The+Cold+War

=__**The Cold War**__= Introduction

The Cold War was the conflict between the Communist Soviet Union and the Democratic United States. The war was fought all over the world (Africa, Europe, Asia, North America and even out of this world in outer space). Historians are still not in agreement when exactly the Cold War started, but it is safe to say that it had been happening in 1947 when president Harry S. Truman of the United States of America declared an anti-communist policy. media type="youtube" key="ktchcNTvOQI" width="425" height="350" Perhaps the most controversial presidential campaign commercial ever aired, it is hard to grasp that it was only shown once, yet contributed to Johnson’s landslide victory in 1964.

The Causes of the Cold War

1.) A main reason why the conflict went to such an extent was the inability of the countries to agree on anything, due to their very different ways of thinking. Communists and Democrats have very different views. Democrats run a government where people can create parties to voice their own opinions, posses the right of assembly, of speech and of press. Communism does not allow their people to voice their opinions by creating their own party, and do not have the right of assembly, of speech or of press. Due to such conflicting opinions, it is easy to assume little compromise between the two countries be made.

2.) The United States promoted the idea of free trade around the world, but the soviet union didn’t want western influence upon their country because it could possibly erode the strength of the totalitarian regime, and feared world trade would encourage this.

3.) After the second world war, most of Europe was extremely weak. The Soviet Union and the United States were two of the most powerful countries in the world, and due for distaste for one another, both wanted to dominate the other. Conflict was inevitable.

The Truman Doctrine - March, 1947

The event was started by Harry S. Truman when British troops were planning to leave Greece and Turkey. It was meant to prevent the spread of communism into those countries. This program made the US send 400 million dollars in economic & military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent communist take-over. Truman talked about supporting free peoples (anti-Communists) by using political, economic and military aid if needed. He intended to “divide” the world into Communist & non-Communist camps. It is said that this was America’s “line in the sand” and that the Soviets should go no further. Harry S. Truman

The Marshall Plan - June, 1947

By 1947 the US and Canada realized that their loans to Western European countries were only to offer relief and not to rehabilitate their economies, making them more independent of foreign aid. The Marshall Plan was created by the American secretary of State. George Marshall, and stated that the US should only give aid to European countries if they rebuild their economies, balance budgets, and become free of American aid, all within a 4 year period. A conference in Paris was held where 16 nations participated and stated their needs, pledged to balance budgets, reduce inflation, and stabilize currencies and remove abnormal restrictions on trade. The OEEC (Organization for European Co-operation) was made to administer the plan. This would involve the spending of 28 billion dollars, mostly coming from the US. The U.S.S.R. wanted to obtain this aid, but they were not allowed as they couldn’t meet the American demand concerning political and economic freedom. The Soviet Union then opposed the plan, which resulted in an economic and political split within Europe. There was a quick recovery of some European economies due to this plan, even though it wasn’t finished in the timetable that was decided on. After 1948, the plan also helped prevent the spread of communism. American Congress was blocking the passage of the Marshall Plan until February, 1948 when communist took over Czechoslovakia. This further feared the Americans of the spread of communism. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were different events, but dealt with the same problem. The Truman Doctrine was the warning to the Soviets, where as the Marshall Plan was the economic response of following through with their threats. George Marshall

The Berlin Blockade - June, 1948

Berlin was divided into four parts as a result of the Yalta and Potsdam agreements. Berlin lay in the Russian sector of Germany, so the western nations were allowed access through east Germany on certain highways, railways and corridors. It appeared that the three western powers were heading for the creation of a separate West Germany due to the collapsing of the Allied Control Council. The Berlin Blockade Crisis resulted from currency reform which was introduced in West Germany, but the Soviet Union refused to accept this in Berlin. The Soviet’s response to the Western currency reform was the blockading of the Western Allies transportation corridors which the Allies used to supply West Berlin. Lucius Clay, the Commander of American forces in Germany talked about using military force, but it was well known that the Soviets were much stronger than the Americans in European territory due to geographical locations, but the Americans did transfer a squadron of B-29’s to Britain which was a threat to Stalin. The West was determined to maintain success in Berlin and not allow the Soviets to win this moral battle, so they counteracted with a massive airlift supplying West Berlin for 15 months with all necessary supplies. After the 15 months the Soviet Union came to realize that the blockade was not working. American and Soviet representatives on the Security Council (UN) negotiated a resolution which resulted in two different governments for Berlin. This was a public relations victory for the Americans and a loss of prestige for Stalin. NATO (North American Treaty Organization) was created by the Allies as a result of the Berlin Blockade Crisis. media type="youtube" key="5GoIL9gVonQ" width="425" height="350"

