The Iron Curtain first began to manifest itself at two conferences designed to navigate postwar peace, held between the leaders of the big three in 1945. The first, held in Yalta in February 1945 , was the final meeting between Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Stalin and Winston Churchill . The Yalta conference aimed to coordinate post war elections in occupied Europe as well as establish an agreement on the division of Germany after the Nazi’s impending surrender . At first glance the conference appears to successfully accomplish these goals . The allies signed the Declaration of Liberated Europe stating that the victors would advocate for "the earliest possible establishment through free elections governments responsive to the will of the people.
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foreign policy caused by the atomic bomb. From 1945 to 1949 the United States would reign as the only nuclear power in the world . Buoyed by the destructive power of the new weapon President Truman could use the threat of its use to achieve diplomatic goals in what would later become known as atomic diplomacy . Atomic diplomacy effected the way the United States interacted with the Soviets drastically. Atomic diplomacy allowed the United States to offer protection against communist threats to any country under the concept of the Nuclear Umbrella . Although atomic diplomacy effectively held the USSR at bay it had several drawbacks, and fostered tensions between the two superpowers. The willingness of the United States to use the bomb as a diplomatic tool accelerated the USSR’s young nuclear program . Although both countries expressed a willingness to eliminate nuclear weapons following the Japanese surrender in August of 1945, neither country ever intended to stop their pursuit of nuclear dominance . Atomic diplomacy would play a key role for both antagonists throughout the remainder of the Cold War; threats of nuclear action occurred during the Berlin Airlift, Korean War, and perhaps most notably the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960’s. These threats would help cement the concept of mutually assured destruction that would frighten …show more content…
In a speech to congress in March of 1947 Truman announced a policy of economic and military support for countries actively fighting communism . Although his speech outlining the policy was only eighteen minutes long the resulting legislation, known as the Truman Doctrine, would change the US policy concerning the USSR from one of avoiding tensions to a policy of active resistance. The Truman Doctrine was developed in response to a request from the British government. Until early 1947 the British were actively supporting the Greek government in a civil war against communist rebels. Economic issues forced the British to scale back their assistance however, and Prime Minister Atlee asked Truman to intervene . In response President Truman developed a plan to commit four hundred million dollars in aid to counter communist advances in Greece. To convince congress to allocate the money Truman painted communism as a disease whose spread must be stopped. This rhetoric was very effective, congress easily approved Truman’s request for funding and would continue to support anti- communist operations throughout the world for the remainder of the Cold War. President Truman’s word choice also enabled the news media to effectively sell communism as a spreading illness, which garnered his policy widespread public
foreign policy caused by the atomic bomb. From 1945 to 1949 the United States would reign as the only nuclear power in the world . Buoyed by the destructive power of the new weapon President Truman could use the threat of its use to achieve diplomatic goals in what would later become known as atomic diplomacy . Atomic diplomacy effected the way the United States interacted with the Soviets drastically. Atomic diplomacy allowed the United States to offer protection against communist threats to any country under the concept of the Nuclear Umbrella . Although atomic diplomacy effectively held the USSR at bay it had several drawbacks, and fostered tensions between the two superpowers. The willingness of the United States to use the bomb as a diplomatic tool accelerated the USSR’s young nuclear program . Although both countries expressed a willingness to eliminate nuclear weapons following the Japanese surrender in August of 1945, neither country ever intended to stop their pursuit of nuclear dominance . Atomic diplomacy would play a key role for both antagonists throughout the remainder of the Cold War; threats of nuclear action occurred during the Berlin Airlift, Korean War, and perhaps most notably the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960’s. These threats would help cement the concept of mutually assured destruction that would frighten …show more content…
In a speech to congress in March of 1947 Truman announced a policy of economic and military support for countries actively fighting communism . Although his speech outlining the policy was only eighteen minutes long the resulting legislation, known as the Truman Doctrine, would change the US policy concerning the USSR from one of avoiding tensions to a policy of active resistance. The Truman Doctrine was developed in response to a request from the British government. Until early 1947 the British were actively supporting the Greek government in a civil war against communist rebels. Economic issues forced the British to scale back their assistance however, and Prime Minister Atlee asked Truman to intervene . In response President Truman developed a plan to commit four hundred million dollars in aid to counter communist advances in Greece. To convince congress to allocate the money Truman painted communism as a disease whose spread must be stopped. This rhetoric was very effective, congress easily approved Truman’s request for funding and would continue to support anti- communist operations throughout the world for the remainder of the Cold War. President Truman’s word choice also enabled the news media to effectively sell communism as a spreading illness, which garnered his policy widespread public