Chapter 25 notes.

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Origins of the Cold War.

Germany and Japan were defeated after WWII ,and France and Great Britain were weakened by the war.

Only two geopolitical powers remained ,those two powers were the United States and the Soviet Union.

This two powers were dived by geography , history, ideology and strategic interest, but they were united in their objective of defeating the x powers.

President Roosevelt believed that it was important to maintain a relationship with the Soviet Union to maintain "global stability".

Yalta

The Yalta Conference ,was important for the starting point of the Cold War , three important powers met :Roosevelt , Churchill, and Stalin , but the outcome was disagreetment between Stalin and Roosevelt.

Stalin insisted that Russian National Security required pro soviet governments in Eastern Europe.

Roosevelt pressed for an agreement "Declaration on the Liberated of Europe " which would allow Poland to have self-determination and democratic Elections.

The most important thing is that the Big three stablish the United nations , the system was composed by a general assembly and a council of five.

Potsdam

While Truman had no experience in World affairs , and was in no position to fix problems in Eastern Europe because it was occupied by the red army, Stalin contradicted him because he was determined to stablish communist governments , and expand boundary which would increase Soviet Union's power.

Even though Eastern countries such as Hungary had democratic openness , Stalin had gathered a group of people interested in regimes. Therefore Stalin's unwillingness to "honor self determination in Eastern countries was the starting point of the Cold War.

Y and P demonstrate how the US and the soviet Union had different objectives.

Containment Strategy

The target of the strategy was to limit Stalin's influence over Eastern Europe while reconstructing democratic governments .

President Truman saw three major issues :

The soviet Union was putting pressure to Iraq to have access to soil , and Turkey to have passage to the Mediterranean.

There was civil war in Greece between the monarchists and Yugoslavian communist parties.

European nations were under a state of poverty 1946-1947 , which enhanced communist power , particularly in countries like Italy and France.

Toward An Uneasy Peace

An important American Diplomat George F. Kennan described the west the fallowing way in an article Foreign Affairs the west only recourse was to fight against the Soviets whenever they showed signs of trying to destroy peace and stability in the World.

Henceforth, the Soviets' leader Stalin changed his perspective to one in which he saw the U.S. as the new imperialist trying to replace Great Britain.

As a result of Britain's power decline , a debate for power between Communism and capitalism was stablished, that meant that Russia and the United States would be under constant tension.

In February 1947 , London informed Truman that they could no longer support the anticommunist in the Greek Civil War . Truman feared that this would lead to the Soviet domination of the Eastern Mediterranean and stablish Communist parties in France and Italy.

As a result, Truman created the Truman Doctrine , this doctrine made America responsible of supporting people or countries that are resisting armed minorities or exterior pressures.

Truman also proposed helping Greece and Turkey; even if the U.S. provided military support congress approved a 300 million in aid to Greece and 100 million in aid to Turkey.

Due to the poor economic conditions in Europe Communism now represented a thread for the United States ,as a result secretary OF STATE gEORGE C. Marshall proposed a:massive introduction of American Capital to rebuild the European Economy.

Even though, this Plan was'nt approved by the Republicans at first , this plan was put into Place because Stalin was supporting Communist ideas in Czechoslovakia (1948, Feb 25).Henceforth the plan became succesful because it helped European industrial production to increase, and removed Communist interest in the West.

However, the Marshall Plan increased Tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union this is because it consisted in restriction to which Stalin Strongly refused ; as a result Stalin's allies also refused which deprived them of the assistance they needed.

East and the West in the new Europe.

After, Stalin was informed about United States' idea of creating a German Republic , he decided to Blockade traffic to West Berlin ;but Truman insisted in providing help ,which was done through an improvised air lift that dropped food.

The Crisis in Berlin convinced Western Europe to create a Security pact with the United States, NATO guaranteed a military alliance with twelve nations and the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany, the alliance could represent a thread to other nations, this reaction is showed through the Soviet Union's creation of the Eastern German Democratic Republic and COMECON council for mutual economic assistance (1955), and the creation of Warsaw Pact for Eastern Europe.

NSC-68

Atomic developments contributed to the creation of the Cold War , this is because both sides particularly the United States created bombs.

Measures taken by the U.S. :

Barnard Baruch proposed an oversight of Atomic energy in 1946, which would allow United States to have near total control of technology

Development of a Hydrogen Bomb , A fatal thermonuclear device .

The NSC-68 require Americans to pay higher taxes.

The Soviet Union:

Was described as a group of people with "Fanatic faith " to "impose absolute authority".

After the Cold War Important things to know:

Cuban Bay of Pigs-The U.S attempts to invade Cuba with the power of CIA , but this were defeated by Castro's army.

Reason: Castro was going to start a Communist Revolution.