The Cold War 1945-1991

TEKS and Objectives We will… I will… (1F) identify major causes and describe major effects of the Cold War (13A) summarize how WWII contributed to Cold War (13C) identify major events of the Cold War (28C) explain the effects of major new military technology on the Cold War Analyze Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech Summarize the interactions between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War

The Cold War The era of confrontation and competitions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union when the threat of nuclear war created constant world tension. Soviet Union United States V.S. Democracy Communism

Differing Philosophies Western Democracies Soviet Communism Political System Citizens elect representatives People form political parties Dictatorship Communist Party only political party Individual Rights Citizens have basic rights (freedom of speech, press, religion) Few individual rights Government controlled media (radio, t.v., newspaper) Secret police Religion discouraged Economic System People/Corporations own land and businesses Businesses make profits State owned everything Government controlled production of goods and farming

Soviets Take Over Eastern Europe As World War II ended, Soviet army occupied countries of Eastern Europe The Iron Curtain Imaginary boundary Ran through Berlin Democracy in the West; Communism in the East Soviet Satellites Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Rumania, and East Germany become “satellites” of USSR

Journal Entry #36 Winston Churchill gave this speech in Missouri after receiving an honorary degree. In this speech, he introduced the phrase “Iron Curtain.” “I have a strong admiration for the Russian people and for my wartime comrade, Marshal Stalin. It is my duty, however, to place before you certain facts about the present position in Europe. From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic and ‘iron curtain’ has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of Central and Eastern Europe: Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in the Soviet sphere, and are subject a very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow. The safety of the world requires an unity in Europe, from which no nation should be outcast. It is from the quarrels of the strong races in Europe that the wars we have witnessed have sprung.” Churchill saw the “Iron Curtain” as the division between the Western powers and the area controlled by the Soviet Union. How did these speech maker the beginning of the Cold War?

U.S. Foreign Policy Truman Doctrine Eisenhower Doctrine Stop Communism from taking over Greece Eisenhower Doctrine Stop communism from spreading to Middle East Containment Policy Stated communism must be contained and isolated Marshall Plan Gives $$ aid to European nations

NATO and the Warsaw Pact North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) Warsaw Pact (1955) U.S. and 11 other nations Protect Western Europe from Communist aggression Soviet Union and other communist nations Stalin’s Response to NATO

Division of Germany Germany divided into FOUR zones under control of U.S., France, Great Britain, and Soviet Union Eventually became West Germany (democracy) and East Germany (communism)

Berlin, Germany Berlin Blockade: Soviets cut off East Germany from the rest of the world Berlin Airlift: President Truman sent food and supplies to people of Berlin Stalin backed off; victory for West Convinced many Americans that Soviets trying to conquer other nations

The Cold War Intensifies

Arms Race Competition between US and USSR for development and accumulation of weapons 1949: Soviet Union develops atomic bomb 1952: U.S. develops hydrogen bomb 1953: Soviet Union develops hydrogen bomb Both countries spent billions on offensive and defensive weapons Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

Space Race Competition between US and USSR for achievements in space exploration 1957: Soviets launched first satellite (Sputnik) into space 1961: Soviets sent first man into space 1963: Soviets sent first woman into space 1969: US lands on the moon US took the lead Both sides experienced many failures (crashes, explosions, and death)

Khrushchev and Eastern Europe Nikita Khrushchev Succeeded Stalin in 1953 Condemned Stalin’s atrocities Triggered unrest in Eastern Europe

Khrushchev and Eastern Europe Poland Workers went on strike demanding greater freedom Khrushchev allowed reforms as long as Poland remained Communist Hungary Students protested in favor of reform Threatened to leave Warsaw Pact Soviet troops crushed rebellion

Khrushchev and Eastern Europe East Berlin East Germans fled West Khrushchev built Berlin Wall Czechoslovakia Leaders promoted “Communism with a human face” Soviets sent tanks into Prague Leaders replaced

Communism Comes to Latin America Fidel Castro Came to power in Cuba with help of U.S. Favored Communism Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) U.S.’s failed attempt to overthrow Castro CIA trained Cuban exiles JFK refused to provide air support Increased tensions between U.S. and Cuba

Communism Comes to Latin America Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Cuba secretly building bases for Soviet missiles JFK ordered naval blockade of Cuba and threatened to invade Khrushchev withdrew missiles Closest we came to nuclear war