The Cold War 1945-1990 SOL 13A,B
Beginning of the Cold War 1945-1948 Competition between the US and the USSR laid the foundation for the Cold War Yalta Conference, one of a few meetings to determine what to do with territories after WWII, led to Soviet control of Eastern Europe
Iron Curtain Churchill called this separation in Europe an “iron curtain”. In Eastern Europe, Soviet controlled governments ruthlessly eliminated all who opposed them. US and USSR grew suspicious of each other. Democracy vs. Dictatorship Pres. Truman continued US policy of containment.
Truman Doctrine 1947, Pres. Truman addressed congress stating that it must be the US policy to support those who are resisting take over attempts by outside forces or armed groups.
Germany After WWII, Germany was divided. West Germany went to the allies, east to the Soviets. The capital of Berlin was also split. Stalin attempted to block supplies to west Berlin, but the Berlin Airlift kept the supplies coming. (1948-49)
Berlin Airlift
NATO In 1949, western powers formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), allowing military cooperation in case of a Soviet attack in Europe. Soviets created the Warsaw Pact, to defend and increase military forces in Eastern Europe.
Cuban Missile Crisis The reality of a nuclear war was never more frightening then in 1959. Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro took control of Cuba. He favored socialism and formed an alliance with the Soviet Union. 1962 Soviet leader Khrushchev deployed nuclear weapons to Cuba, Pres. Kennedy demanded them be withdrawn. US navy block ships, missiles removed.
Cuba
Berlin Wall In 1961, East Germany built the Berlin wall to prevent people from fleeing to the west. It became a symbol of the Cold War. By the end of 1989, communist governments of Eastern Europe had fallen, in Nov. the wall was torn down and by 1990 Germany was reunified.
The Wall
The Soviets In the 1980’s, the Soviet economic system began to fall apart. People wanted more rights. Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader from 1985-91, helped to reform the Soviet Union. By 1990 the Cold War was over and by 1991 all Soviet states declared independence.