The term “Cold War” was coined by newspaper columnist to refer to a state of war that did not involve actual bloodshed. It came to be used to describe the icy rivalry that existed between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

The Ideological Struggle Soviet & Eastern Bloc Nations [“Iron Curtain”] US & the Western Democracies GOAL  spread world- wide Communism GOAL  “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world. METHODOLOGIES:  Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]  Arms Race [nuclear escalation]  Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy]  “proxy wars”  Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

Satellites As fighting ended, Soviet troops occupied much of Eastern Europe and “encouraged” the development of communist governments in these countries satellite nations Heightened American fears of communism

The “Iron Curtain” From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe. -- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946  Established 1945  Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe develop as buffer between Democracies of Western Europe

Germany Divided and Occupied At the end of the war, the Allies had decided on a joint occupation of Germany and its capital, Berlin, with each of the four powers controlling a zone In 1948, the Western powers formed an independent nation merging their three zones of Germany, forming West Germany

The Soviet Response  Soviets respond by closing off Berlin  They thought this move would force the West to back down from its control of West Berlin  All transportation in or out of Berlin was shut down  Berlin was under siege

 Instead of sending troops through the land corridor to Berlin, Truman ordered a massive airlift of supplies to its people  In May 1949, the Soviets lifted the blockade

Everything the Berliners needed to survive – from groceries to gasoline – would come to them only by air until the end of September The airlift lasted over 15 months and cost more than $224 million. During those many months a U.S. or British plane landed every few minutes at Berlin's central Tempelhof airfield and another airport that had been built just for the airlift. Over two million tons of goods were flown into Berlin.

Truman Doctrine [1947] 1.Civil 1.Civil War in Greece. 2.Turkey 2.Turkey under pressure from the USSR for concessions in the Dardanelles. 3.The 3.The U. S. should support free peoples throughout the world who were resisting takeovers by armed minorities or outside pressures…We must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. 4.The 4.The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400 million in aid.

Marshall Plan [1948] 1.“European Recovery Program.” 2.Secretary of State, George Marshall 3.The U. S. should provide aid to all European nations that need it. This move is not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos. 4.$12.5 billion of US aid to Western Europe extended to Eastern Europe & USSR, [but this was rejected].

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)  United States  Belgium  Britain  Canada  Denmark  France  Iceland  Italy  Luxemburg  Netherlands  Norway  Portugal  1952: Greece & Turkey  1955: West Germany  1983: Spain

Warsaw Pact (1955) }U. S. S. R. }Albania }Bulgaria }Czechoslovakia }East Germany }Hungary }Poland }Rumania

Korean War Korean War A divided Korea led to war, separated family members, and cost a million lives, including 48,000 Americans. A divided Korea led to war, separated family members, and cost a million lives, including 48,000 Americans. Created divided Korea: North (Communist) South (Democracy Created divided Korea: North (Communist) South (Democracy Vietnam War Vietnam War Three million people died in the Vietnam War, including 58,000 Americans. Three million people died in the Vietnam War, including 58,000 Americans. Communist Supported North defeated Southern U.S. supported Vietnam Communist Supported North defeated Southern U.S. supported Vietnam The Cold War was very costly in lives.

The Space Race (1957 – 1969) 1.Launching satellites (sputnik 1957; Soviet victory) 2.Race to the moon (U.S. victory)

Berlin Wall (1961) Divided the city into communist East Berlin and free (democratic) West Berlin Historic symbol of Communism Taken down in 1989

Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro led a communist takeover of Cuba. Feared U.S. b/c of close proximity U.S. attempted to remove Castro with the Bay of Pigs U.S. trained Cuban Refugees, failed do to U.S. not providing air support

Bay of Pigs Debacle (1961)

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Conflicts of the Cold War Nicaragua (1979) – Contra’s (U.S. Supported) vs. Sandinistas (Communist Supported) –Iran/ Contra Affair Afghanistan (1979) –Soviet attempt to take over Afghanistan with communism & military –Defeated by Tribal Rebels (U.S. Supported) El Salvador (1982) –Revolution between dicatorships and socialist backed guerillas. –U.S. supported military dictatorships

EVERYTHING is a contest Even the Olympics were a cold war battlefield Soviet Union won the gold medal in hockey in 1956, 1964, 1968, 1972, & 1976 Underdog Americans beat Soviets Seen as more than a hockey game “Miracle on Ice”

A competition for World Influence Stereotypes We portrayed the Soviets as cold & ruthless They portrayed Americans as spoiled & undisciplined Goal: To prove physical superiority A Race for World Influence Goal: To outnumber the opponent (U.S. Goal = Containment)