Transcript Cold War 1947

Why did the USA and the USSR
become rivals in the years 1945-55?
Part 2
Why did the USA and the USSR become rivals in the years 1945-55?
Part 2
Doctrine: a belief.
Congress: the American ‘parliament’.
Aggressor: someone who starts a quarrel.
Containment: holding something in – stopping the USSR growing.
Collective Security:
Response from
Stalin and
USSR was …
Marshall Aid:
This was …
Greece and Turkey
By 1946, Greece and Czechoslovakia were the only countries in eastern Europe that
weren’t Communist. Even in Greece, the government, which was being supported
by British soldiers, was having to fight a civil war against the Communists.
In February 1947, the British told Truman they could no longer afford to keep their
soldiers in Greece. President Truman stepped in. The USA paid for the British
soldiers in Greece. Truman noted that Turkey too was in danger from Soviet
aggression, so Congress voted to give aid to Turkey as well. Part of the money was
given in economic and humanitarian aid, but most was spent on military supplies and
weapons.
Berlin Blockade:
Causes:
Truman Doctrine
Date:
Key Points:
Impact:
What was it?
What was its
purpose?
Why was it
important?
USA
Arms
Race
USSR
The Truman Doctrine
• The Truman Doctrine was beginning to be formulated in 1946, when George
Kennan, US ambassador in Moscow, wrote a ‘long telegram’ claiming that
Soviet power was growing, and that the US should follow a policy of
‘containment’ to stop Russian ‘salami tactics’.
• In September 1946, Clark Clifford, Truman’s most trusted adviser,
recommended that America ‘support and assist all democratic countries which
are in any way menaced by the USSR’. In February 1947, the British
government announced that it could no longer afford to keep its soldiers
fighting Communist rebels in Greece. So, on 12 March 1947, President Truman
warned Congress that, without help, Greece would fall to Communism. Nearby
Turkey, he added, was in a similar situation. He introduced an idea that if
America let one country fall to Communism, all the countries round about
would follow (this was later called the ‘domino theory’).
• Truman said that the Cold War was a choice between freedom and
oppression. Therefore, Americans would have to abandon their decision not to
get involved in European affairs; America was OBLIGED to get involved: ‘I
believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples
who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside
pressures.’
This Russian
cartoon, 1947,
shows the Greek
government being
‘helped’ by Uncle
Sam (symbolising
America). Notice
the $ sign on the
gun.
Greek
communists in
traditional
clothing – it is the
Communists that
truly represent
the Greek people.
Russian bias – showing the view of Stalin
to the Truman Doctrine, 1947.
Americans seen as a threat and
dangerous.
The dollar on the gun – the
danger of the “Almighty Dollar”
showing aggressive Capitalism.
Most of the aid to Greece was
in the form of weapons.
The Truman Doctrine
•
•
Thus Truman’s Speech led directly to the Marshall Plan. It set a precedent for the
principle of ‘collective security’ – building up a network of allies and friendly states to
which the US gave military aid free of charge – and NATO. In America, it whipped up
the ‘Red Scare’ of the 1950s. In Russia, it convinced the Soviets that America was
indeed attacking Soviet Communism. In fact, there were many in the Truman
administration who wanted actively to oppose the Soviets and, in 1947, Truman formed
the CIA, told the Russian ambassador he was not welcome in Washington, and said that
America was prepared to fight for peace. On 15 May 1947, Truman said that: ‘We hope
that in years ahead more and more nations will come to know the advantages of
freedom and liberty.’
Thus is it arguable that the Truman Doctrine was not just a policy of ‘containment’ but,
as a modern American University suggests: ‘an American challenge to Soviet ambitions
throughout the world’.
Truman Doctrine
Date:
Watch the clip to
confirm your
understanding and to
remind yourself about
the Marshall Plan
Complete
your grid on
the Truman
Doctrine
What was it?
What was its
purpose?
Why was it
important?
Past Paper Question
Which was the more important in
causing the Cold War:
• the Potsdam Conference 1945;
• the Truman Doctrine, 1947?
You must refer to both causes when
explaining your answer.
Create a perfect answer to this question.
o Decide and state, which was more important
and keep this line of argument throughout.
o Explain why each factor important to
increasing tensions. A paragraph on each.
o Conclusion: Explain why your opinion is
correct.
