USH 15:2 Containing Communism

• The Long Telegram– George Kennan, State Dept– Explanation of Soviet behavior• Russians traditionally insecure• Fear of the West• Long-term struggle with Capitalism• “containment”

15:2 Crisis in Iran

• Soviet and U.S. troops in Iran during WWII• Soviet troops refuse to leave after war• Soviets demand access to Iran’s oil• Truman sends USS Missouri to eastern Mediterranean

• Soviet troops withdraw from region

15:2 The Truman Doctrine

• Russia turns focus on straits of the Dardanelles– Strategic route from Black Sea to Mediterranean

• U.S. sees this as Soviet move to control Middle East • U.S. sends warships to protect Turkey• U.S. pledges to help contain spread of

communism worldwide

15:2 The Marshall Plan

• European recovery program (1947)– Sec’y of State George C. Marshall

• Aid given to European economies recovering from war– Billions of dollars in machinery, supplies, and food

15:2 The Berlin Airlift

• U.S., Great Britain, and France combine their German zones– Becomes West Germany– Soviets control East Germany• Try to cut off Berlin

• June, 1948-spring of ’49– 2 million tons of supplies airlifted to city

15:2 NATO

• Public now supports a military alliance with Western Europe

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1949)

– A mutual defense alliance• Soviet response– Create Warsaw Pact (Eastern Europe)

15:2 The Korean War

• Cold War spreads beyond Europe• China falls to communism– Chinese Nationalists (supported by U.S.)

• People’s Republic of China (1949)– U.S. loses main ally in the Pacific region– U.S. focus on strengthening relations with Japan

15:2 Korean War Begins

• U.S. and Soviet forces in Korea after WWII– To disarm Japanese troops– U.S. controls south, Soviets control north– Soviets build-up north militarily • Invade south (June, 1950)

– Truman asks United Nations to intervene