How political differences between the two Superpowers escalated?
In 1945, when World War II had basically been decided, we first witnessed stress between the allied nations.
Russia believed in communism and wanted to expand its borders
Def: A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
Communism was so important to Russia because it gave them power and stability. They prospered economically greatly from that type of government.
In the 19th century Great Britain want to contain Russia from becoming a major European influence.
Both the Americans and British didn't believe in communism
The Americans believed in freedom and democracy
These qualities gave the Americans respect, power, and wealth. They believed it was a more fair way of life.
From this different political view the situation between the Allies could only worsen. With these two nations on such different paths, confrontation was almost inevitable.
Churchill and the Iron Curtain
He warned the world (especially the Americans) of the risk of the Soviets takeover of Europe. (1946)
Famous quotation " From Stetting on the Baltic to Trieste on the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended over the continent" (Winston Churchill, 1946)
March 12, 1947 President Truman asked congress to support Greece and Turkey in its fight against communism. (The Truman Doctrine)
This was to prevent the spread of communism in Europe and take over where the British could no longer afford to do.
This lead to the Americans becoming a strong influencer of European affairs.
The Marshall Plan: This plan offered financial support to any nation that needed it. All nations in debt from World War 2 were eligible.
Part of this plan saw the Americans giving military equipment to the Greek and Turks.
This plan named after George C. Marshall, was a finance aid package for the recovery of Europe.
Russia disagreed with this plan fearing it would lose its other countries. The Russians forbid their nations to accept the aid from the Americans.
The Marshall plan was responsible for restoring economical power and prosperity of Western Europe.
"Containment": A theory that the Soviet Union would be lead into an inedible self-destruction from the upraising of internal pressure of within
The Marshall Plan was an important event that leads to the division line of Soviet and American supported countries.
The Soviets were very paranoid nations. They were attacked 4 times in the 19th and 20th centuries. They wanted complete Eastern Europe domination to protect themselves from any attacks. They used other nations as buffers to protect them from surprise attacks. This is another important reason why the Soviets took such aggressive actions and why happened as they did.
In attempts to further protect themselves Stalin called a meeting of all communist parties around the world. They formed the "Communist Information Bureau" (Cominform).
This was a bold more to strengthen Communism in many parts of the world and to re-inforce the division line of the two super powers.
With the Marshall plan and Stalin's "Cominform" in place the nations began to square off at each other. The dividing line between the Americans and Soviets grew
The "Cold War" had begun.
The Cold War was basically an un-fought battle between the Soviet Union and the Americans. This battle was like a poker game with apocalyptic possibilities. Each nation bluffed and tested its boundaries to see who would budge first.
The British and the Americans decided that they didn't want Russia to completely control the German capital of Berlin so they bargained with the Russians to receive Eastern Berlin. (July 3, 1945)
Hostility between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies grew. The West started to rebuild their portion of Berlin. The Russians disagreed and cut off all routes to Berlin.
They figured the West would abandon or withdraw but they stood strong.
The Berlin Air lift was now in effect as of June 1948
The Americans flew 4500 tons of food, and fuel to Berlin on a daily basis.
"Planes were taking off every 30 seconds, soldiers were loading trucks… It was a 24-hour operation" (Quoted in Heins)
In 1949 the Soviets admitted defeat and discontinued the blockade.
The Berlin Wall
Constructed August 13, 1961
The Russians wanted to keep the mingling of the East and West Germany to a minimum.
Russians understood that the Americans treated the Germans better and many Germans preferred the American side but lived in the Russian occupied zone
The Russian's imposed a harsh atmosphere on the Germans
"The police no longer dragged people out of their houses in the middle of the night, but the agents were everywhere. You sit in a movie house watching a film and suddenly the lights go on and you wait while the Vopos walk down the aisle looking everyone over." (Time, August 1961)
The nations then begun finding new allies to better protect themselves if war was to happen
The Russians and Americans spread their military equipment around the world and funding many countries to oppose each other.
This lead to such confrontations at the Cuban Missile Crisis
Americans went to Death-Con 3 only 2 alert levels from total nuclear war.
The Vietnam War
More than 10,000 American lives were lost in the jungle battles, which the military was unprepared to fight.
Warsaw Pact forces invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovak
Effect of the Cold War
The political struggles grew. Each fought for its own way of life.
Both the Western Allies and the Soviet Union spent large sums of money competing against each other for their beliefs.
Billions of dollars went into weapons development and military strengthening.
Billions of dollars went into the strengthening of allied countries.
Many lives were lost through the battles, which each nation fought against each other.
Many divisions among the small European nations.
Social: The possibility of cooperation between nations was little because of such opposite paths that the Super-powers were on.
The American youths began a new way of looking at things. They started questioning and going against the government. Through this "Cold War" the "Hippies" became popular. The use of drugs and substances to turn their minds from the possibility of total annihilation became very popular. So was born the "Flower Child". The culture accepted these ideas and it became a great change from the strict uptight Americas of the 40's and 50's.
This new way of life created "The Peace Movement"
Anti-war
These Hippies were greatly influenced by the music they listened too. Anti-war statements were found in many of the top hits of the time.
"War, What is it good for?.. Absolutely nothing" Edwin Starr
Many countries were influenced by the superpowers that allied with them. American and Russia ideologies spread throughout the world.
Intellectual:
Both the west and the Soviets imposed distorted ideas of their foes.
They prevented the spread of each other's beliefs in their own territory and influenced others to follow their ways.
Technology:
The Cold War influenced the technology of space exploration and ballistics.
The militaries made great changes in their arsenals improving and re-designing many military pieces.
The introduction of intercontinental Atomic missile attack.
Nuclear fusion (hydrogen bomb)
Advancements in Radar and invention of satellites.
Computer advancements and communication improvements
Geography:
The face of Europe changed. The USSR expanded, and tried to dominate Europe
From the Western views The Cold War started as a battle to prevent the expansion of Russia.
From the Soviet views The Cold War started as an attempt to stop their growth and strength in Europe.
Sources:
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The Dangers of Nuclear War
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Milestones of Manned Flight
London, 1994
Encarta 2000
Microsoft
USA, 1999
Kagan, Donald & Ozment, Steven & Turner, Frank
The Western Heritage (Seventh Edition)
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Michael Jean
February 15, 2002
A.P. History