TOPIC 9: THE COLD WAR

This was another long term result of the Second World War having its roots in the suspicion which the most powerful of the Great powers had for each other.

THE IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN USA AND USSR

• Since 1917, USSR had been a communist state. Land, factories, transport system and business were owned by government.
• USA on the other hand was capitalist and democratic. Almost all land, factories and businesses were owned by individuals. The government was elected by people and they were free to criticize it.

DETERMINATION OF STALIN TO CREATE SATELLITE COMMUNIST STATES IN EASTERN EUROPE AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

  • It made the West led by USA feel that the Russians were out there to spread communism throughout the world,

  • After World War II, Russians were responsible for the formation of communist states in Eastern Europe.

  • USA wanted elections in these states. Consequently, the two countries found themselves in bitter opposition,

  • However, the cold war did not develop into a major war because the development of nuclear weapons made war to be avoided at all costs.

    • WHY THE ONCE WAR ALLIES BECAME BITTER RIVALS

    • During World War II, the allies had one aim; promoting the defeat of their enemy, Germany.
    • When the purpose was achieved, there was nothing to unite them.

    DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLD WAR

    THE YALTA CONFERENCE (FEBRUARY 1945)

    • The Big Three, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill laid down foundations for the post- world war.

    • Russia wanted to have control over Eastern Europe but Roosevelt and Churchill were against this because they wanted to arrange elections there.

    THE PORTSDAM CONFERENCE (JULY 1945)

  • The characters had changed. Harry Truman had replaced Roosevelt and Clement Atlee had replaced Churchill.

  • The two new leaders did not get friendly relations with Stalin who wanted to set up a communist state in Poland.

    • ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNIST STATES

    • In rapid succession, at the end of World War II, USSR sponsored the establishment of communist regimes in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania.

    • In 1946, Stalin and his foreign minister, Molotov gave public speeches in which they spoke highly of communism.

    • By 1947, all Eastern European states had communist governments (had become satellites).

    THE IRON CURTAIN SPEECH (MARCH 1946)

    • It was made at Foul ton, Missouri in USA.

    • He talked about an iron curtain that was dividing a free democratic west from the Eastern totalitarian states.

    • He warned about communist subversion and urged for western unity and strength.

    THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE (1947)

  • Greece was under attack from communist forces and asked USA for help.
  • Harry Truman quickly supplied the Greeks with arms and money. This was known as Policy of containment.

    • THE ALLIANCES IN THE WEST

    1. ECONOMIC

    A. THE MARSHALL AID

    • Was initiated by the American secretary of state, George Marshall in 1947.
    • He devised the economic aid which would be given to countries on condition that they accepted capitalism.

    B. ORGANISATION OF EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION (OEEC)

    Was formed by the west to monitor the distribution of resources in the Marshall Plan.

    EASTERN BLOCK

    A.MOLOTOVPLAN

    Was initiated by the Russian secretary of state, Molotov as a response to the Marshall Plan.

    B. COUNCIL FOR MUTUAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE (COMECON)

    This was a direct response to the OEEC.

    2. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

    A. NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NATO)

  • • In 1948, the western countries formed the Brussel's Defence Treaty. These were Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemborg (Benelux).
    • Later, they decided to strengthen it by incorporating USA and Canada to form NATO. Its purpose was for mutual defence of its members.

    • B. WARSAW PACT (1955)

  • In 1954, West Germany joined NATO. The Russian response was to establish Warsaw Pact, a communist version of NATO.
  • Russia was given a legal right to keep troops in Eastern Europe.

    • INCIDENTS DURING THE COLD WAR

    BERLIN BLOCKADE AND AIR LIFT (JUNE 1948-MAY 1949)

    • The division of Germany into capitalist west and communist East complicated things.
    • The Russians blockaded west Berlin by closing road, rail and canal routes, hopping to force west Germany into amalgamation (joining) with East Germany.
    • The western countries responded by using an air lift to supply the required materials for 11 months.

    END OF THE COLD WAR

    THE THAW:

    This was temporary relaxation of tension between the western block an the east.

    This was done for the following reasons:

    • The new Soviet leader after Stalin's death, Nikita Kruschev often talked about peaceful coexistence. In 1956, he denounced Stalin.
    • In 1960, he visited USA and later Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia.
    • He also allowed 16 satellite states to be members of the UNO.
    • In USA president Dwight Eisenhower who had replaced Joseph M Carthy was more conciliatory towards the Russians.

    DETENTE:

  • This means permanent relaxation of international pressure.
  • As Soviet-American relations thawed, they began to develop East - West links among themselves which set the stage for European detente in the 1970s.

    • REASONS

    • USSR was finding the expense of coping up with the Americans difficult.

    " The nations of Western Europe were worried because they would be in the forefront if nuclear war broke out.