US HISTORY II

LECTURE # 2

1946

Truman is not the only one who was concerned with Stalin’s quest for world domination

March 5, 1946 – Churchill gave his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in Missouri. “an iron curtain has descended across the continent”

Truman & Churchill knew that Stalin was gaining more control with his satellite states and censorship

They were also concerned that Stalin was plotting to spread communism to western Europe

1947

The crisis between SU & US intensified

SU moved into Greece and Turkey and was trying to make them communistic

US - only country with the resources to aid GR and TK.

So Truman gives an emotional speech to Congress asking for $ to help GR & TK.

If the US retreated into isolationism (as in WW1), the peace of the world and the welfare of the nation would be in danger (Truman)

Congress approved $400 million to aid GR & TK

Truman’s promise to aid nations struggling against communist movements became known as the Truman Doctrine

Truman Doctrine – laid the foundation for American foreign policy

Containing Soviet Expansion

George Kennan – American diplomat and expert on SU

Wrote an article about Soviet conduct and his article presented a blueprint for American foreign policy

Containment – the goal of keeping communism contained within its existing borders – OUR FOREIGN POLICY

After WWII, the people of western Europe were dealing with food, fuel, and medical shortages

Sec. of State George Marshall presented a recovery plan for Europe

This recovery plan, giving $13 billion in grants and loans to western Europe, was known as the Marshall Plan

Aid was offered to the Soviet Satellite states, but Stalin would not let them accept it.

Effects of Marshall Plan:

(1)helped countries that desperately needed $ assistance

(2)the prosperity it stimulated helped American economy by increasing trade

(3)good relations that the aid created worked against the expansion of communism

Reminder: Germany was divided into four zones

The zones controlled by FR, BR, & US formed West Germany

The other zone was East Germany

Inside East Germany was Berlin

Berlin was also divided into West Berlin and East Berlin

Allies controlled West Berlin

Stalin controlled East Berlin

So life in West Berlin was good, relatively prosperous, and the people experienced freedom

It was completely the opposite in East Berlin

Stalin hated how things looked so good in West Berlin, so in June 1948, he stopped all highway, railway, and waterway traffic from West Germany into West Berlin

Stalin knew West Berlin would eventually fall to the communists

But Stalin forgot about the sky

BR & US spent the next year airlifting food, fuel, medical supplies, clothing, everything the West Berlin residents needed was flown into the city

The Berlin airlift demonstrated to everyone in the world just how far we’d go to protect non-communist parts of Europe and to contain communism

May 1949 – Stalin acknowledged his blockade was a failure

Q: What did the Berlin airlift demonstrate?

A: that Stalin could be contained if western nations were prepared to take forceful action

This led to the formation of NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)

NATO was a military alliance to counter Soviet expansion (12 nations)

Collective Security – the notion that if one NATO nation is attacked, it is considered an attack against all of them (principle of mutual military assistance)

Stalin responded to NATO by forming the Warsaw Pact

Warsaw Pact – a military alliance between all of the communist states of eastern Europe

Stalin used the Warsaw Pact as another way to exert control