THE COLD WAR AND ITS ORIGINS

WHAT WAS THE BIG FUSS ABOUT? Ideologically the USSR and US represented two different

systems. There had already been major problems during the war

and the alliance was more of a result of a necessity to fight a mutual enemy than an expression of genuine understanding.

US came out of the war as economic SUPERpower with access to nuclear weapons

USSR was in ruins Once Japan and Germany were defeated, problems

started to arise

WHEN DID IT ACTUALLY START?

Historians argue that the Cold War started in July 1945 at the POTSDAM CONFERENCE

Others argue that the dropping of the ATOMIC BOMB in August 1945 was the actual start of the Cold War, as the US didn’t inform their alliy, USSR about the bomb

Between 1945-1948, Stalin violated his promises to allow FREE ELECTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE.

This and the restart of the Civil War in China, alarmed the US. In 1947 President Truman announced his TRUMAN DOCTRINE, a

commitment initially made for Greece and Turkey, but soon extended globally. Why was this a significant turning point in US foreign policy?

WHEN DID IT ACTUALLY START?

The Truman Doctrine was seen as the official start of the Cold War It was followed by the MARSHALL PLAN, a US pledge to support the

Western democracies economically. GERMANY was the main trouble spot in Europe. Berlin was located in

the Russian controlled Eastern zone- a capitalist island in a communist area.

In 1948 Stalin tried to solve this problem by cutting all land routes from the Western zone. It resulted in a one year AIRLIFT with supplies from the West.

In 1949 two independent German states were announced –GDR, FRG In 1949 CHINA became a Communist state (most populated country) In 1949 USSR exploded its first atomic bomb

OUTSIDE EUROPE

In 1950 North Korea attacked South Korea According to historians, the US decided to turn the Cold War into

a “hot” war. (What events might have led them to do this?) The Korean War lasted between 1950-53 and it was not until

Stalin died in 1953 and Eisenhower replaced Truman that it was possible for a ceasefire in Korea.

In 1953 both the US and USSR had hydrogen bombs and a nuclear arms race had begun

The first part of the Cold War, 1945-53, turned two allies into enemies in a global conflict.

From cautious optimism in 1945 to a fierce struggle for world domination

YOUR JOB?

You have to know how WWII affected East-West ideologies You have to know the main differences between the

ideologies You have to know the main events between 1945-1950 You have to know the historiography