The Marshall Plan
•
•
•
The European Recovery Programme (nicknamed the ‘Marshall Plan’) was set up because the
economic infrastructure of Europe had been destroyed by the Second World War and because this
– and the coldest winter on record – had by 1947 reduced the people of Europe to
starvation. Also, in response to Soviet ‘salami tactics’, Congress had in March 1947 decided to
‘support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside
pressures.’
Returning from a fact-finding mission, a shocked General George Marshall told Truman that all of
Europe would turn Communist unless the European economy could be jump-started. So Truman
agreed.
Marshall announced his Plan, not in Congress, but to students at Harvard University on 5th June
1947. He explained his idea in simple terms: the European economy had been destroyed because
the Nazis had reorganised it to support their war effort. Now, townspeople could not produce
enough to afford to buy food from the farmers; and farmers were unable to get from the towns the
equipment they needed to produce the food. ”The United States should do whatever it is able to
do to assist in the return of normal economic health in the world, without which there can be no
political stability and no assured peace. Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine
but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working
economy in the world so as to permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which free
institutions can exist.”
The Marshall Plan
•
•
He challenged the countries of Europe to get together and produce a plan for regeneration, which
the US would fund. Only countries which refused to co-operate with others would be refused
funding. The British foreign secretary Ernest Bevin called the Plan ‘a lifeline to sinking men,
bringing hope where there was none’ and by 12 July he had organised a meeting of European
nations in Paris, which asked for $22 billion of aid. Stalin was invited but – seeing the Plan as a US
plot to undermine the Soviet Union – he forbade Cominform countries to take part. Truman
asked Congress for $17 bn, and Congress (after the scare of the collapse of Czechoslovakia in
March 1948) authorised $13 bn.
The first ship set sail from Texas to France with 19,000 tons of wheat. Marshall Aid took the form
of fuel, raw materials, goods, loans and food, US machinery to help factories to get back to normal,
advisers to help rebuild transport systems. There were nets for Norwegian fishermen, wool for
Austrian weavers, and tractors for French farmers. Britain was the main recipient, getting $3 bn
aid. France, Italy, West Germany and the Netherlands all received huge amounts. Marshall Aid
had a huge effect on Europe; the years 1948-1952 were a time of massive economic growth. It
also stopped the spread of Communism.
Past Paper Question:
In 1947 the USA promised to support all
countries who were trying to remain free from
communism. Describe how the Marshall Plan
helped to achieve this aim.
How did
Stalin
respond?
“The ruling gang of American imperialists has taken the path of
open expansion, of enslaving weakened capitalist countries. It
has hatched new war plans against the Soviet Union. Imitating
Hitler, the new aggressors are using blackmail.”
GM Malenkov, a Soviet politician, in 1947 about the Marshall
Plan.
'Can
he block
• The
Soviet Union hated Marshall Aid (see
it?' Source). Stalin forbade Communist countries to ask for
Thismoney.
cartoon
• drawn
Instead, in October 1947, he set up Cominform. Every
was
Communist party in Europe joined. This allowed Stalin
c.1947
by Edwin
control
of the Communists in Europe.
Marcus,
• Then, in January 1949, Stalin created Comecon - an
caricaturist
forunion of the Communist countries in eastern
economic
Europe.
the New
YorkThis allowed Stalin to control the Iron Curtain
economies for the benefit of Russia - for instance, one of
Times.
its rules was that all inventions had to be shared.
Stalin would aim to resist
Marshall Aid – is this
interpretation true?
Are you clear about the
Truman Doctrine and
Marshall Aid now?
Which was more important in causing the
Cold War:
• the Soviet expansion in East Europe,
1945-1948
• the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan,
1947?
You must refer to both causes when
explaining your answer.
Create a perfect answer to this question.
o Decide and state, which was more important
and keep this line of argument throughout.
o Explain why each factor important to
increasing tensions. A paragraph on each.
o Conclusion: Explain why your opinion is
correct.
Airlift Facts
First major
The blockade lasted 318 days (11 months).
crisis of the
In the winter of 1948–49 Berliners lived on dried potatoes, powdered
Cold War
eggs and cans of meat. They had four hours of electricity a day.
