WWII- Post-War

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WWII- Post-War

• From War to Cold War

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Post-WWII

• A. Europe Destroyed
• The winners of WWII (US, England, Russia) meet to
  discuss what to do next.
• a. End of War Conferences
• 1. Yalta- Allied leaders meet to discuss what
  to do with Europe after the war.
• a. Arguments break out over which nations
  should be allowed to hold elections (Poland,
  Czechoslovakia, etc)

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Post-WWII

• 2. Potsdam- Decide to divide Germany, half
  democratic, half communist.
• a. Unconditional Surrender- Germany must
  accept all decisions.
• b. Big Three Leaders- H. Truman (US),
  W. Churchill (UK), J. Stalin (USSR)
• c. Roosevelt had died in April, 1945
• d. Truman decides not to tell Stalin about
  the Atomic Bomb at Potsdam!!

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End of the War

• 2. Tensions rise between Stalin and Truman
• a. Stalin secretly knew about the bomb!
• b. Some historians believe this lie by Truman,
  started the Cold War!
• c. Stalin and Truman distrusted each other
  completely.
• d. Stalin made power grabs in Poland, Ukraine,
  and Czech Republic.
• 1. Threatening to Europe and the US

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End of the War

• B. Rebuild
• 1. Europe
• a. Marshall Plan- 14 Billion pumped into
  Europe to rebuild France, Germany, and others.
• b. 17 countries received aid
• 1. Rebuilt farms, factories, homes, roads
  and bridges
• c. Offered to Russia, but Stalin refused

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End of the War

• d. Built strong support for the US in Europe
  (key later in the Cold War)
• 2. Japan
• a. Occupation- led by Gen. MacArthur!!
• 1. Truman dropped the bomb to avoid an
  ground invasion.
• a. After surrender however, the US sends
  in ground troops to control the
  population.
• 2. 1945-1952
• a. US troops were stationed in Japan for
  rebuilding

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End of the War

• b. Rebuilt from the ground up
• 1. New Constitution written by US lawyers
• a. Similar to our Bill of Rights
• 2. US rebuilt manufacturing centers
• a. Toyota
• b. Honda
• 3. Land reforms for peasants, free speech,
  religious reforms, rights for women, etc.

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Japans Diet
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End of the War

• 4. Article 9- Banned Japan from having
  military forces (still in effect today!)
• c. Japan became one of our biggest allies, and
  our best trade partner.
• 1. Key ally in the Cold War
• 2. We still have over 22 military bases in
  Japan today!

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End of the War

• C. Everlasting Peace?
• 1. 1945- Due to the failure of the League of
  Nations to prevent WWII, a new organization was
  called for.
• 2. United Nations
• a. Formed in 1945
• b. A few very important changes made to make
  the UN more effective.

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After the War

• c. Changes
• 1. Security Council- made up of 15 states,
  this was the brain of the UN.
• a. Major decisions made here
• b. 5 permanent members, 10 rotating
  members

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After the War

• 2. US joins!
• a. Headquarters of the UN is in New York
  City.
• b. We take an immediate role as the
  flagship member
• 3. Humanitarian Efforts
• a. Food aid, peace- keeping, financial help

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After the War

• D. European Cold War Protection
• 1. North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• (NATO)
• a. A military alliance among democratic states
• b. Foudned in 1949 to protect Europe and fight
  communism
• c. Key members in 1949 US, UK, France, W.
  Germany

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After the War

• 2. What NATO did
• a. Create combined troop forces
• b. Pool financial, military, and intelligence
  resources
• c. Set-up an anti-Communist block of
  countries to rival the Soviets
• 3. Soviets form their own group
• The Warsaw Pact (1955)
• a. Countries were forced to join!
• Poland, Hungary, East Germany
• b. United all European communist nations