The Cold War

EQ: How did different economic and political philosophies lead to the Cold War?

What is a Cold War? Time period from post WWII until 1991 when a state of tension and hostility existed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (USSR); it was “cold” because the U.S. and the S. U. never directly went to war with each other.

United Nations (UN) Est April 1945 w/ 50 nations Goals: Peaceful settlement of disputes Take collective measures in times of war Security Council: 11 seats; 5 permanent- U.S., Britain, China, Soviet Union and France

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

U.S. Policies Containment: recognized Eastern Europe lost to Communism Calls for U.S. to resist it spreading Truman Doctrine: call for U.S. to take leadership role in the world, declared U.S. would support nations threatened by Communism 1st time: aid Greece and Turkey

Marshall Plan Plan for nations of Europe to draw up a program for economic recovery supported by U.S. financial aid Hoped to create strong democracies and markets for American Goods

Post-War Germany

Berlin blockade led to the Berlin Airlift • In 1948, U.S., Britain, France withdraw forces from West Germany; zones form one country • Soviets opposed this, stop land and water traffic into West Berlin • West Berlin, located in Soviet occupation zone, faced starvation • U.S., Britain fly in supplies for 11 months until the blockade ends

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

The Threat of Nuclear War • Soviet Union explodes its first atomic bomb in 1949 • U.S. and Soviet Union both develop more powerful hydrogen bomb • Brinkmanship—policy of willingness to go to the edge of war w/o going to war • Increasing tensions led to military buildup by U.S. and Soviets NEXT

The Arms Race: A “Missile Gap?” The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb in 1949. Now there were two nuclear superpowers!

1957 Sputnik – first satellite Score 1 for Soviets!

Berlin Wall- constructed 1961

The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961) Checkpoint Charlie

Wall torn down in 1989.

EQ: How did the Cold War lead to Conflicts/confrontations in Korea, Vietnam, Latin America and the Middle East?

China goes Communist CCP takes control in 1949 One party dictatorship, totalitarian gov’t: controls every aspect of citizens’ lives Headed by Mao Zedong: CCP uses propaganda to make him look like a hero

Mao’s Brand of Marxist Socialism • Mao takes property from landowners and divides it among peasants • Govt takes control of the economy “The Great Leap Forward” •Communes—large collective farms often supporting over 25,000 people • leads to crop failures and famines 1966 Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Young people’s revolution Create Red Guards: anyone who does not support Mao becomes a target Abuse, torture, sent people to rural labor camps Effects Chaos, schools closed, factories slow production

Korean War [1950-1953] End of WWII Soviet Union occupies north of 38th parallel and U.S. the south Korea splits in 1948 over the issue of communism (North-communist, South-authoritative) War in Korea lasts 1950-1953 Ends in armistice: truce; still divided 4 million dead, many refugees, lots of destruction

The Shifting Map of Korea [1950-1953]

Korean War [1950-1953] Kim Il-Sung Syngman Rhee

Vietnam War “Domino Theory”

Vietnam War After WWII: North Vietnamese fight for independence under leader Ho Chi Minh, who pushes Communism; non-communists rule south after Vietnam is split by the Geneva Accords U.S. enters fight against Communism on side of the south; Gulf of Tonkin gives LBJ the power to send in more troops 1973 U.S. withdrew troops due to “Vietnamization” 1975 Vietnam becomes a Communist nation Economy left in ruins and is still struggling today while attempting to move to a market economy

Cambodia 1975 dictatorship arises in Cambodia City dwellers sent to the countryside, many starve Pol Pot begins genocide; 2 million out of 7 million people murdered Dictatorship overthrown 1979 by Vietnamese, stay until 1989

Effects of War in SEA Millions died Bombing destroyed villages, infrastructure, cities Some land unusable due to chemical warfare and land mines Many fled to refugee camps and some remain there today

Cold War Divides the World More Than One “World” 1st World- U.S. and industrialized allies 2nd World- communist nations like USSR and China Third World—developing nations; often newly independent Cold War Strategies U.S., Soviet Union, China competed for influence over Third World Back revolutions and give economic, military, technical aid

Confrontations in the Middle East Religious and Secular Values Clash in Iran • Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini—Iranian Muslim leader; lives in exile- wants Iran to be a theocracy • In 1978, Khomeini sparks riots in Iran; Shah Pahlavi flees (Shah- ruler of Iran) • • Islamic revolutionaries held American hostages in Tehran (1979–1980) b/c we helped shah • Muslim radicals take control in Iran, increasing tensions with Iraq NEXT

The Superpowers Face Off in Afghanistan • Soviets invade Afghanistan 1979, help Communist government against Muslim rebels who fight guerilla war against Soviets with U.S. aid • U.S. stops grain shipments to Soviet Union; Soviets withdraw (1989) NEXT

Confrontations in Latin America Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution • Fidel Castro—leads revolt in Cuba against dictator supported by U.S. • By 1959, Castro in power, nationalizes economy, takes U.S. property • In 1961, Castro defeats U.S.-trained Cuban exiles at Bay of Pigs Nuclear Face-off: the Cuban Missile Crisis • In 1962, U.S. demands removal of Soviet missiles in Cuba • Soviets withdraw missiles; U.S. promises not to invade Cuba & removes missiles in Turkey • Cuban economy is left dependent on Soviet support

Civil War in Nicaragua • Anastasio Somoza—Nicaraguan dictator supported by U.S. (originally) • U.S. switches support to Sandinistas, who then aided Communist rebels in El Salvador • U.S. switches aid again to anti-Communist Contras in Nicaragua • In 1990, Nicaragua holds first free elections; Sandinistas lose

EQ: What changes occurred as Cold War tensions eased and the Soviet Union ceased to exist?