The Formation of NATO - April, 1949

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created due to the Berlin Blockade. It was to be a peacetime military commitment to Europe. Americans decided that a permanent military presence was necessary to prevent Soviet expansion. The main resolutions were 1. The renunciation of war except as provided by the UN Charter. 2. Mutual assistance in the event of aggression on any member. (An attack on one is an attack on all). 3. The fact of aggression to be determined by the signatory state involved. 4. It was to be a 40 year treaty. 5. NATO set up permanent military headquarters in Paris to which member states contributed armed forces.

The Bay of Pigs - April, 1961

This was a plan initiated by Kennedy, which called for American support for Cuban exiles to reinvade and capture Cuba. Americans offered the use of their missile base as a marshalling ground but didn’t offer any air force support. The CIA was heavily involved with the expedition. The invasion happened in April 1961 and cost the lives of 1400 Cuban patriots. It was a huge embarrassment for the U.S.A and caused complete estrangement between the two nations. Cuba finally announced it was a Marxist state. media type="youtube" key="vugY5ZIHJ8A" width="425" height="350"

The domino theory

This was a metaphor developed by the Americans in 19th century.. After Stalin liberated Eastern Europe from fascism and quickly spread communism, Americans developed a sudden fear. The domino theory was the threat of countries falling to communism, similar to a row of dominoes toppling over.

Containment

The American policy of containment was formally the beginning of the Truman doctrine. It was a very literal concept, which described the American policy of defending the status of Europe and eventually the rest of the world.

McCarthyism

The senator Joseph McCarthy, who took over the “house un-Americans activity committee”, developed McCarthyism. McCarthy experienced extreme paranoia and fear of communism. The McCarthy committee destroyed many peoples credibility and accused everyone of being a communist, which destroyed many lives. Joseph McCarthy

Eisenhower Doctrine

In 1959, Khrushchev sated that the U.S.S.R wanted to peacefully compete America globally. In response, Americans introduced the Eisenhower Doctrine, which was a weighted policy of using U.S.A troops to aid in Middle East communist aggression.

Cuban Missile Crisis

In the late 19th century, during the Spanish-American war, the U.S.A gained control of Cuba. The Americans supported the corrupt leadership of Fulgencio Batista, who seized power illegally in 1933. They also completely controlled the Cuban economy, with interests in every industry (mainly sugar). In 1959, a violent revolution took place at the hands of Fidel Castro. He and his forces overthrew Batista and gained control. Castro nationalized the American owned factories and plantations, which led to the tension between Cuba and America. In 1960, Castro signed a trade agreement with the U.S.S.R, which stated the Soviet Union would buy all of Cuba’s sugar and in exchange, they would provide aid for Cuba. All diplomatic ties between America and Cuba broke off in 1961. In 1962, the U.S.S.R deployed missiles to Cuba, due to the mutual fear of an American invasion, for leverage against the missiles in turkey and to get ahead in the space race. Eventually the Americans realized that Cuba was housing Soviet missiles and prepared responses. The result was a quarantine/blockade around Cuba, which defied the access of soviet ships. Tension began to reduce as soviets turned back but no removal took place. Kennedy issued two written letters to Khrushchev, which settled the crisis. In the end, the crisis proved how threatening nuclear weapons are and their possibilities.media type="youtube" key="_gDC-CbGygg" width="425" height="350"

=﻿**__By Mark Shepherd & Emma Whiten__**=