Class 4/12/18

Lets begin with comparing this political cartoon with this piece of propaganda...

The cartoon on the left is Anti-Marshall Plan while the pice of propaganda is Pro-Marshall Plan. Just to recap, the Marshall Plan, proposed by General George C. Marshall, by which the United States loaned European countries money in order to help them rebuild after World War II. 

The writing in the political cartoon on the left is in Russian in order to represent the Soviet Union's hatred for the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was offered to the Soviet Union, but Stalin refused to accept aid from the United States. Stalin did not accept help because he thought that accepting the Marshall Plan translated in the spread of capitalism. He essentially thought the Marshall Plan was the gateway drug into capitalism. 

The propaganda on the right quite obviously supports the Marshall Plan by implying that without it, "your bread will be bare... and so will your children!" Therefore, without foreign aid, the European countries would not be able to get back on their feet. 

Now lets discuss the aftermath of war... 

1. What did we do with Germany after WWII?

Germany was split into 4 different occupation zones. America, Britain, France, and Russia each took one zone. This occupation lasted for 4 years-it was never meant to be long term. The purpose of dividing Germany and taking some control was simply to put restraints on Germany in order to keep an eye on the Germans after war. The eventual goal was to knit Germany back together, but with some control from the victors. 

2. Stalin and the Berlin Airlift 

Stalin attempted to take all of Berlin for Germany. The United States dropped off supplies to the people in Berlin. 

3. NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

In Article 5, it is stated that an attack on one is an attack on all, meaning that all members must defend one another. George Washington would not approve of the organization's ideals because he stressed the importance of NOT being involved in entangling alliances in which one would owe something to another. 

Also important from class today... 

1. Rosa Luxemburg

Luxemburg was a revolutionary in the Social Democratic Party. She feared that communism would spread in weak areas after WWII. She was very anti-capitalism. 

2. GDR and FRG 

GDR --> German Democratic Republic (East)

FRG --> Federal Republic of Germany (West) 

(**there wasn't too much information from todays class because we had the last 25 mins to work on the 20 questions assigned for homework)