CAUSES, MOOD, AND SETTING

A Siren goes off indicating a nuclear bomb could be being dropped… What will you do? “Duck-and-Cover”!!!! Imagine you are in a classroom in 1955… The Cold War

What was the “Cold War”?

The Cold War Defined  The Cold War was an ideological struggle (a conflict of ideas) about how societies should function, and a fight for power and influence on a global scale.  Basically, the Cold War was a war of ideas and fears between capitalism/democracy and communism and a competition for nuclear supremacy.

The Cold War Defined  The USA and USSR, the world’s two economic and military superpowers, were threatened by each other for a number of reasons.  Both the USA and the USSR competed with each other and tried to create “backyards” of influence around the world.

The Cold War Defined  USSR = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Lead to the phrase: “The Iron Curtain”  This phrase “Iron Curtain” was coined by Winston Churchill (PM of GB), in a speech he made shortly after the end of WWII (1946).  He was referring to the fact that Eastern Europe was controlled by the Soviet Union, and under communist rule.

Lead to the phrase: “The Iron Curtain”  The world was divided between the West (democracy) and the East (communism).

Lead to the phrase: “The Iron Curtain”  Germany was also divided between east and west = West Germany + East Germany.  Berlin was further divided into West and East – although the city was located in the Soviet sphere/sector.

Lead to the phrase: “The Iron Curtain”  The countries in Eastern Europe were controlled by Soviet dictators and military troops and were forced to belong to the Warsaw Pact – the communist equivalent to NATO.

Churchill’s Speech

The “Iron Curtain”

Why was there a Difference between the US and the USSR?  Ideological differences: Democracy vs. Communism.

Why was there a Difference between the US and the USSR?  Economic differences: Free market economy (capitalist) vs. Communist planning and control of the economy = command economy.

Why was there a Difference between the US and the USSR?  Imperialistic, Military, Nuclear Weapon differences: The US (West) fears a Communist world revolution (Soviet military strength) while the Soviets fear and invasion/nuclear war and an overthrow of their Communist government.

1. USSR’s Communist Ideology Government controlled all industry and trade – controlled the economy. No political opposition allowed – one party rule. American Fears

1. USSR’s Communist Ideology USSR set up communist governments in “liberated” Eastern European countries like Poland, Hungary, and East Germany. Communism would later spread to places like China, Cuba and Angola. American Fears

American Fears (cont.) 2. Soviet Military Strength USSR had the largest armed forces in the world at the end of WWII.

American Fears (cont.) 2. Soviet Military Strength While most nations reduced their armed forces to peace-time levels, the USSR maintained a large military. Soviet Red Army troops could easily invade Western Europe through Germany.

Soviet Fears 1. Invasion Russia had been invaded in WWI by European/Allied forces and the USSR had been invaded in WWII by Nazi forces.

Soviet Fears 1. Invasion These invasions contributed to heavy casualties in both wars. Soviet leaders sought to control countries in Eastern Europe so it could serve as a buffer zone to prevent future wars on Soviet soil.

Soviet Fears (cont.) 2. Nuclear War The USA had dropped the A-bomb on Japan as a show of strength to the USSR. Soviet leaders knew the Americans had a major advantage because they were the only country to possess atomic bombs at this time.

Soviet Fears (cont.) 2. Nuclear War The USSR would detonate its first A- bomb in Soon, a nuclear arms race began.

The End of WWII  During WWII, the USA and USSR had been allies against Nazi Germany and Fascist Japan.  With the Axis Powers defeated, these two countries began to look at each other as future enemies.

WWII Tensions: Origins of the Cold War  Tension developed between the superpowers throughout World War Two.  The USSR (Stalin) wanted a second front to ease the tensions/pressure on the Eastern Front (only front at this point in WWII).

WWII Tensions: Origins of the Cold War  Stalin wanted it as early as  On D-Day (Normandy Invasion) 1944 the Soviets get their second front (Western Front re-opened).

