MILESTONES: 1945–1952

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1945–1952: The Early Cold War

The United States emerged from World War II as one of the foremost economic, political, and military
powers in the world. Wartime production pulled the economy out of depression and propelled it to great
profits. In the interest of avoiding another global war, for the first time the United States began to use
economic assistance as a strategic element of its foreign policy and o!ered significant assistance to
countries in Europe and Asia struggling to rebuild their shattered economies.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Harry Truman at the famous “Iron Curtain” Speech
In contrast to American unwillingness to politically or militarily entangle itself in the League of Nations,
the United States became one of the first members of the international organization designed to promote
international security, commerce, and law, the United Nations. The United States also took an active
interest in the fate of the colonies the European powers were having di"culty maintaining. In addition to
these challenges, the United States faced increasing resistance from the Soviet Union which had
rescinded on a number of wartime promises. As the Soviets demonstrated a keen interest in dominating
Eastern Europe, the United States took the lead in forming a Western alliance to counterbalance the
communist superpower to contain the spread of communism. At the same time, the United States
restructured its military and intelligence forces, both of which would have a significant influence in U.S.
Cold War policy.
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