APEURO: Unit 9, Cold War and Contemporary Europe - The Origins of the Cold War, Iron Curtain, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin Blockade

Why This Matters

The Origins of the Cold War is a pivotal topic in AP History, as it marks the beginning of a decades-long ideological and military conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. This period, spanning from the end of World War II to the early 1950s, is significant for understanding the larger theme of Politics and Power, as it highlights the struggle for global influence and the rise of the United States as a superpower. The events of this period, including the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, demonstrate the United States' commitment to containing communism and promoting democracy, while the Soviet Union's response, including the creation of the Iron Curtain, showcases its determination to maintain control over Eastern Europe.

Key Events & People

• Joseph Stalin: Soviet leader who implemented a policy of Sovietization in Eastern Europe, leading to the creation of the Iron Curtain.
• Harry S. Truman: President of the United States who introduced the Truman Doctrine, pledging to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism.
• George Marshall: U.S. Secretary of State who proposed the Marshall Plan, a massive economic aid program to help rebuild war-torn Europe.
• Berlin Blockade: A Soviet attempt to cut off Western access to Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift, a massive effort by the United States and its allies to supply the city.
• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): A military alliance formed in 1949 to provide collective defense against the Soviet Union.
• Winston Churchill: British Prime Minister who coined the term "Iron Curtain" to describe the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
• Yalta Conference: A 1945 meeting between Churchill, Truman, and Stalin that set the stage for the post-war division of Europe.
• Potsdam Conference: A 1945 meeting between Truman, Churchill, and Stalin that led to the division of Germany and the establishment of the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
• Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: A 1939 non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany that led to the Soviet Union's invasion of Eastern Europe.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: The Soviet Union's desire to expand its influence in Eastern Europe after World War II.
• Effect: The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to contain communism and promote democracy in the region.

• Long-term consequence: The division of Europe into Eastern and Western blocs, leading to the Cold War.

• Cause: The Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe, including the creation of the Iron Curtain.

• Effect: The Berlin Blockade and the Berlin Airlift, which highlighted the tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western powers.

• Long-term consequence: The establishment of NATO and the continued division of Europe.

• Cause: The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, which set the stage for the post-war division of Europe.

• Effect: The Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe and the division of Germany.
• Long-term consequence: The rise of the Soviet Union as a superpower and the beginning of the Cold War.

Essential Vocabulary

• *Iron Curtain*: A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
• *Truman Doctrine*: A policy introduced by President Harry S. Truman to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism.
• *Marshall Plan*: A massive economic aid program proposed by George Marshall to help rebuild war-torn Europe.
• *Berlin Blockade*: A Soviet attempt to cut off Western access to Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift.
• *NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)*: A military alliance formed in 1949 to provide collective defense against the Soviet Union.
• *Yalta Conference*: A 1945 meeting between Churchill, Truman, and Stalin that set the stage for the post-war division of Europe.
• *Potsdam Conference*: A 1945 meeting between Truman, Churchill, and Stalin that led to the division of Germany and the establishment of the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
• *Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact*: A 1939 non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany that led to the Soviet Union's invasion of Eastern Europe.
• *Containment*: A policy of preventing the spread of communism through economic and military aid.
• *Sovietization*: The process of imposing Soviet-style communism on Eastern Europe.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: The Truman Doctrine was introduced in 1947, but it was actually introduced in 1947, in response to the Soviet Union's actions in Eastern Europe.
• Correction: The Truman Doctrine was introduced in March 1947, in a speech by President Truman to Congress.
• What students often get wrong: The Marshall Plan was a response to the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
• Correction: The Marshall Plan was a response to the economic devastation of World War II and aimed to rebuild war-torn Europe.
• What students often get wrong: The Berlin Blockade was a Soviet attempt to cut off Western access to Berlin.
• Correction: The Berlin Blockade was a Soviet attempt to cut off Western access to Berlin, but it was actually a response to the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Possible essay prompt: Analyze the role of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan in containing communism in Europe. Be sure to include specific evidence from the period, such as the speeches of President Truman and the economic data from the Marshall Plan.
• Possible document-based question: What were the main causes and effects of the Berlin Blockade? Be sure to include specific evidence from the period, such as the speeches of Winston Churchill and the economic data from the Berlin Airlift.
• Possible essay prompt: Compare and contrast the policies of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Be sure to include specific evidence from the period, such as the speeches of President Truman and the economic data from the Marshall Plan.

Quick Self?Check

1. What was the main purpose of the Truman Doctrine? Answer: To provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism. Explanation: The Truman Doctrine was introduced in 1947 to contain communism in Europe and provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by the Soviet Union.

2. What was the result of the Berlin Blockade? Answer: The Berlin Airlift, a massive effort by the United States and its allies to supply the city. Explanation: The Berlin Blockade was a Soviet attempt to cut off Western access to Berlin, but it was actually a response to the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.

3. What was the main goal of the Marshall Plan? Answer: To help rebuild war-torn Europe and contain communism. Explanation: The Marshall Plan was a massive economic aid program proposed by George Marshall to help rebuild war-torn Europe and contain communism.

Last?Minute Cram Sheet

• The Truman Doctrine was introduced in March 1947.
• The Marshall Plan was a response to the economic devastation of World War II.
• The Berlin Blockade was a Soviet attempt to cut off Western access to Berlin.
• The Berlin Airlift was a massive effort by the United States and its allies to supply the city.
• The Iron Curtain was a term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
• The Yalta Conference was a 1945 meeting between Churchill, Truman, and Stalin that set the stage for the post-war division of Europe.
• The Potsdam Conference was a 1945 meeting between Truman, Churchill, and Stalin that led to the division of Germany and the establishment of the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.
• The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a 1939 non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany that led to the Soviet Union's invasion of Eastern Europe.
• Containment was a policy of preventing the spread of communism through economic and military aid.
• Sovietization was the process of imposing Soviet-style communism on Eastern Europe.
• NATO was formed in 1949 to provide collective defense against the Soviet Union.
• The Marshall Plan was a massive economic aid program that provided over $12 billion in aid to war-torn Europe.
• The Berlin Blockade lasted from June 1948 to May 1949.