The airlift was codenamed 'operation
Vittles';
theanfirst
flightto
was on 26
Put these words
into
answer
June 1948.
explain the causes of the Berlin Blockade:
The Soviet authorities offered
to provide
WestAid,
Berlin
with essential
Trizonia,
Marshall
Deutsche
Mark,
supplies - this offer was rejected.
East Germany, poverty, Stalin angry.
275,000 flights carried in 1½ million tons of supplies. A plane landed
every 3 mins.
On 16 April 1949, 1400 flights brought in 13,000 tons of supplies in one
Clip
day – Berlin only needed 6,000 tons a day to survive.
Some
pilots dropped chocolate and sweets.
In 1948 Stalin set up the
The
airlift
continued
until
Berlin
Blockade
which cut
off 30 September 1949, in order to build up a
most routes
into West Berlin.
reserve
of supplies.
Describe how the USA, Britain
The
USA stationed B-29 bombers (which could carry an atomic bomb)
and France delivered supplies
in to
Britain.
West Berlin during the
Blockade.
The
American airmen were regarded as heroes.
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift,
1948-9
This cartoon by the British cartoonist
Illingworth appeared in the Daily
Mail on 9 September 1948. Stalin
has blocked the mousehole, and toys
with a mouse labelled 'Berliners',
whilst the other 'western powers'
scuttle around in alarm.
This cartoon of 14 July 1948 by EH
Shepard for the British magazine
Punch shows Stalin watching as
storks fly coal and food into Berlin.
WEST GERMANY
- Western
Capitalist
economy.
- Democratic
(people could vote
for their
governments)
- Freedoms
guaranteed
- Allied to the
West - USA and UK
(Later in NATO)
EAST GERMANY
- Communist
- Allied to USSR
- No democracy
- Little freedom
- Becomes part
of Warsaw Pact.
Revision sheet
on NATO &
Warsaw Pact.
Why is NATO important?
• What does NATO stand
for?
• Why was it important to
America?
• How did Stalin view
NATO?
• North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation.
• US was now formally
committed to the defence
of western Europe. US
was able to build air
bases in Western Europe,
where planes, armed with
nuclear weapons could be
used against the USSR.
• As a direct threat.
Development of Arms
Race
Check you are clear with
this information, how
could you use it in an
essay?
Stage 1 – 1945-49 - USSR plays catch-up
– Fearing that USA would use weapons against them, USSR
developed own atom bomb, using info from spies As a consequence
of this…
succeeded in 1949.
The balance tilted even more in the
direction of the
USSR
China became
Communist
in
US policy-makers
now
feltwhen
the need
for a more
aggressive
October 1949. In 1950, Stalin and the new Chinese
approach
to Communism
than
‘containment’.
In 1950
communist
leader, Mao
Zedong,
signed a 30 year
treaty aof
friendship. coded NSC-68, made two key
policy document,
recommendations: a massive increase in armaments and
2 – 1949-57
– More
and Bigger They also feared
a Stage
new policy
to ‘roll back’
communism.
– In 1952, the USA develops Hydrogen bomb (100 times
that if one
fell to
Communism,
would
follow
morestate
powerful
than
Hiroshima andothers
Nagasaki
bombs).
– Domino
theory.
– In 1953,
the USSR tested its own Hydrogen bomb. The
USSR seemed to be catching up.
Look at black AQA book page 75 – enhance your revision notes.
The Korean War was the first major armed clash
between Free World and Communist forces, as the
so-called Cold War turned hot.
From a pamphlet by John J. McGrath of U.S. Army
Center of Military History (2003).
1 In 1945, Korea was freed from the
Japanese. The USSR had control of North
Korea and set up a Communist state. In the
south, the Americans set up a government that
was supposed to be a democracy, although it
relied heavily on military backing. The country
was split in half at the 38th parallel:
North Korea (led by Kim Il Sung) was
Communist.
South Korea (led by Syngman Rhee) was
capitalist.
The two countries hated each other. IN June
1950, North Korea invaded South Korea.
Korean War
2 Watch the clip to remind yourself
of the basics.
Produce your own detailed
revision diagram on the
Korean War, with images and
facts.
Remember to include:
reasons for involvement of
UN and USA;
role of MacArthur;
the part played by USSR
and China.
