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Iron Curtain
Symbolized the ideological fighting and it physically divided Europe into separate areas in 1945(the end of WWII) to 1989(the end of the Cold war); On each side of the Curtain, states developed their own international economic and military alliances; By separating the country, by most notably the Berlin wall, it angered the Soviets and worsened the relations between the West and the Soviet Union. -
Division of Germany
The end result was a free West Berlin located inside Russian-controlled East Germany, like an island. Russia suddenly cut off the railway to West Berlin (1948) in attempt to strangle West Berlin into giving itself over to the East. America's response was the Berlin Airlift where the U.S. simply flew in needed supplies to West Berlin. The operation was on a massive scale, and it worked. The Soviet Union ended their blockade the next year. -
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Iron Curtain
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Division of Germany
The UN talked about this idea and enacted it in the late 1940s. To avoid Germany rearming, the country was divided into four zones. The U.S., France, Britain, and Russia would oversee one zone. The idea was to reunite Germany, but Russia balked at the idea. Germany was going to remain split. West Germany would be a democracy; East Germany was a puppet communist nation. Berlin was located in East Germany (Russia's section) and it was also split into four zones. -
Yalta Conference
It was held from February 4th-11th in 1945 in Livadia Palace near Yalta, in the Crimea. It was a wartime meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin to discuss Europe’s post-war organization. The key things that happened in the conference were the agreement that Nazi war criminals were to be hunted down and brought to justice (Nuremberg trials) and all three heads agreed to spilt territories with each other. -
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Yalta Conference
This was the catalyst for the Cold War to begin. The Soviet Union thought because they lost so many men in WWII, they should be rewarded with bountiful territories. The USSR was promised in this conference land grants to Manchuria and other Japanese territories. The Americans had no problem with this, but the Europeans, especially the British, were not ready to give those lands to the Soviet Union. These negotiations were not resolved and left the UUSR furious. -
The United Nations
The United Nations - The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue. On April 25th, 1945 the first meeting of the United of Nations went off, even without Roosevelt. This group was created to integrate any conflicts internationally, including the Cold War. Its sole purpose was to prevent and stop wars between countries, so it would help to end the Cold War immensely -
Truman Doctrine
In the doctrine he asked Congress for $400 million to aid Greece and Turkey who were feeling communist pressures. Though focused on Greece and Turkey at the time, the Truman Doctrine was greatly broadened—the U.S. was to stop communism anywhere it seemed to be trying to expand. This policy would dominate U.S. foreign policy for the next four decades. -
National Security Act
realigned and reorganized the U.S. Armed Forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II. The Act merged the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into the National Military Establishment, headed by the Secretary of Defense. -
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National Security Act
It was also responsible for the creation of a Department of the Air Force the act established the National Security Council, a central place of coordination for national security policy. The function of the council was to advise the president on domestic, foreign, and military policies so that they may cooperate more tightly and efficeintly -
Marshall Plan
(officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) The goals of the United States were to rebuild a war-devastated region, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, and make Europe prosperous again. This plan was well received on both sides of the Atlantic and it was cooling down the tensions of the Cold War. -
Berlin Blockade
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Berlin Blockade
Russia suddenly cut off the railway to West Berlin in attempt to strangle West Berlin into giving itself over to the East. America's response was the Berlin Airlift where the U.S. simply flew in needed supplies to West Berlin. The operation was on a massive scale, and it worked. The Soviet Union ended their blockade the next year. This event helped to aid the cause to end the Cold War. -
Hydrogen Bomb
After the Soviet atomic bomb success the scientific community split over the issue of building a hydrogen bomb. Edward Teller, who had explored the idea of a 'super' during the Manhattan Project, supported its development. Men like J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and I.I. opposed its developement. This showed the world that the U.S. was ready for war if it ever sprang out against the USSR. -
National Security Council Report 68 (NSC-68)
calls for a military capable of defending the Western Hemisphere and essential allied areas in order that their war-making capabilities can be developed; Providing and protecting a mobilization base while the offensive forces required for victory were being built up; Conducting offensive operations to destroy vital elements of the Soviet war-making capacity, and to keep the enemy off balance until the full offensive strength of the United States and its allies can be brought to bear; -
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NSC-68
Defending and maintaining the lines of communication and base areas necessary to the execution of the above tasks; and providing such aid to allies as is essential to the execution of their role in the above tasks. NSC-68 was an important part of an overall shift in American foreign policy to a comprehensive containment strategy that was confirmed by successive administrations. -
Korean Conflict
Many feared an escalation into a general war with Communist China, and even nuclear war.For these reasons British officials sought a speedy end to the conflict, hoping to unite Korea under United Nations auspices and withdrawal of all foreign forces. Even though the Chinese and North Koreans were exhausted by the war and were prepared to end it by late 1952, Stalin insisted that they continue fighting, and the Armistice was approved only in July 1953, after Stalin died. -
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Korean Conflict
Kim Il-Sung's North Korean People's Army invaded South Korea. To Joseph Stalin's surprise,[16] the UN Security Council backed the defense of South Korea, though the Soviets were then boycotting meetings in protest that Taiwan and not Communist China held a permanent seat on the Council. Among other effects, the Korean War galvanised NATO to develop a military structure. Public opinion in countries involved, such as Great Britain, was divided for and against the war. -
MacArthur fired
US President Harry S. Truman relieved General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of his commands for making public statements that contradicted the administration's policies. MacArthur publicly called for the extension of war to China, which was contrary to Truman’s wishes. His relief cause major conflict in the U.S. about the state of the war and the image of their president.
