Cold War: Causes and Characteristics

Part One:ThemesPart One:Themes1. Imperialism 2. Bipolar Super Power World3. Ideologies / Mistrust4. Domino Theory5. Satellite States - Iron Curtain6. Espionage7. Aid / Guns and Butter8. Dollar Imperialism9. Backyards / Containment10.Buffer Zones11.Space Race12.Brinkmanship

1. Imperialism:1. Imperialism:• At the end of WW1 the USA slipped into isolationism

- not so in 1945; as well as economic power, she kept a huge military capability + she had nukes! She wanted a new world order in line with western notions of democracy and free markets.

• The USSR ended the war severely damaged and poor, but with a huge military. Stalin planned to bring his “neighbours” into line and use them to increase his empire.

• Superpower imperialism was new: it is not centred around simply taking resources from colonial territories.

2. Bipolar Super Power World2. Bipolar Super Power World•Competition quickly fractured the Grand Alliance.

•The traditional powers like Britain and France were broke and spent after the war - the USA and USSR emerged alone at the top.

•A by-product of this tension was the nuclear arms race.

The film was a satire, but many people who lived during the Cold War thought that some day “they” would move to DEFCON1 and push The Button.

3. Ideologies3. Ideologies

• Fear and suspicion

• Capitalism vs.. Marx’s world revolution

• The Soviets feared encirclement

4. Domino Theory4. Domino Theory

• The USA feared the European countries would fall in turn to communism - Stalin’s Yalta promise of elections was not realized.

• Later this fear was applied to Asia and the Americas.

5. Satellite States5. Satellite States

Bulgaria, 1945 referendumYugoslavia, (45, kind of)Hungary, Romania, 1947 Poland, 1947Czechoslovakia, 1948Greece, Turkey, Finland ?

Iron Curtain Iron Curtain

45/945/9 4747

4848

4747 4747

45454545

“From Stettin…

to Trieste….an iron curtainiron curtainhas descended across

the continent.

??

??

6. Espionage6. Espionage

• Agents/double-agents• State and military secrets• Scandals• Paranoia

•All of the 007 clichés

7. Aid7. Aid

• Marshall Plan

• Comecon

In other words…In other words…

ORORGUNSGUNS

BUTTERBUTTER

8. Dollar Imperialism8. Dollar Imperialism

• Companies invest in econ. weak countries

If company leaves the local economy is ruined. If companies are backed by their domestic govt, then govt gains influence (think USA + Latin America)

9. Back Yards/Containment9. Back Yards/Containment

• NATO 1949

• Warsaw Pact 1955• Other Alliances/Pacts (see Handbook: page 137)

• Non-interference in opponent’s sphere

10.

10.

11. Space Race11. Space Race• National heroes Astronauts/Cosmonauts

• Military applications (delivery platforms)

• Transferable technologies (R&D)

• National heroes Astronauts/Cosmonauts

• Military applications (delivery platforms)

• Transferable technologies (R&D)

= Prestige= Prestige

SPUTNIK: 1st in space

11 00

12. Brinkmanship(Playing chicken with very high stakes)

12. Brinkmanship(Playing chicken with very high stakes)

• In 1948, during the Berlin Blockade, the USA moved B29s capable of carrying nukes to Britain.

• In the early ’60s, the Soviets put missiles in Cuba while the USA had them in Turkey - neither side wanted to back down.

12. Brinkmanship(Playing chicken with very high stakes)

12. Brinkmanship(Playing chicken with very high stakes)

• In 1948, during the Berlin Blockade, the USA moved B29s capable of carrying nukes to Britain.

• In the early ’60s, the Soviets put missiles in Cuba while the USA had them in Turkey - neither side wanted to back down.

Part One: Recap(How many can you define in the context of the Cold War?)

Part One: Recap(How many can you define in the context of the Cold War?)1. Imperialism 2. Bipolar Super Power World3. Ideologies / Mistrust4. Domino Theory5. Satellite States - Iron Curtain6. Espionage7. Aid / Guns and Butter8. Dollar Imperialism 9. Backyards / Containment10. Buffer Zones11. Space Race12. Brinkmanship

Part Two: Events 1946 - 1954Part Two: Events 1946 - 1954• Truman Doctrine ‘47• Marshall Plan ‘47• Berlin Airlift ‘48• NATO ‘49• Korean War ‘50

1. The Truman Doctrine1. The Truman Doctrine

Greece Turkey????

The Straits

On 12 March, 1947 (speaking to Congress) Truman declared $250 mil to Greece and $150 mil to Turkey “to support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” - Who were the “armed minorities” and what were the “outside pressures”?