WWII Tensions: Soviets  The Soviet army was initially seen as liberators of Eastern Europe. But the communist politicians follow close behind and quickly take control of the government left behind by the Nazis.

WWII Tensions: Soviets  The Soviets are also looking for a buffer between themselves and the West. Eastern Europe (The Iron Curtain) would become the buffer/the frontline/the divide between East and West.

A Bi-polar World  A bi-polar world emerged with 2 major superpowers = USA and the USSR (Soviet Union).  A world divided into two.

Proxy Wars  While the USA and the USSR never fought each other directly, there were many indirect conflicts (had other people fight the war for them) called “proxy wars or client wars” in which they faced each other. Korea, Suez Crisis, Vietnam.

Map of Europe

How did the bi-polar world develop?  Stalin installed communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland as he moved towards Berlin at the end of WWII.

How did the bi-polar world develop?  These countries then became soviet satellite states (buffer zone countries) after the war ended when Stalin refused them democratic elections.  Satellite states = Eastern European states that were formally “independent” but under heavy political + economic influence of the USSR.

WWII Tensions: Japan  After V.E. Day the Allies and the Soviets turn their attention to the Pacific.  The USSR took the northern islands of Japan. The USA feared that the USSR would move on to take north-east Asia (spread communism).

WWII Tensions: Japan  The Nuke Factor: The Manhattan Project and the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) were seen as a warning to the Soviets. It was a show of US strength and the Soviets were fearful because the US showed that they were where not afraid to use nuclear weapons.

Strategies of Competition  The USA and the USSR competed with each other for power and prestige in the following ways:

Strategies of Competition 1. Domino Theory – Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia were liberated/overtaken by the Communists during the last few years of the war. - Domino was a metaphor used by the USA to show if one country falls to communism, the next country will fall too (to communism).

Strategies of Competition 2. Containment – USA policy to contain communism; part of the Truman Doctrine (1947). - The USA would support those countries that were resisting Communist takeovers such as Taiwan = China, South Korea = North Korea. - Used the Marshall Plan in Western Europe to prevent to Domino Effect.

Strategies of Competition (continued) 3. Satellite States – Counties under the control of the USSR (Eastern Europe) : Churchill referred to the division of Europe by claiming that an Iron Curtain had fallen across Europe; Communism to the East and Democracies to the West.

Strategies of Competition (continued) 4. Nuclear Arms Race - the build up of nuclear weapons: : NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization; mutual defense for western, democratic nations.

Strategies of Competition (continued) 4. Nuclear Arms Race : Warsaw Pact – Defense alliance of Eastern European communist states; both side trying to develop the latest war technology. - Nuclear Parity: same level of nuclear weapons, MAD (mutually assured destruction).

Strategies of Competition (continued) 5. Space Race – Sputnik: first satellite to orbit earth 1957 by the Soviets, Man on the Moon in 1969, Laika (Soviet space dog): first animal to orbit the Earth and the first orbital death. 6. Espionage – spies, CIA vs. KGB.

Strategies of Competition (continued) 7. Propaganda and rhetoric – “Iron Curtain” speech, “We will bury you” speech, posters, TV commercials. 8. Gaining global influence/backyards – have as many nations under your influence and on your side (in your backyard) as allies.

US Foreign Policy  Truman Doctrine (1947):  Belief of the US government that the spread of communism must be stopped through the policy of containment.  Became an official US government policy.

US Foreign Policy  Domino Theory:  The USA also believed in “domino theory” – if one country falls to communism, all of the surrounding countries will become communist. Leads to American involvement in Korea & Vietnam.

Domino Theory in Asia

US Foreign Policy  Marshall Plan (1947):  A European Recovery Program after WWII. Massive investment of US$ in rebuilding European economies to any country that will reject communism. ○ Canada donates large amount ($2M) of money as well.

NEXT: Canada + the Cold War