COLD WAR

Why did the USA and the USSR emerge as Superpowers after 1945?Military Reasons• To defeat Germany, the USA had to

become the number one air-force power in the world.

• To defeat Germany, the USSR had to become the number one land-force power.

• France and Britain’s inability to defeat Germany changed the balance of power. They had become 2nd rank powers.

• The USSR lacked any strong military neighbors. This made them a regional power.

Economic Reasons• USA out produced all other powers

put together.

• USA committed to Open Trade

• Small Eastern European countries were not economically viable on their own and they needed a stronger neighbor and the USSR replaced Germany in this role

Why did the USA and the USSR emerge as Superpowers after

1945?Political Reasons• For the West the ideals of democracy and international collaboration had

triumphed over Nazism and Fascism. Democracy was the right path for the future.

• For the Soviet Union, it was Communism that triumphed over Fascism. Communism had gained support and respect in Europe because of its part in resisting the Germans.

• The USSR’s huge losses, and the role of the Red Army in defeating Nazis, gave Stalin a claim to great influence in forming the post – war world.

• The USSR had the political & military strength to prevent a return to instability in Eastern Europe.

COLD WAR - BACKGROUNDCOLD WAR - BACKGROUND

1. Soon after the war ended, the Allied unity and spirit of cooperation (former Grand Alliance) shattered and the world divided into two sides -- East (USSR) vs. West (US)

2. Who was to blame for the breakdown of unity?a. ORTHODOX OR TRADITIONAL VIEW- Evil intentions of the USSR .b. REVISIONIST Soviet actions were defensive, not aggressive, in response to US actions .c. POST –REVISIONIST VIEW-- both sides shared the blame

probably misunderstood each other

ORTHODOX VIEWORTHODOX VIEW• Soviet Union was responsible for

the Cold War.

• Soviets were expansionists in accordance with Marxist Leninist Theory which advocated worldwide communism.

• Stalin violated the Yalta and Potsdam agreements.

• Stalin occupied and imposed Soviet control on Eastern Europe and “plotted” to spread Communism worldwide.

• US had to act defensively– Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO.

• Historian Arthur Schlesinger

US Beliefs Relevant to the Development US Beliefs Relevant to the Development

of the Cold Warof the Cold War 1. Soviet intent to dominate the entire

world.

2. Communism was monolithic.

3. Domino Principle.

4. Best way to fight Soviet aggression was containment:(a) Russia was historically expansive;(b) Marxist-Leninist doctrines was now motivating Russia:(c) The Soviets would seek to influence neighboring states to "adopt" communism;(d) USSR would exercise a persistent pressure but would withdraw if opposed

5. US must assert firm, vigilant containment. Containment was viewed as a defensive measure against a ruthless adversary

REVISIONIST VIEWREVISIONIST VIEW

• USA was crumbling during the Vietnam War and responsible for the Cold War.

• Dollar Diplomacy and Open Door Policy – US foreign policy inherently linked to the needs of Capitalism, containment of Communism was driven by the requirement to secure markets and free trade in Eastern Europe. This followed the Open Door Policy of the late 19th Century. William Appleman Williams.

• Japan was defeated using the atomic bomb and this “new weapon” of awesome power was used to warn and intimidate the Soviets. –Gar Alperovitz

Soviet Responses to US ActionsSoviet Responses to US Actions

1. Middle East -- Iran -- The first major East-West Confrontation Dec 1945a. An Anglo-Soviet agreement in 1941 allowed the stationing of British forces in Southern Iran and Soviet troops in Northern Iran.b. This confrontation caused the US to consider assuming a greater role in the Middle East.

2. Turkey was threatened by an external Soviet-backed movement, seeking to control the Straits

3. Greece was threatened by a Soviet-backed internal guerrilla movement seeking to overthrow the government.

COLD WAR CAUSESCOLD WAR CAUSES

4. USSR and US entered their wartime alliance burdened by a past record of mutual distrust and a significantly different emphasis on what should constitute the major rationale for fighting the war

a. systemic conditions : end of the former multipolar systems.

b ideology - opposing poles of capitalism and Marxism-Leninism were influential in shaping highly negative images of each other -America (brutal, totalitarian communist state) vs USSR (exploitative, imperialist, capitalist state);

c. national security systems - the economic and strategic needs of each nation were different(1) Soviets insisted on a defense perimeter to include central and eastern Europe and appeared to include influence in eastern Mediterranean and Middle East as well.(2) US desired a global open door or free trade

d. miscalculation in diplomacy

5. Early divisive issues werea. The government of postwar Polandb. The governments of postwar Eastern Europec. Postwar planning for Germany, including Soviet demands for large-scale reparations.d. The structure of the new United Nations Organizatione. International controls for the atomic bomb and atomic energy.

American Responses to Soviet Actions American Responses to Soviet Actions

Based on the Above PremisesBased on the Above Premises • Truman Doctrine - 12 March 1947 -

The Beginning of the Cold War

• Marshall Plan - 5 June 1947

• Foreign Assistance Act - April 1948

• Mutual Security Act 1951

• National Security Act - 26 July 1947 -- created the:a. Department of Defense by combining the Departments of War, Navy and Army

• CIA

• NSC 68 –military and economic aid to any country perceived by the USA to be resisting Communism.

• Selective Service Act

Additional Areas of Additional Areas of Confrontation Confrontation

• Eastern Europea successful Soviet-backed coup d'etat in Czechoslovakia on 25 Feb 48 created a communist regime.

• Germany - 7 June - Western Powers created a federal zone from the western German occupied zones, forming the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

• 21 May 1949 - German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was formed.

• Berlin Airlift - 24 June 48 - 25 May 49.

Additional American Responses Additional American Responses To Soviet Actions To Soviet Actions

• Organization of American States (OAS) 1948

• Point IV - 20 Jan 1949 -- Truman announced in his inaugural address a bold new plan to provide technical and capital assistance to underdeveloped nations.

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization – 1949 Article V - Attacking one member would be perceived as attacking all of them.

• Brussels Pact Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands UK) 17 March 1948

• Vandenberg Resolution - 11 June 1948

• Creation of Israel

• China - Chiang Kai-shek, who controlled the South against the communists in the North led by Mao.

• Korean Conflict

• 28 members presently in NATO

• SEATO against Communists in China (Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, UK, US)

Creation of Israel

POST –REVISIONIST VIEWPOST –REVISIONIST VIEW• Neither the USA not the USSR can be held solely responsible for the origins of the Cold

War.

• Cold War grew out of:

1. Complicated interaction of external and internal developments inside the USA and the USSR

2. The external situation, beyond the control of either, left the Americans and the Russians facing one another across a prostrated Europe.

3. The internal influences left the USSR searching for security, the role of her ideology, massive post-war reconstruction and the personality of Stalin.

4. Together with those of the USA in their need for self-determination, fear of the spread of Communism, American economic strength and the atomic bomb.

5. While they did not precipitate war, they made resolution of differences impossible.

6. Misconceptions – both overestimated the strength of the other.

7. There was a pattern of action and reaction. The West did not fully recognize the Soviet’s motives. –John Lewis Gladdis.

COLD WARCOLD WAR