THE COLD WARthe beginning

1945-1991

Even before World War II Ended, the leaders of US, Great Britain and USSR were meeting to decide what to do after the war.

The YALTA Conference: February 1945Decide to divide Germany into Four occupation zones, as well as the capital of BerlinAgreed to free elections in Poland and along the countries that bordered USSR—this never happensProposed the charter for the United Nations The Potsdam Conference: July 1945US—Harry Truman (FDR died in April)GB—Clement Atlee replaced ChurchillUSSR—StalinMade final plans to divide Germany and reunite it later

THE DIVISION OF GERMANY

• 1948-The US, France, and Britain announced they would reunite their occupied sections of Germany. The Soviet Union refused to participated and blocked all routes to West Berlin.

THE SUPERPOWERS STANDOFF

• The Berlin Airlift: The allies responded to the block of West Berlin by dropping food, fuel and medicine into West Berlin for 327 days until the USSR lifted the block.

MONEY TO ENCOURAGE DEMOCRACY

• The Truman Doctrine 1947– Civil War had broken out between communists

and conservatives in Greece– Goal of the Truman Doctrine: The US hoped that

by giving money to Greece it would prevent a communist take over.

– THE POLICY OF CONTAINMENT: After the success of the Truman Doctrine the US adopted a policy of known as Containment. This meant they would not try to end communism where it already existed but stop the spread of it to any other nation.

• The Marshall Plan 1947-1951– The US wanted to continue stopping the spread

of communism– Offered aid to any country to help rebuild after

the war– Marshall Plan Success:

• 17 nations participated• US gave $13 billion in aid• By 1952 European farm and industrial output levels

were above the prewar levels• Offered aid to the USSR but they declined.

• The Eisenhower Doctrine—1957 extended Marshall plan aid to the Middle East

THE BERLIN WALL– Berlin was located entirely

in communist East Germany. Despite this location, West Berlin remained part of West Germany and democratic.

– Because of the economic success of W. Berlin, many East Berliners were fleeing to West Berlin.

– In response to this the East German government built a wall on August 13, 1961 dividing East and West Berlin. It stood until Nov. 9, 1989.

The Berlin WallThe barrier between East and West Berlin, went up over night. The concrete and permanence was added later. The Wall became a symbol of Cold War tensions.

THE UNITED NATIONS

The Start:• April 1945-Fifty one nations met

in San Francisco and began the UN in October 1945

• GOAL: To maintain international peace and security to solve world problems.

• The Headquarters are in NYC• It was made to be stronger than

the League of Nations in that it has a standing military force

Two Main Bodies of the UN• The General Assembly All member nations get one vote.

Today 192/195 countries are part of the General Assembly (Taiwan, Kosovo and Vatican City are not members)

• The Security Council5 Permanent Members: (the winners

of WWII) -Britain, France, US, China, and USSR (Russia). These nations all have veto power

10 Temporary Nations: serve 2 year terms