The Truman YearsThe Truman Years1945-19521945-1952

25.225.2

The Cold WarThe Cold War

The Cold War 1945-1991The Cold War 1945-1991Time of suspicion, hostility, & Time of suspicion, hostility, &

competition between USA & USSRcompetition between USA & USSR

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsCreation of permanent alliancesCreation of permanent alliances

War by proxy rather than directlyWar by proxy rather than directly

Propaganda warPropaganda war

Costly & scary nuclear arms race Costly & scary nuclear arms race

Global competition for influenceGlobal competition for influence

Reasons for TensionReasons for TensionSince 1917, Americans feared a Since 1917, Americans feared a global communist conspiracyglobal communist conspiracy

Soviets distrusted capitalist Soviets distrusted capitalist nations & sought secure bordersnations & sought secure borders

After WWII, both sides saw the After WWII, both sides saw the other as aggressive other as aggressive

Early ConflictsEarly ConflictsIran: U.S. ousts Soviet presence Iran: U.S. ousts Soviet presence in Iran = cheated out of oilin Iran = cheated out of oil

Stalin installs pro-soviet govts. Stalin installs pro-soviet govts. throughout Eastern Europethroughout Eastern Europe

By 1948: USSR controlled 7 By 1948: USSR controlled 7 satellitesatellite countries in Europe countries in Europe

Containing Soviet PowerContaining Soviet PowerWinston Churchill warns of an Winston Churchill warns of an iron iron curtain curtain descending across Europe.descending across Europe.

Truman responded with policy of Truman responded with policy of ContainmentContainment by George Kennan by George Kennan Halt further communist expansion Halt further communist expansion

with force if necessary with force if necessary

Truman DoctrineTruman Doctrine

Policy of giving massive military & Policy of giving massive military & economic aid to countries resisting economic aid to countries resisting communismcommunism

First applied to Greece & TurkeyFirst applied to Greece & Turkey

Marshall PlanMarshall Plan3 year program of massive 3 year program of massive economic aid to rebuild Europeeconomic aid to rebuild Europe

Meant to stop communism Meant to stop communism

Soviet Union & satellites were Soviet Union & satellites were offered aid but they refused.offered aid but they refused.

Huge Success! Huge Success!

June 1948: Stalin tried to seize June 1948: Stalin tried to seize West Berlin with a blockadeWest Berlin with a blockade

Western Allies respond by Airlifting Western Allies respond by Airlifting supplies into West Berlin.supplies into West Berlin.

Truman threatened war if any Truman threatened war if any planes were shot down.planes were shot down.

Blockade failed, Stalin reopened Blockade failed, Stalin reopened city by May of 1949 city by May of 1949

Permanent AlliancesPermanent AlliancesUS, Canada, and 10 other nations US, Canada, and 10 other nations in Europe form in Europe form NATONATO North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Pledge of mutual defense from attackPledge of mutual defense from attack

Soviet Union & satellites respond Soviet Union & satellites respond by forming the by forming the Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact

Revolution in ChinaRevolution in ChinaLong civil war ends, communists Long civil war ends, communists under Mao Zedong control under Mao Zedong control mainland China = People’s mainland China = People’s Republic born!Republic born!

Chiang Kai-shek flees to Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek flees to Taiwan.

U.S. refused to recognize Red U.S. refused to recognize Red China until 1979!China until 1979!

Sept. 1949Sept. 1949Soviets Close the Nuclear Gap Soviets Close the Nuclear Gap with their first successful test!with their first successful test!

Nuclear Arms Race Nuclear Arms Race Begins!Begins!