TRUMAN, the Iron Curtain AND CONTAINMENT IN EUROPE

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TRUMAN, the Iron Curtain AND CONTAINMENT IN
EUROPE

• IB History of the Americas

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GUIDING QUESTION

• Analyze the success and failures of the United
  States Cold War policy of containment during the
  period 1945-1953 in Europe.

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The Iron Curtain

• The Iron Curtain was the symbolic, ideological,
  and physical boundary dividing Europe into two
  separate areas from the end of World War II in
  1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991

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The Iron Curtain

• The Iron Curtain took the shape of border
  defenses between the countries of Western and
  Eastern Europe, most notably the Berlin Wall,
  which served as a longtime symbol of the Curtain
  altogether.

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Who came up with it?

• The term was first used by Nazi Germany's
  Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, in a
  manifesto he published in the German newspaper
  Das Reich in February 1945, but was popularized
  by Winston Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech
  of March 5,1946

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THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE
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What was it..
It was very simple.. Whereas before WW2 the USA
had been isolationist and not got involved in
Europe.NOW Because of the fear of Communism
the USA was prepared to intervene throughout the
world to protect democracy against communism. By
lending equipment, advice etc ( and eventually
military force) The main aim was to stop
communism spreading further This policy was
called CONTAINMENT
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The Truman Doctrine

• March 12, 1947
• Speech that became known as the Truman doctrine.
• Truman mapped out the realities of the world
  after WWII.
• He explained that the US should help any country
  that was threatened by Communism
• The only choice is between democracy and
  totalitarianism
• Idea of Containment
• Sent 400 million worth of war supplies to Greece
  and helped push out Communism
• The Truman Doctrine marked a new level of
  American commitment to a Cold War.

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Containment

• The idea of holding back the spread of Communism
• This was the first time the American Public heard
  of this idea of containment
• Americans at this point were not too happy about
  an anti-communist crusade
• Truman had to convince Americans that the threat
  from Soviets was real and increasing
• Used terms good v. evil

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What did the Truman Doctrine Imply?

• His speech meant that the US was ready to take a
  major part in world affairs, and send money,
  weapons and advisors to any country in the world
  that felt threatened by Communism
• He didnt plan on sending troops but rather
  tackling the problem at the roots
• He saw misery and poverty nurturing the seeds of
  Communism
• Truman believed that if he used the wealth of the
  US to help Europe recover and regain prosperity,
  fewer countries would be tempted by Communism.

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Americas Response

• Britain decided to withdraw troops end aid in
  Greece
• This left it up to Americans to restore democracy
  in Greece.
• Congress gave support of Truman in giving 400
  million to Greece and Turkey.

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THE MARSHALL PLAN 1947(Marshall Aid)

• What Was it?
• An American response to the poverty and
  hardship in post war Europe
• Who was Marshall?
• An American General and American Secretary of
  State, sent to assess the economic state of
  Europe

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The Marshall Plan

• The Marshall Plan was a program announced by
  General George Marshall in June of 1947
• It was a program of aid to war-torn Europe to
  re-equip its factories and revive agriculture and
  trade
• This aid took the form of money, equipment, food,
  and technical assistance

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It was thought that these were the conditions in
which communism thrived WHY?
Economies in ruins Shortages of goods Bread
still rationed Coal shortages in GB
electricity cuts each day
Details
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What a nice gesture by the Americans.

• Yes BUT..
• The aid came in the form of goods made by
  American firms
• So there was an element of American self-interest
  to prevent another depression in USA

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Europes Reaction

• European leaders confronted with economic
  hardships and no resources were in no position to
  say no
• They quickly accepted.

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And Stalin

• He hated Marshall Aid!!
• Forbade Eastern European countries from having
  anything to do with it
• Regarded as anti-Communist
• Feared that it might weaken his hold on Eastern
  Bloc
• And Eastern countries would swing to the US
  dollar.

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USSR v. US

• Truman saw the Marshall Plan as one of Americas
  greatest contributions to world peace
• The Soviets saw it as aiming to unite countries
  against Communism
• Russias reply
• Create the Cominform an attempt to consolidate
  control over the Soviet satellites and bring
  conformity to Eastern bloc

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The Marshall Plan in Action

• In April 1948, the US Congress allocated 5.3
  billion to implement the Marshall Plan.
• By the time the plan had come to an end in 1951,
  over 13 billion had been spent and this money
  had enabled European countries to develop their
  economies and improve their standards of living

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Two sides to every story

• One Side
• The most unselfish act by any great power in
  history Winston Churchill on the Marshall Plan
• Another Side
• It also protected American interests
• Enabled the US to dominate Europe economically
• Often it was given in the form of goods which
  allowed the US to control its use better than
  giving dollars