Continuing Conflict in the Cold War

Churchill's Iron Curtain

What was it?

• Churchill gave the speech in Fulton, Missouri, to an audience that included President Truman
• March 1946
• he stated that an iron curtain had descended across Europe
• the curtain represented the divide created by the sphere of Soviet influence
• he also stated that he didn't think Stalin wanted war, just desired the "fruits of war and the indefinite expansion of their powers"
• it was broadcast to a radio audience, which meant many heard it- changed the contry's attitude towards the Soviet Union
• before, they were portrayed positively- now they used propaganda negatively against the Soviets
• the ancient European states were now under Soviet control- Churchill encourages the audience to sympathise
• the Soviet borders were controlled by police- it was very tight control, making it very difficult to enter and leave

Soviet response

• Churchill was villainised in Soviet media- he was compared to Hitler and portrayed as another dictator
• the Soviets withdrew from the IMF
• they increased the tone and intensity of anti-western propaganda

Truman Doctrine

Origins of the Truman Doctrine

• Britain had announced that they can't afford to provide troops to protect Greece, which was in danger of turning Communist
• it appealed to the US for finacial aid to help finance the campaign 
• by 1947, Britain had almost spent all of the $3.75 billion loan from the US and bad weather had caused a halt in the industry- Britian could no longer afford to keep troops in Germany, Italy, Middle East and Asia
• on February 1st 1947, Britain told the US that financial aid and troops to Greece would end on March 31st

The Doctrine

• it was a speech by Truman given to a joint session of congress and was broadcast to a national radio audience in the US on 12th March 1947
• he glorified democracy while antagonising Communism
• he calls out the Soviet Union for having a conrolled press and media and fixed elections, stating that it rules by fear and oppression
• he portrays democracy differently: individual freedom, freedom of speech and religion, and free elections

Aims and Impacts

• Truman needed to present the Soviets as an enemy in order to justify his actions and…