Lessons in American History Using Primary Sources
A Series of Webquests
By Laura Thompson
UPS 11: The Cold War
Historical Context – Between 1945 and 1950, the
wartime alliance between the United Sates and the Soviet Union broke down. The
Cold War began. For the next forty years, relations between the two superpowers
swung between confrontation and détente. Each tried to increase its sphere of
influence and spread its competing economic and political ideals. At times
during this period, the competitors were brought to the brink of war more than
once.
Driving
Question: How did the Cold War begin, and what "weapons" were used to
fight this war?
Part A |
The following documents present information about
the Cold War. Examine each document carefully. In the space provided, answer
the question or questions that follow each document. |
Document
1 - Modern History Sourcebook, "Iron Curtain Speech", given by
Winston S. Churchill, March 5, 1946 (available at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/churchill-iron.html).
This excerpt is adapted from Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain"
speech on March 5, 1946.
From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in Adriatic, an
iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the
capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe…All these famous
cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet
sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet
influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control
from Moscow. |
How was the
"iron curtain" a dividing line?
Document
2 - President H. Truman, The Truman Doctrine Speech, given to US
Congress on March 12, 1947. (available at: http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/speeches/Harry_S_Truman/index.htm).
This excerpt is adapted from President Truman's speech to Congress on March 12,
1947.
I believe that it must be the policy of the United
States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by
armed minorities or by outside pressures…Should we fail to aid Greece and
Turkey in this fateful hour, the effect will be far-fetching to the West…we
must take immediate and resolute action. I therefore ask the Congress to
provide authority for assistance to Greece and Turkey in
the amount of $400 million…The seeds of totalitarian regimes are
nurtured by misery and want. They spread and grow in the evil soil of poverty
and strife. They reach their full growth when the hope of people for a better
life has died. |
What policy
did President Truman suggest in his speech?
Document
3 - Secretary of State George C.
Marshall, Commencement Address at Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA, June 5, 1947 (available at: http://www.usaid.gov/multimedia/video/marshall/marshallspeech.html).
This excerpt is adapted from a speech by US Secretary of State George Marshall
on June 5, 1947. In it, he explained his plan for European recovery.
I need to say that the world situation is very
serious…Europe must have a great deal of additional help, or face heavy
economic, social, and political damage. This would have a harmful effect on
the world at large. There are also possibilities of disturbances because of
the desperation of the people concerned. The
consequences to the economy of the United States should be apparent to all.
It is logical that the United States should do whatever it is able to do to
assist in the return of normal economic health in the world, without which
there can be no political stability and no assured peace. Our policy is
directed not against …against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.
Its purpose is to revive a working economy in the world. |
Why did
Secretary of State Marshall suggest this plan for European recovery?
Document
4 - http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm.
This excerpt is adapted from the North Atlantic Treaty. In was signed by the
United States, Canada, and ten nations of Western Europe in 1949. It
established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The parties agree that an armed attack against one or
more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered as an attack
against them all. They agree that if such an armed attack occurs, each of
them will assist the party or parties so attacked. Each will immediately take
whatever action it considers necessary to restore and maintain the security
of the North Atlantic area. It will, if necessary, used armed force. |
What is the
purpose of NATO?
Document
5 - http://www.allrussias.com/soviet_russia/legacy_3.asp.
The Soviet Union responded to NATO by creating its alliance, the Warsaw Pact.
The map below shows the Warsaw Pact and NATO members.
How did the
Warsaw Pact "satellite" members provide a buffer for the Soviet
Union?
Document 6 -
Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev, Sergeĭ Khrushchev, George
Shriver, Stephen Shenfield. Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev: Statesman, 1953-1964,
Penn State Press, 2007. This excerpt is
adapted from a speech by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1956. In it, he
explains his point of view about US actions.
The inspirers of the "cold war" began to
establish military blocs—the North Atlantic block, SEATO, and the Baghdad
pact. [They claim] they have united for defense against the "communist
threat." But this is sheer hypocrisy! We know from history that when
planning a re-division of the world the imperialist powers have always lined
up military blocs. Today the "anti-communism" slogan is being used
as a smoke screen to cover up the claims of one power for world domination.
The United States wants, by means of blocs and pacts, to secure a dominant
position in the capitalist world. The inspirers of the "position of
strength" policy assert that it makes another way impossible because it
ensures a "balance of power" in the world. [They] offer the arms
race as their main recipe for preservation of peace! It is perfectly obvious
that when nations compete to increase their military might, the danger of war
becomes greater, not lesser. Capitalism will find its grave in another world
war, should it unleash it. |
What was
Khrushchev's view of US actions? According Khrushchev, what would happen?
Document
7 - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/US_and_USSR_nuclear_stockpiles.png.
The arms race was an important part of the Cold War. Both superpowers developed
technology and used their nuclear power to build as many weapons as possible.
This nuclear buildup led to a "balance of terror," which some saw as
a deterrent to war. But others feared the use of these weapons. The chart shows
the buildup of ICBMs from 1945 to 2005.
What was the
relationship between the US and the USSR during the years that ICBM stockpiling
peaked?
What impact
did this arms race have on the world?
Document
8 - President John F. Kennedy, Missile Crisis Televised Speech, October 22, 1962 (available at: http://history.rays-place.com/speeches/kennedy-john-1.htm).
The threat of nuclear war was obvious during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
This excerpt is adapted from President John F. Kennedy's televised speech to
the American people in October 22, 1962. It explains the position of the US.
We have unmistakable evidence that a series of
offensive missile sites are now being built on that island…Cuba has been made
into an important strategic base by the presence of these long-range
offensive weapons of sudden mass destruction. This is an open threat to the
peace and security of all the Americas. Our objective must be to prevent the
use of these missiles against this or any other country. We must secure their
withdrawal from the Western Hemisphere…I call upon Chairman Khrushchev to
halt and eliminate this secret and reckless threat to world peace. |
What was the
basis for JFK's demand that the missiles be removed from Cuba?
Document
9 - http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/nikita4.htm.
Kennedy ordered a quarantine of all offensive military equipment being sent
into Cuba. Soviet Premier Khrushchev responded with this message.
Mr. President…the Soviet Government decided to
render assistance to Cuba with the means of defense against aggression—only
with means for defense purposes…we have supplied them to prevent an attack on
Cuba. I regard with respect and trust the statement you
made in your message of October 27, 1962, that there would be no attack, no
invasion of Cuba, and not only on the part of the US, but also on the part of
other nations in the Western Hemisphere. It is for this reason that we instructed our
officers…to take appropriate measures to discontinue construction of the
aforementioned facilities, to dismantle them, and to return to the Soviet
Union. |
How did
Premier Khrushchev explain why missiles were placed in Cuba and why they could
now be removed?
Part B |
How did the Cold War begin, and what
"weapons" were used to fight this war? |