I. Cold War ( ) -WWII?KABOOM! -Arms Race began in 1945

Soviet Influence: USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) took control of many Eastern European countries…behind the “Iron Curtain.”

 Truman Doctrine (1947)—U.S. provided aid to Greece & Turkey to prevent Soviet takeover (both jointed NATO in 1952)  Marshall Plan ( )  U.S. gave $13 billion to rebuild Europe  COMECON =  Council for Mutual Economic Assistance

U.S.’ containment policy (1950s): to prevent communism from spreading any further! COLD WAR: The struggle between the U.S. & USSR following WWII that was determined by their differing political systems (democracy vs. totalitarianism), & differing economic systems (capitalist system of free enterprise vs. communist system of govt.-owned & directed means of production)—political conflict w/no open warfare The struggle between the U.S. & USSR following WWII that was determined by their differing political systems (democracy vs. totalitarianism), & differing economic systems (capitalist system of free enterprise vs. communist system of govt.-owned & directed means of production)—political conflict w/no open warfare

 Berlin Airlift  Soviets tried to force W. Allies out of Berlin  Allies airlifted/dropped food/supplies into Berlin  Allies determined to oppose Soviet’s extension of control

NATO (1949): North Atlantic Treaty Organization: mutual defense pact between Western allies. Warsaw Pact: mutual defense pact between USSR & nations of Eastern Europe. mutual defense pact between USSR & nations of Eastern Europe.

Who’s who…

Indirect Conflicts (“proxy wars”): 1) Korean War (1950 – 1953) 2) Vietnam War (1964 – 1975) 3) Afghanistan (1979 – 1989)

 1960—Soviets shot down U2 spy plane  Francis Gary Powers  1961—Berlin Wall (to keep E. Germans in)  1962—Cuban Missile Crisis  Closest we came to nuclear war!

The Nuclear Arms & Space Race U.S. detonated H-bomb Russians produce H-bomb Soviets launched Sputnik *ICBMs: Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

1960’s Space Race: *Yuri Gagarin (1961)—first man in space *Neil Armstrong (1969)—first man on the moon

Early 1980s: Reagan era in U.S. --Most tense times of Cold War since Cuba *Soviet downing of S. Korean airliner *U.S. invasion of Grenada *Boycotting of Olympics (US ‘80, USSR ‘84) *Soviet support of Sandinistas in Nicaragua 1981: US had 8,000 ICBMs & USSR had 7,000 *US defense spending (1981) = $178 billion *(1986) = $367 billion

The Gradual Fall of the USSR  1960s: USSR economy was struggling  Conflict in Middle East caused oil prices to soar  1973-’74 Oil Embargo: oil prices rose  1979 Oil Crisis  USSR imported more food, consumer goods, & developed oil/natural gas  DID NOT DEVELOP REAL INDUSTRY!  1986: global oil prices fell 46%

The “Iron Curtain” falls! *Development of military technology & space exploration left little $ for consumer goods & human services in the USSR. --could not give aid to poorer satellite nations of E. Europe *Ronald Reagan’s speech at *Ronald Reagan’s speech at Brandenburg Gate, West Germany, Brandenburg Gate, West Germany, June 12, 1987 June 12, 1987

Mikhail Gorbechev (1985): Pres. of Soviet Union *sought reconciliation betw. U.S. & USSR *perestroika: “restructuring” the economy & govt. (to become more “Western”) *glasnost: “openness” discussion of political & social issues—move towards democracy

 Late 1980s & early 1990s: one by one, eastern Euro. countries were granted self- determination—collapse of Warsaw Pact  1989: Berlin Wall falls  1990: Germany is reunited  1991: Soviet Union collapses =Cold War is over!  USSR broke into 15 independent republics