The Cold War

Competition between the United States and the U.S.S.R. laid the foundation for the Cold War The presences of nuclear weapons influenced patterns of conflict and cooperation since Communism failed as an economic system in Soviet Union and elsewhere.

Beginning of the Cold War ( ) The Yalta Conference and the Soviet control of Eastern Europe. Rivalry between the United States and the USSR. Democracy and free enterprise system vs. dictatorship and communism. President Truman and the Policy of Containment Eastern Europe-Soviet satellite nations; the Iron Curtain

Characteristics of the Cold War ( ) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) v. the Warsaw Pact Korean Conflict Vietnam War Berlin and significance of Berlin Wall Cuban Missile Crisis Nuclear weapons and the theory of deterrence

NATO vs. Warsaw Pact NATO, of which the United States was a member, and the Warsaw Pact, which the Soviet Union dominated, were military alliances that divided Europe into two separate camps. NATO was formed in 1949 and the Warsaw Pact formed in 1955.

Korean Conflict The United States and the Soviet Union divided Korea into two zones at the 38 th parallel after WWII. Although elections were planned to reunify Korea, the tension between the communist government that developed in Northern Korea and the anti-communist government of South Korea led to war instead. The war began on June 23 rd, 1950, when North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The United States, following their policy of containment, sent troops to help repel the invaders. The war ended with an armistice in 1953, and North and South Korea remain divided at the 38 th parallel even today.

Vietnam The United States viewed the Vietnam War as the “domino theory”. According to this theory, if the Communists succeeded in South Vietnam then all of the other countries in Asia could fall, like dominos, to communism. This belief led the United States to become heavily involved in this conflict between communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam.

Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was built in August, 1961, around the city of West Berlin which was located in the middle of communist East Germany. The wall helped stop the flow of East Germans to the West. The Berlin Wall became a powerful symbol of the division between east and west during the Cold War.

Cuban Missile Crisis This crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in October of The crisis began when the United States found out that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles on the island of Cuba- only 90 miles off the coast of the United States. President John F. Kennedy imposed a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships carrying missiles from reaching the island. The crisis ended when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to turn back his ships and remove the missiles if Kennedy agreed not to invade Cuba. In 1963 a hotline communications system was installed between Moscow and Washington, D.C. to allow the superpowers to communicate more effectively during a crisis.

Nuclear weapons and the theory of Deterrence Deterrence is the belief that having large amounts of nuclear weapons by both superpowers would prevent nuclear attack because both sides could strike back with devastating power.

Collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe (1989-) Soviet economic collapse Nationalism in Warsaw Pact countries Tearing down of Berlin Wall Breakup of U.S.S.R. Expansion of NATO

Conflicts and Revolutionary Movements Japanese occupation of European colonies in Asia heightened demands for independence after World War II After WWII, the United States pursued a policy of containment against communism. This policy included the development of regional alliances against Soviet and Chinese aggression. The Cold War led to armed conflict in Korea and Vietnam.

Conflicts and Revolution in China Division of China into two nations at the end of the Chinese civil war. The Chinese was a conflict in China between the Chinese Nationalist Party (led by Chiang Kai- shek and the Chinese Communist Party mostly led by Mao-Tse-tung. After nearly fifty years of conflict the major hostilities ended in 1949 with the Communists controlling mainland China and the Nationalists restricted to the territories of Taiwan, Penghu, and several outlying Fujianese islands. Chiang Kai-shek- leader of the Nationalist China (island of Taiwan). Mao Tse-tung- leader of Communist China (mainland China). Conflicts have continued between the two Chinas Communist China’s participation in Korean Conflict Deng Xiaoping ruled China after Mao Zedong

Conflict and revolutionary movements in Vietnam Role of French Imperialism The Vietnamese wanted independence from France after WWII. The leader of the independence movement was a communist named Ho Chi Minh. Leadership of Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh was nationalist and a communist. He fought the French and then the U.S. in his struggle to achieve Vietnamese independence. Vietnam as a divided nation France fought Ho Chi Minh and his forces for years before agreeing to a pace settlement in This settlement divided Vietnam at the 17 th parallel. North Vietnam was a Communist state under Ho Chi Minh’s leadership and South Vietnam was non-Communist. Plans were made for elections in 1956 to reunite the country, but they were never held for fear that Ho Chi Minh and the communist would win.

Vietnam Influence of the Policy of Containment The U.S. had adopted, in the Truman Doctrine, the foreign policy of containment. Therefore, the U.S. supported the government of South Vietnam. The United States and the Vietnam War Ho Chi Minh wanted to unite Vietnam under Northern Rule. The U.S. sent military advisors, supplies and later troops to South Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a major Cold War conflict because the Soviet Union and China were helping North Vietnam (with aid but not troops). Vietnam as a reunited Communist Country today In 1973 the Paris Peace Accord ended the fighting in Vietnam and the U.S. withdrew all remaining troops. In 1975, North Vietnam ultimately captured Saigon, the southern capital, and renamed it Ho Chi Minh city.

Indira Gandhi Closer relationship between India and the Soviet Union during the Cold War Developed nuclear program

Margaret Thatcher The Iron Lady British prime minister Free trade and less government regulation of business Close relationship with United States and U.S. foreign policy Assertion of United Kingdom ’ s military power

Mikhail Gorbachev Glasnost and Perestroika Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost, or openness, and perestroika, or economic restructuring, started a wave changes that led to the end of the Soviet Union in Fall of Berlin Wall 1989 Last President of the Soviet Union

Deng Xiaoping Reformed Communist economy to market economy leading to rapid economic growth. Deng Xiaoping started a program known as the Four Modernizations in This program helped to modernize China in industry, agriculture, technology and national defense. Communist control of the government continued In May 1989 tens of thousands demonstrated for more political freedom at Tiananmen Square. Deng sent in troops and tanks and thousands were killed and wounded. This demonstrated the determination of the Communist leaders to stay in control.