1. The Early
Cold War:
1947-1970
Ms. Susan M. PojerMs. Susan M. Pojer
Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NYHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

2. “Reconstruction
& Confrontation”

3. The Ideological StruggleThe Ideological Struggle
Soviet & Eastern
Bloc Nations
[“Iron Curtain”]
US & the
Western
Democracies
GOAL  spread world-wide
Communism
GOAL  “Containment” of
Communism & the eventual
collapse of the Communist
world.
[George Kennan]METHODOLOGIES:
 Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]
 Arms Race [nuclear escalation]
 Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of
Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command
economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy] 
“proxy wars”
 Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

4. The “Iron Curtain”The “Iron Curtain”
From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic,From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic,
anan iron curtainiron curtain has descended across the Continent.has descended across the Continent.
Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central andBehind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and
Eastern Europe.Eastern Europe.
-- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946-- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946

5. Iron Curtain
•The political and military
barrier that isolated Soviet-
controlled countries of
Eastern Europe after World
War II.

6. Truman Doctrine [1947]Truman Doctrine [1947]
1.1. Civil War in Greece.Civil War in Greece.
2.2. Turkey under pressure from the USSR forTurkey under pressure from the USSR for
concessions in the Dardanelles.concessions in the Dardanelles.
3.3. The U. S. should support free peoplesThe U. S. should support free peoples
throughout the world who were resistingthroughout the world who were resisting
takeovers by armed minorities or outsidetakeovers by armed minorities or outside
pressures…We must assist free peoples topressures…We must assist free peoples to
work out their own destinies in their ownwork out their own destinies in their own
way.way.
4.4. The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400 millionThe U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400 million
in aid.in aid.

7. Marshall Plan [1948]Marshall Plan [1948]
1.1. ““European RecoveryEuropean Recovery
Program.”Program.”
2.2. Secretary of State,Secretary of State,
George MarshallGeorge Marshall
3.3. The U. S. should provideThe U. S. should provide
aid toaid to allall European nationsEuropean nations
that need it. This movethat need it. This move
is not against any country or doctrine, butis not against any country or doctrine, but
against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.
4.4. $12.5 billion of US aid to Western Europe$12.5 billion of US aid to Western Europe
extended to Eastern Europe & USSR, [but thisextended to Eastern Europe & USSR, [but this
was rejected].was rejected].

8. Germany
• Truman and his advisors believed Western Europe’s
prosperity depended on Germany’s recovery.
• The Soviets, however, still wanted Germany to pay
reparations.
• This dispute brought the nations to the brink of war.
• By 1948,American officials had concluded that the
Soviets were trying to undermine Germany’s economy.
• In response, the U.S., Britain, and France merged their
German zones and allowed the Germans to have their
own government, creating,The Federal Republic of
Germany, which became known as West Germany.

9. Post-War GermanyPost-War Germany

10. Berlin Blockade & AirliftBerlin Blockade & Airlift
(1948-49)(1948-49)

11. Germany
• They also agreed to merge their zones in Berlin and make
West Berlin part of West Germany.
• The Soviet Zone became the German Democratic
Republic, or East Germany.
• The creation of West Germany convinced the Soviets that
they would never get the reparations it wanted.
• In June 1948, Soviet Troops blockaded West Berlin hoping
to force the U.S. to reconsider its decision or abandon
West Berlin.
• Truman send bombers to bases in Britain, hoping to avoid
war, and ordered the air force to fly supplies into Berlin
rather than troops.

12. NNorthorth AAtlantictlantic TTreatyreaty
OOrganization (1949)rganization (1949)
 United StatesUnited States
 BelgiumBelgium
 BritainBritain
 CanadaCanada
 DenmarkDenmark
 FranceFrance
 IcelandIceland
 ItalyItaly
 LuxemburgLuxemburg
 NetherlandsNetherlands
 NorwayNorway
 PortugalPortugal
 1952: Greece &1952: Greece &
TurkeyTurkey
 1955: West Germany1955: West Germany
 1983: Spain1983: Spain

13. Warsaw Pact (1955)Warsaw Pact (1955)
} U. S. S. R.U. S. S. R.
} AlbaniaAlbania
} BulgariaBulgaria
} CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
} East GermanyEast Germany
} HungaryHungary
} PolandPoland
} RumaniaRumania

14. Mao’s Revolution: 1949Mao’s Revolution: 1949

15. The Arms Race:The Arms Race:
A “Missile Gap?”A “Missile Gap?”
} The Soviet UnionThe Soviet Union
exploded its first A-exploded its first A-
bomb in 1949.bomb in 1949.
} Now there were twoNow there were two
nuclearnuclear
superpowers!superpowers!

