Origins of the Cold War Atlantic Charter – August 1941 • Churchill and Roosevelt meet, discuss post-war self determination for countries and “Four Freedoms” (Speech, Religion, From Want, From Fear) Moscow Conference - Oct. 1943 • U.S.S.R. agrees to enter fight against Japan after Germany is defeated Tehran Conference – Dec. 1943 • Planning of Operation Overlord Yalta – Feb. 1945 • Early planning for United Nations • Agreed to divide Germany into 4 occupation zones (France, England, U.S.S.R. and U.S.) Potsdam Conference – July 1945
• First conference involving Truman as president • Approval of War Crimes Trials • Truman orders dropping of Atomic Bomb Opposing Perspectives
• Neither Churchill nor Truman trusted Stalin, did not tell him about the development of the Atomic Bomb • Capitalist and Communist Countries ideologically opposed • U.S. was only undamaged country, wanted to rebuild Western Europe in their model to block the spread of Communism Problems with the U.S.S.R. • U.S.S.R. promised to allow free elections in Poland, did not follow through Problems Cont. • Churchill responds by making his famous “Iron Curtain” speech Problems Cont • American politicians propose a policy of “Containment” by the U.S. to stop the spread of Communism (surround Communist countries with Democratic allies) Problems Cont • Truman Doctrine – March 1947 – Truman asks for economic aid for Greece and Turkey to oppose Communist trying to take over their government Problems Cont • Marshall Plan – 1947 – Western European nations provided with 12 Billion in aid from U.S. to rebuild and fight Communism United Nations Formed • April 1945, San Francisco Conference – Security Council formed (11 Members) with veto power, permanent seats for U.S., France, Britain, China and U.S.S.R. U.N Cont.
• Secretary General to handle day to day affairs • General Assembly with delegates from each nation (some banned) • International Court of Justice to deal with legal disputes
• Ban Ki-Moon current Sec. General European Crisis • Berlin Blockade and Airlift – 1948 – Berlin divided into 2 parts, Soviets block West Berlin off – Allies respond by supplying city for 1 year by air – Soviets finally back down and allow traffic into city European Crisis cont • NATO formed – North Atlantic Treaty Organization – 12 nations join, agreeing to support each other militarily (democracies) Second Red Scare • 1947 Loyalty checks of government workers begin Second Red Scare cont. • HUAC formed (House on Un-American Activities Committee) – Holds numerous public hearings attacking individuals, blacklisting many of them in in T.V., Radio and movies SRS cont • Hiss Case – Alger Hiss, former State Dept. Diplomat, accused of disloyalty by Whittaker Chambers, a confessed Soviet Spy – Hiss sued Chambers for libel, but was convicted of perjury in 1950
• Alger Hiss SRS cont
• McCarthyism • Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin attacked suspected Communist, claimed to have a list of over 200 Communist within the government. Finally brought down after attacking the U.S. Army in televised witch hunt.
Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party? SRS cont • McCarren Internal Security Act of 1950 • Required all Communist Organizations to register with the government and show their financial statements • Vetoed by Truman, but overridden by congress SRS cont • Rosenberg Case • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg arrested, tried and executed for selling secrets of the Atom Bomb to Russians in 1951