The+Cold+War+-+Early+Years

THE YALTA CONFERENCE

Meeting near the end of WWII - big 3 meet to discuss post war Europe Germany will be divided, controlled by the Allies Liberated Eastern European countries will have new elections United Nations will be formed USSR is given great influence over Eastern Europe, and new government must be "Soviet freindly" the roots of the Cold War are established

The United Nations

-Created after WWII by FDR, to establish international peace and security -Still used today by 192 countries -Decisions made in a conference called the Great Assembly, where each country sends a max of 5 representatives to discuss issues. This happens once a year. - Rules of the United Nations are called "United Nations Charter"

Containment

-Truman's plan during the cold war to end communism -Used military and non-military strategies (economic, diplomatic, etc.) -Used to stop " bad" countries from getting too powerful

The Truman Doctrine

-Created in 1947 by Harry S. Truman -Promised to aid people struggling to resist threats to democratic freedom

The Marshall Plan

-Named after Secretary of State George Marshall -A plan to fix the European economies after WWII -$13 billion dollars to European countries, mainly in South and West -Helped limit Soviet power -Boosted US economy, as money would be flowing back and forth through the United States -Universally accepted as "pro-western political stability"

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

-USSR Army blocks access to Berlin -Airlift = supplying of needed materials to Berlin from England and US, from 1948-1949 -USSR stopped all trains from going in or out of Berlin -Blockade was for A) France, England, and US combining their shares of Germany and Stalin was afraid this would threaten his share, B) Line of divisio between USSR half and other half split Berlin in half and Stalin wanted the whole city for the USSR -Trade with East Germany ends, USSR gives up.

NATO and the Warsaw Pact

-US, England, and France were concerned over Soviet/communist control in Europe -They formed NATO with other nations including Canada and some West European countries -Very close alliance - if one is attacked, all are being attacked. -Offered a threat because of military strength -To counter NATP, the Soviets and their allies like Hungary and Czechoslovakia formed the Warsaw Pact

The Red Scare, the Rosenbergs, and the HUAC

-Red Scare= fear of communism rising in US -First Red Scare was post WW1, second was in late 40s and 50s -Red Scares were the blaming of communists foe the problems within America -Rosemberg was a trial on Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. They were members of the American Communist Party and were accused of spying for Russia. -They were executed in 1953. -The HUAC was a committee that targeted actors and other people in the movie industry as communists, and made a black list of those who were supposedly communists. They destroyed the careers of several. -HUAC suggested 6 passed laws

Communism in China

-US-supported Nationalists lose to Communists in Chinese civil war -Mao Zedong is the new Chinese leader -Nationalists flee to Taiwon; their defeat shocked Americans -Takeover of China thought to be communist plot to rule the world -State Department blamed for not stopping Communist takeover

McCarthyism

-Senator McCarthy of Wisconsin used the Korean War to further scare America of communists -He said he had a list of State Department Officials who belonged to the Communist Party - never made clear if these were facts, but this list still ruined the lives and careers of many. -"McCarthyism" - reckless charges against innocent citizens -Senate held hearings where McCarthy accused army of using communism/communists. -Army charged the senator and his staff with improper conduct -McCarthy slowly loses popularity after Senate criticizes McCarthy and his policies

The Space Race

-USSR and US began Space Race in 1957 -USSR sent up Sputnik, the world's first satellite -US then tries to get a satellit in orbit as well, costing billions of dollars -President Eisenhower wants to ease tension and talk with USSR - USSR shoots down an American spy plane over Russia -Eisenhowee denies that it was a spy plane and refuses to apologize -Tension increases, Eisenhower's plan to talk with USSR collapses -Eventually, US puts first man on the moon, ending the Space Race