TRUMAN’S

LINE IN THE

SAND

Communist vs. Royalist

REFERENCESREFERENCES See “Truman Doctrine” (6 pages) with

highlights and marginal notes: www.johndclare.net/cold_war8_TrumanDoctrine.htm

See “Truman Doctrine” (2 pages) adapted with highlights:

www.fromrevolutiontoreconstruction.com

See “Truman Doctrine” (6 pages) with highlights and marginal notes:

www.johndclare.net/cold_war8_TrumanDoctrine.htm

See “Truman Doctrine” (2 pages) adapted with highlights:

www.fromrevolutiontoreconstruction.com

George Kennan, US Embassy in Moscow: “X”

2. The Marshall Plan

2. The Marshall Plan

Truman MarshallPaul Hoffman

Averell Harriman

The Government initiated a strong PR campaign to promote the plan that only 51% of the population understood.

Facts: page 132-33 of Handbook

• Pre-Plan loans (USA/Cda) only enough for relief.• Plan called for self-sufficiency in 4 years.• 16 recipient nations - Paris conference (agree to balance budgets,

reduce inflation, stabilize currency, free-up trade).

• OEEC - (Org. Eur. Econ. Coop.) manage $28 bil.• USSR can’t meet demands = econ/political split.

• Timeline not met BUT still very rapid recovery & it stopped communism.

• The Congress blocked the bill at first (but the Feb 1948 Czech crisis convinced them).

Remember the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan go hand-in-hand!

• At first: For European Recovery - Supplied by the USA

• After 1955: Strength for the Free World - From the USA

2 years after the war w/o Marshall aid / 10 years after the war with Marshall aid

W.German Chancellor Willie Brandt’s Thank-you Speech, 25 years later.

Why would the speech be read at Harvard?

Marshall Aid Compared

3 Things the Plan achieved:1) A post-war global economy that would

avoid previous problems (like the Depression).

2) It helped shape political/military affairs in this era - Greece/Turkey, Truman Doctrine, NATO, currency reform (the Plan evolved into a military suppt prgm).

3) It promoted a move toward European unity - vs. pre-war isolationism: ex. Bretton Woods (IMF). These economic considerations led to a trade triangle:

USAUSA EuropeEurope

Developing NationsDeveloping Nations

And what was the Soviet response?

COM ECON: Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, est.1949

Comecon: est 1949Comecon: est 1949Comecon: est 1949Comecon: est 1949

3. Berlin A

irlift

Bizonia: JAN. 1947 (and Trizonia)

• Remember the Zones from Yalta• Allied Control Council (at first it was all USSR)

• USSR and France more interested in reparations

• USA and UK unify in economic matters = Bizonia…

Currency ReformAt first all zones had the Reichsmark.

Next, Bizonia introduced the US- minted Deutchmark *THIS CAUSED THE BERLIN CRISIS!

Later, the USSR introduced its own Deutchmark - notice European format: if you can’t beat ’em… all Deutchmarks

were not equal

ONE DAY AFTER THE

INTRODUCTION OF THE

DEUTCHMARK = Direct

Confrontation by Stalin (the

West will back down; they’re

bluffing).

ONE DAY AFTER THE

INTRODUCTION OF THE

DEUTCHMARK = Direct

Confrontation by Stalin (the

West will back down; they’re

bluffing).

General Lucius Clay decides to fight back. B29s are moved to Britain.

Some talked of abandoning Berlin.

Hmmm, they don’t seem to be backing down…

FOOD & FUEL

1 PLANE EVERY 2 MINUTES (1/min at height) for 2.5 million people.

OP VITTLES lasted ’til Sept

even though the

blockade was lifted on 12 May.

OP VITTLES lasted ’til Sept

even though the

blockade was lifted on 12 May.

Capt Gail Halvorsen “Capt Wiggle Wings”

4. Formation of NATOCAUSE AND EFFECT:

4. Formation of NATOCAUSE AND EFFECT:

• The Berlin Crisis led to the

formation of NATO• The Berlin Crisis led to the

formation of NATO

Background to NATO:1. Brussels Treaty Mar. 1948 5 Members: mutual assistance plan for 20 years.

(Czech Coup Jun. 1948 - wakeup call)

2. N.Atlantic Treaty (T. of Washington) Apr. 1949 12 Members: alliance Check out p.133 of your handbook for their names. Who joined in 1952? In 1954? Who quit in the 60s?

3. NSC #68 April 1950 = larger armed forces: will not risk the “free character of our economy” Truman

5. Korean War

• See PPT

End