Origins of the Cold War (1945-1990)

Occupation of Europe Germany was split into four parts 1 part (east): Controlled by the Soviets; Money went to the Soviet government 3 Other parts (west): Controlled by the Allies, Money was evenly distributed to help re-build country

US Occupation of Japan U.S. broke down the military made changes and turned Japan into a surviving Democracy, with economic prosperity, throughout 20th century.

Marshall Plan Plan to help build up Europe after WWII US would give money to Europe to rebuild Named after Secretary of State; George C. Marshall

United Nations (1945) An international peacekeeping organization created after World War II. Designed after the League of Nations

Cold War Ideology United States Capitalism- free market economic system, private ownership of goods and money NATO- (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) an military alliance between the U.S., Canada, France, Belgium, and Britain and the nations of western Europe

Cold War Ideology Soviet Union (U.S.S.R) Communism- totalitarian gov’t with complete government ownership of land, business and property Warsaw Pact- a military alliance between the Soviet Union and the satellite nations of E. Europe

Cold War Ideology The cold war had several races Nuclear Arms Race Conventional Arms Race Race for influence in other countries Space Race

US Cold War Policies Truman Doctrine- called for the U.S. to become a world leader, also stated that the U.S. would support those threatened by communism Containment- American policy of resisting further expansion of Communism around the world

US Cold War Policies Massive Retaliation- a concept created by President Eisenhower, meaning the US would severely destroy any nation who attacked them Domino Theory – If one country fell to communism, then all countries around it will be communist

Early Events of the Cold War

The Berlin Airlift (1948) An operation supported by the British and the Americans. British and American military planes would send food and supplies to Berlin, Germany during a Soviet blockade.

Chinese Civil War (1947-1949) The Communist leader is Mao Zedong. The Nationalist leader is Jiang Jiashi. The Nationalists lose and relocate to Taiwan. China is now communist causing fear in the US.

The Korean War (1950 – 1953) After the Japanese relinquish power over Korea after defeat in WWII, the Soviet Union and the USA divide Korea by the 38th parallel.

The Korean War (1951 – 1953) North Korea (Communist) and South Korea (Capitalist). North Korea tries to reunite the country starting a war which ended in a stalemate after 3 years of fighting

The Berlin Wall (1961) Was built by the East German government to separate East Berlin from West Berlin. The goal was to cut off the flow of East Germans escaping into West Germany. Kennedy feared that the Soviet Union was attempting to take over Europe starting with Germany.

Cuba and Fidel Castro (1958) Fidel Castro overthrew Cuba’s US backed dictator Fulgenico Batista because he felt that wealthy Cubans and the US were exploiting the poor. Formed a Communist government backed by U.S.S.R.

US planned to help former Cuban refugees overthrow Castro. The Bay of Pigs (1961) US planned to help former Cuban refugees overthrow Castro. US pulled out of invasion without warning Cuban refugees

1500 Refugees were slaughtered by Cuban army The Bay of Pigs (1961) 1500 Refugees were slaughtered by Cuban army Kennedy accepted defeat and America was exposed for invading a country and trying to overthrow its government.

Cold War at Home

Arms Race/Nuclear Threat US and USSR competed to have largest military and best weapons Schools held atomic bomb drills Americans encouraged to build bomb shelters

Spying Alger Hiss, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg convicted of spying by selling nuclear secrets to Communists Increased American fears of Communism

McCarthyism Making of false allegations of communism based on rumor or guilt by association Sen. Joseph McCarthy accused government officials and entertainment stars of being “communists” without little proof People were “blacklisted” and forced out of the public eye

Virginia Benefited from heavy money government spent on military Hampton Roads – large naval and air bases Northern VA – home to Pentagon and private companies w/military connections

Cold War Presidents

Dwight D. Eisenhower Came up with policy of “massive retaliation” Began US involvement in Vietnam by sending military advisors help S. Vietnam resist attacks from N. Vietnam (Communist)

John F Kennedy First Catholic US President Promised to defend freedom across the world (Truman Doctrine) Encouraged patriotism and allegiance to US

John F Kennedy Failed Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba aimed at US Kennedy threatened massive retaliation is weapons were not moved Soviets eventually moved weapons but world was on brink of a nuclear war

John F Kennedy Vietnam Began heavy military operations in Vietnam Started draft to send troops to Vietnam Won numerous battles but could not force surrender of N.Vietnam

John F Kennedy Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald on Nov 22, 1963 in Dallas, TX Remembered as one of the most well loved presidents

Lyndon B Johnson Known for passing Civil Rights through Congress Supported most of Kennedy’s ideas and programs Supported Truman Doctrine

Lyndon B Johnson Vietnam Heaviest fighting in Vietnam War became unpopular with American Public because of television Anti-war protest marches begin around country

Cold War 1945 - 1990 Nixon – Reagan 1969 - 1989

Richard M Nixon Years: 1969 – 1975 P.P. – Republican V.P. – Spiro Agnew

Richard M Nixon Elected on promise to end the war in Vietnam First US President to visit China Caused tension between China and USSR

S.A.L.T. (1970) Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Détente - agreement to slow down the arms race

Vietnamization Plan to replace US troops with S. Vietnamese troops but maintain military aid

Vietnamization Plan failed Vietnam is now one communist country(1975)

Why did America lose the Vietnam War? South Vietnam didn’t want America to defend them

Why did America lose the Vietnam War? Geography Vietnamese used guerilla warfare to attack and hide from Americans

Kent State University (1970) 4 anti-war protesters were killed by Ohio National Guard

Vietnam Veterans Some veterans came back psychologically and emotionally unstable Didn’t receive recognition until government built Vietnam War Memorial in D.C. in 1982

Watergate Scandal (1975) Republicans are caught stealing plans from Democrats are Watergate Hotel

Watergate Scandal (1975) Nixon participated in cover – up Nixon resigned

Neil Armstrong 1969 – First Man on the Moon “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

Ronald Reagan Years: 1981 – 1989 P.P. – Republican V.P. – George Bush Sr.

Problems in the USSR Arms race caused a big debt in Soviet economy Rising Nationalism in Soviet Satellites Countries

Problems in the USSR Economic Inefficiency Country had nuclear missiles but no food Fast paced reforms (wanted a free market economy like USA)

Michel Gorbachev Supported youth and he had good political skills. started policy changes that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev Economic Reform Glasnost Freedom of speech allowed

Gorbachev Economic Reform Perestroika People could make their own money

Gorbachev Economic Reform Both programs opened up the government to changes that would lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990

Ronald Reagan Heavy military spending to put economic and military pressure on Soviets to keep up Reagonomics Return to conservative views for America

Ronald Reagan Became friends with Michel Gorbachev

Women’s Rights Women in nontraditional jobs Sally Ride was the first female astronaut in the United States.

Women’s Rights Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman on the US Supreme Court.

“Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this wall” – Ronald Reagan Berlin Wall Falls (1989) “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this wall” – Ronald Reagan Symbolized the end of communism in East Germany and the end of the Soviet Union

Legacy of Cold War US only remaining super power in the world US military continues to operate in and near Cold War countries as “world police” US had to cut its huge military budget forcing closures of some bases in US

Unstable governments in former Soviet Republics Legacy of Cold War Unstable governments in former Soviet Republics Russia and former republics of USSR left with no money