The Korean War
•
•
•
•
•
In 1950, Syngman Rhee – the South Korean head of state – boasted that he was going
to attack North Korea. It was a good enough excuse – in June 1950, the North Koreans
invaded South Korea. At first, the North Korean People's Army (NKPA) was very
successful. Many of the NKPA had fought in the Chinese Revolution and were battle
trained. They easily defeated the Republic of Korea's army (the ROKs). By July they
captured most of South Korea, apart from a small enclave round Pusan in the far south
of the peninsula.
This alarmed the Americans, who persuaded the United Nations to support South
Korea. Out of the 300,000 UN troops, 260,000 were Americans. In July 1950, the UN
Army, led by General MacArthur, went to Korea. It landed at Pusan, and made an
amphibious landing at Inchon (near Seoul). MacArthur drove back the North Koreans
and recaptured South Korea. 125,000 NKPA prisoners were captured. Then the
Americans invaded North Korea and advanced as far as the Chinese border.
Now the Chinese were alarmed. 200,000 Chinese troops ('People's Volunteers')
attacked. They had modern weapons supplied by Russia, and a fanatical hatred of the
Americans. In December, 500,000 more Chinese troops entered the war. Using
‘human wave’ tactics, they drove the Americans back, recaptured North Korea, and
advanced into South Korea.
MacArthur urged Truman to use of the atomic bomb. Truman refused. Instead, in
February 1951, he sent more troops and stepped up the bombing raids. The Americans
drove the Chinese back (the Chinese lost between 390,000 and a million men), but lost
54,000 men killed in the process. The war was not popular in America.
MacArthur reached the 38th parallel in March 1951. There, Truman told MacArthur to
stop, and sacked him when he publicly criticised Truman’s order. In 1953, Eisenhower
became American president. He made a formal truce. It is estimated that 10 million
people died in the war.
Can
youyour
now
answer: Who am I
Check
understanding!
whatthe
did Igreater
do in the threat
War?
Whichandwas
to
world peace during the years
1945–1955:
• the development of nuclear
weapons
• the Korean War?
Syngman Rhee –
the South Korean
head of state –
boasted that he
was going to
attack North
Korea.
General
MacArthur, went
to Korea. Later
urged Truman to
use of the atomic
bomb.
In July 1950, the
UN Army, led by
General
MacArthur, went
to Korea.
In 1953, Eisenhower became American
president. He made a formal truce.
200,000 Chinese troops
('People's Volunteers')
attacked. They had
modern weapons
supplied by Russia
Source A
"Of the 16 countries contributing forces, the
USA provided 50 per cent of land forces, 93
per cent of air forces, 86 per cent of naval
forces. The UN gave the USA unlimited
authority to direct military operations. US
president Truman, not the UN, appointed
General MacArthur as commander-in-chief
of UN forces. MacArthur reported to the US
President and took orders from him. The war
threatened to become one between the USA
and China. The USA even considered using
nuclear weapons against China."
James Mason with Angela Leonard, Modern
World History to GCSE (2001)
This drawing by the British cartoonist
David Low, published in the Daily
Herald on 30 June 1950, shows
Truman and the United Nations
rushing to Korea's aid.
 In 1954 SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organisation) was set up as a copy of NATO.
Communism had been prevented in South Korea and the UN was seen as a success (if
dominated by the USA), it had stood up to major aggression, something the League of
Nations had failed to achieve. However, the war also revealed that China was no longer
weak and was prepared to stand up to the West. Was this the emergence of a third
superpower.
You must refer to both threats when explaining your answer.
Which had the greater effect on the development of the Cold War in the years 1948 to
1953:
• The Berlin Blockade and Airlift, 1948-1949;
• The Korean War, 1950-1953?
The Berlin Blockade and
Airlift, 1948-1949
The Korean War, 1950-1953
‘The Thaw’
Print off your own copy
of the sheet:
Khrushchev and
'Peaceful Co-existence'
• What is your impression of
Khrushchev?
• What did he mean by
peaceful co-existence?
How are you feeling now about the origins of
the Cold War?
Create a timeline of events.
Aim to prioritise the events in order of
importance.
Helpful resources
• http://www.laganhistory.com/2-cold-war-ineurope-1945-49.html
• http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war8.htm
• http://www.educationforum.co.uk/modernwo
rld.htm