opposing Soviet expansion. the cold war 8  1948: Marshall Plan & Berlin Blockade Marshall Plan (1948): A U.S. initiative to aid the reconstruction of Western Europe by providing economic assistance to prevent the spread of communism. Meaning: Named after U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall, the plan aimed to rebuild the economies of Western Europe after WWII, promote political stability, and create strong economic ties with the U.S. The USSR rejected the plan and prohibited Eastern Bloc countries from participating. Significance: The Marshall Plan helped stabilize Western Europe economically and politically, thereby reducing the likelihood of communist takeovers. Berlin Blockade (1948-1949): A Soviet attempt to cut off access to West Berlin in response to the introduction of a new currency in West Germany. Meaning: In 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded all ground access to West Berlin, which was located deep within the Soviet-controlled sector of Germany. This was an effort to force the Allies out of Berlin. Berlin Airlift: In response, the U.S. and its allies conducted the Berlin Airlift (1948-49), supplying West Berlin via air for almost a year. This successful operation resulted in the Soviet Union lifting the blockade in 1949. Significance: The Berlin Blockade and Airlift were early signs of the Cold War's intensity, demonstrating the lengths both sides were willing to go to assert their influence. 1949: Formation of NATO & USSR’s Nuclear Test NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 1949): A military alliance formed by the U.S., Canada, and several Western European countries to counter Soviet aggression. Meaning: NATO was a collective defense alliance in which an attack on one member would be considered an attack on all, thus providing mutual protection against the Soviet threat. the cold war 9  Significance: NATO symbolized the division of Europe into two opposing blocs: the capitalist West (NATO) and the communist East (Warsaw Pact, which was formed in 1955). USSR’s First Nuclear Test (1949): The Soviet Union successfully detonated its first atomic bomb, ending the U.S.'s monopoly on nuclear weapons. Meaning: This event marked the beginning of the nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, a major factor in Cold War tensions. Significance: The development of nuclear weapons by both superpowers created a sense of mutual deterrence and escalated global fears of a nuclear war. 1953: Stalin’s Death Stalin's Death: Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, died in March 1953. Meaning: Stalin's death marked the end of an era of intense Soviet control and repression. It also led to a shift in Soviet domestic and foreign policy under his successors, such as Nikita Khrushchev. Significance: The death of Stalin contributed to a brief "thaw" in Cold War tensions. The Soviet leadership began to explore a more moderate approach to foreign policy, and Khrushchev later denounced Stalin’s excesses in his "Secret Speech" of 1956. Summary of Key Events and Terms: Cold War: Ideological conflict between the U.S. (capitalism) and the Soviet Union (communism). Containment: U.S. policy to prevent the spread of communism. Iron Curtain: A term used to describe the division between East (communist) and West (democratic) Europe. NATO: Military alliance formed by the U.S. and Western European nations to counter Soviet threats. the cold war 10  Marshall Plan: U.S. economic aid to rebuild Europe and prevent communism. Berlin Blockade & Airlift: Soviet blockade of West Berlin and the Western response to supply it by air. Truman Doctrine: U.S. policy of providing aid to nations resisting communism. Arms Race: Competition between the U.S. and USSR to develop and stockpile nuclear weapons. the cold war 11