16. The Korean War: A “PoliceThe Korean War: A “Police
Action” (1950-1953)Action” (1950-1953)
Syngman RheeSyngman Rhee
Kim Il-SungKim Il-Sung

17. Korean War
• At the end of WWII, American and Soviet forces entered
Korea to disarm the Japanese troops stationed there.
• The Allies divided Korea: Soviet troops controlled the
north (Communist Korean government), while American
troops controlled the south.
• As the Cold War begins, talks to reunify Korea broke
down.
• Border clashes common. Soviets provided military aid to
to the North Koreans.
• June 25, 1950, North Korean troops invaded the south,
driving back the poorly equipped South Korean forces.

18. Korean War
• Eisenhower elected to presidency in 1952, determined to end
the war.
• He hinted to the Chinese that the U.S. might use a nuclear
attack in Korea.The threat seemed to work.
• Although there was never a peace treaty to end the war,
negotiators signed an armistice in July 1953.
• The Korean War marked a turing point in the Cold War.
• Now military backup instead of political pressure and
economic aid to contain communism.
• Now Cold War expanded to Asia.
• 1954: defense agreements with Japan, South Korea, and

19. Sputnik I (1957)Sputnik I (1957)
The Russians have beaten America in space—The Russians have beaten America in space—
they have the technological edge!they have the technological edge!

20. Premier Nikita KhrushchevPremier Nikita Khrushchev
About the capitalistAbout the capitalist
states, it doesn'tstates, it doesn't
depend on youdepend on you
whether wewhether we
(Soviet Union) exist.(Soviet Union) exist.
If you don't like us,If you don't like us,
don't accept ourdon't accept our
invitations, and don'tinvitations, and don't
invite us to comeinvite us to come
to see you. Whetherto see you. Whether
you like it our not, history is on our side.you like it our not, history is on our side. We will buryWe will bury
youyou. -- 1956. -- 1956
De-StalinizationDe-Stalinization
ProgramProgram

21. Nixon-KhrushchevNixon-Khrushchev
“Kitchen Debate”“Kitchen Debate”
(1959)(1959)
Cold War --->Cold War --->
TensionsTensions
<--- Technology<--- Technology
& Affluence& Affluence

22. Spy Plane
•Eisenhower invited
Khrushchev to visit the
U.S. in late 1959.The visit’s
success led the two
leaders to agree to hold a
summit in Paris.

23. U-2 Spy Incident (1960)U-2 Spy Incident (1960)
Col. Francis GaryCol. Francis Gary
Powers’ plane was shotPowers’ plane was shot
down over Sovietdown over Soviet
airspace.airspace.

24. • At first Eisenhower claimed that the
aircraft was a weather plane that had
strayed off course.
• Then Khrushchev dramatically
produced the pilot.
• Eisenhower refused to apologize,
saying the flights had protected
American security.
• In response, Khrushchev broke up
the summit.

25. Eisenhower term ending
• In this climate of heightened tension, President
Eisenhower prepares to leave office.
• In January 1961, he delivered a farewell address
to the nation in which he pointed out a new
relationship had developed between the
military establishment and the defense
industry.
• Although he had avoided war and contained
communism, he was frustrated.

26. “I confess that I lay down
my official responsibilities
n this field with a definite
ense of disappointment.
As one who has
witnessed the horror and
he lingering sadness of
war...I wish I could say
onight that a lasting
peace is in sight.”

27. Paris, 1961Paris, 1961
Khrushchev & JFK meet to discuss Berlin andKhrushchev & JFK meet to discuss Berlin and
nuclear proliferation. Khrushchev thinks that JFK isnuclear proliferation. Khrushchev thinks that JFK is
young, inexperienced, and can be rolled.young, inexperienced, and can be rolled.