The Early Cold War 1950-1960
Subject:
US History [1]
Post WWII – US Concerns
“Spread of Communism”
Or what happened to Uncle Joe?
“Cold” War – how can it be???
WHY THE FEAR OF COMMUNISM?
• Geography – areas of influence at end of WWII
• Values of communism (as reflected in the Soviet Union) were incompatible with democracy and capitalism (free market economies)
• Soviet Actions:
o No free elections in eastern Europe (e.g., Poland 1945)
o Soviets establish “satellite” countries in Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland)
o Berlin Blockade/Airlift 1948
o Stalin’s “incompatibility speech” USSR to produce weapons rather than consumer goods
o Soviet A-Bomb 1949!!!!
America’s Reaction:
• In 1946, George Kennan (US diplomat in Moscow) proposes policy of containment against the Soviet Union. Two parts: