Transcript The Cold War - Wright State University

The Cold War
Dave Phillips
ED 448
02/27/01
The Cold War’s Beginning…
Terms:
• Iron Curtain
• United Nations
• Arms Race
People:
• Harry S. Truman
• Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Joseph McCarthy
Places:
North Korea
South Korea
An Overview...
The United States and the
Soviet Union, once allies,
became bitter enemies during
the period following WWII.
The United Nations
In April 1945 delegates from 50
countries met in San Francisco
to set up a new organization, the
United Nations. Their meeting
was to be the largest gathering
of government representatives
in history. Their goal was to
maintain world peace. Yet in
1950 the United States would be
fighting again.
What was the Cold War?
• A conflict between the United States and the
Soviet Union, which was fought with
– Ideas
– Words
– Money
– (and, sometimes) Force
After World War II...
• Much of the world was in ruins.
• The United States, however, remained
untouched.
• The country’s factories began turning out
refrigerators, cars and other peacetime
products.
• By the 1950’s American workers were
producing and using over one-third of all
the world’s goods.
• The United States and the Soviet Union
became the world’s two most powerful
countries.
-United States Adventures in Time and Place
The “Cold War” begins...
• Important differences had long divided the
United States and the Soviet Union.
• These tensions resurfaced after the war was
over.
• Even though the Soviet Union had been
devastated by the war, it rebuilt its industry
and military at a rapid pace.
• The Soviet Union sent
troops into Eastern
Europe and put these
countries under Soviet
rule.
• Stalin did not let the
countries hold free
elections.
The “Iron Curtain”
The “Iron Curtain”
was an imaginary line
separating Europe’s
communist countries
from its
noncommunist ones.
Role of President Truman
• President Truman did not want
communism to spread.
• He believed that the people of
all countries should be free to
elect their own leaders.
• Truman sponsored a recovery
program for Europe
• This program provided $13 billion in food
and goods to help Western Europe recover
from the damage caused by WWII.
• Called the Marshall Plan, it helped prevent
the spread of communism in Western
Europe.
The Korean War
• In June 1950, the Korean War began in Asia when
a communist country invaded a noncommunist
country.
• The Korean peninsula had been divided into
North Korea (communist) and South Korea
(noncommunist).
• On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops led a
surprise attack on South Korea.
• On July 5, 1950, United
States troops came to the
aid of South Korea.
The United States in the Cold War
President Truman said as he sent troops
to Korea:
“A return to the rule of force would have
far-reaching effects. The United States will
continue to uphold the rule of law.”
The Response of the United Nations
• Under the leadership of the United Nations,
16 countries sent soldiers to South Korea.
• United Nations forces, most of which came
from the United States, turned back the
North Koreans and freed Seoul, the capital
city of South Korea.
• The UN troops then moved North into
Korea.
• China, which had been a communist
country since 1949, then sent armed forces
to aid North Korea.
• After two more years of fighting, the war
ended with a settlement in July, 1953.
The role of President Eisenhower
• In the early 1950’s, the Soviet Union and the
United States became locked in a costly race
to build the world’s most powerful weapons,
• This competition became known as the Arms
Race.
• Many people feared that a war
involving nuclear weapons might
end all life on earth.
• Some people built bomb shelters.
• Fear of the Soviet Union grew.
McCarthyism
• Joseph McCarthy started a campaign to rid the
country of communists.
• Between 1950 and 1954 many people were called
before the Senate to testify.
• Some lost their jobs or were sent to jail whether
they were communists or not.
• The term “McCarthyism” is used today to describe
accusations made to damage people because they
may have certain political beliefs.
Fear in the United States
• In the years following WWII, fear of communism
in the United States became exaggerated.
• In 1947, Truman issued as executive order to
search out any “disloyal persons” in the
government. Over six million people were
investigated.
• During Eisenhower’s presidency, people were
often questioned by McCarthy because of political
affiliations they had held years before or because
they knew someone who held questionable views.
Why it is important...
• The cold war conflicts between the United
States and the Soviet Union affected the
world for over forty years.
• The Korean War is one example of how this
conflict led to war.
Activities and Assignments
1. Describe how the Marshall Plan contained
communism in Eastern Europe.
2. Write a newspaper headline to reflect
Truman’s decision to fight in Korea.
3. In your journal: How might an arms race be
harmful to rival countries?
4. Imagine you are Truman or Eisenhower at a
press conference. Comment on the
following questions.
-What actions did you take in the Cold
War?
-What was your attitude toward the
Soviet Union and communism?
-Do you think your actions helped the
west in the Cold War?
-If you had to do it over again what
would you do differently? Explain.
5. Imagine you are a Secretary of State in
1953. Write a policy for dealing with
communism.
6. Discuss in small groups who started the
Cold War and why?
7. Write a newspaper article about nuclear
weapons and the arms race.
Research Opportunities
We have addressed the development of the
Cold War through the Eisenhower
presidency. The Cold War continues
through the presidencies of Kennedy,
Johnson, Nixon, Carter and Reagan. With a
partner, use the internet to obtain
information for your presentation. Present
the remaining events of the Cold War in the
form of a journal, song, debate, newspaper,
skit or drawings.
Assesment
Assignments, activities and research projects
will be evaluated based on the following:
-Historical accuracy
-Originality
-Use of primary source information
-Presentation
A comprehensive test on the Cold War will
finalize the unit.