Why COLD? 2 rivals never actually directly engaged each other Engaged in proxy (also called “satellite”) wars: war that results when 2 powers use 3rd parties as substitutes for fighting each other directly. Why not face each other directly? Too risky…. Too HOT….

It felt HOT… Propaganda used on both sides Rivals seen as imminent threat to survival of nation-- as EVIL Containment Policy based on fear & assumption that fall of one country to communism would bring about the fall of its neighbor….. Acknowledged the power of ideology…

Early Cold War clips and documents Use the clips and documents to fill in Assignment #3

Use your Early Cold War Chart to review/add notes to the following events in the Early Cold War

Pro-Soviet governments were installed in Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. In 1946 a civil war erupted in Greece: fear of Communist encroachment into Europe seemed a very real possibility. President Truman was determined to stop the fall of any more European nations and responded by issuing the Truman Doctrine. (The United States pledged to support free people who were trying to protect themselves). In March 1947 President Truman requested $400 million in economic aid for Greece and Turkey. The rationale was that since communism was fed by economic crisis and poverty, financial aid would help maintain economic stability.

Berlin Airlift

European Economic Community and COMECON After WWII, many Europeans felt a need for a sense of unity. The first arena was the economic arena: the EEC created free trade for member nations and encouraged cooperation and standardization of the member nations economies. The EEC still exists and became the precursor to the European Union. COMECON is the Soviet version – but importantly, Eastern Bloc nations did not have a choice about being members.

Nuclear Arms Race

After watching film clips, looking at documents and taking notes on the lecture…. Write a thesis statement in response to the following: Some say the Cold War between the US and USSR was inevitable. Analyze the origins of the Cold War in the context of the end of WWII, keeping in mind ideological differences.

The Cold War – Life After Stalin?

De-Stalinization Nikita Krushchev 1956 Stalin died in 1953 and for a short time the Soviet Union experienced a collective leadership. In 1955 Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971 emerged as a sole leader. De-Stalinization: Khrushchev was responsible for ending the forced labor camps and for trying to eliminate some of the other features of the Stalinist regime. While Khrushchev did many things to improve the Soviet Union including attempting to de-stalinize the country and admitting to the atrocities of his predecessor, he was equally ruthless at times. Clearly the Soviet government was gradually allowing a little more openness and criticism: In 1956, Boris Pasternak wrote Dr. Zhivago (published in Italy) and was awarded the Nobel Prize (which he was not allowed to accept). In 1962 Alexander Solzhenitsyn published his One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, which told the world about the labor camps. Gradually opposition to Khrushchev increased and in 1964 at a secret meeting of the Soviet Politburo he was replaced by Alexei Kosygin.

1949 West Germany Created Berlin Wall 1961 In September 1949 the West German Federal Republic (West Germany) was created. In October of the same year the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was created. Leader of the Christian Democratic Union, Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) became chancellor of the new West German Federal Republic in 1949. Adenauer's political agenda entailed close ties with the United States and other western European nations, especially France. Fear of the spread of Communism in the early 1950s led to calls for rearmament of Germany, which happened in 1955. Also in 1955, in another sign of cooperation, West Germany was admitted to NATO.

NATO/Warsaw Pact NATO Warsaw Pact

The Arms Race Key strategy of Cold War = brinkmanship Willing to go to the edge of war Stockpile enough nuclear weapons so as to make actual conflict too risky: Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

TITO Tito was a communist leader with no ties to Stalin. There was no Soviet army in Yugoslavia at the end of the war so Tito was able to remain communist but not a satellite state. Stalin mistrusted and even hated Tito.

People’s Revolutions – Hungary and Poland 1956 Imre Nagy Golden October Until the death of Stalin, Eastern Bloc countries were run as complete satellites to the Soviet Union. Their leaders were often “little Stalins” who followed the party line. Destalinization promoted rebelliousness. 1956 – Uprising in Budapest, Hungary Also, reports of Stalin’s crimes that came out after his death. This stimulated rebelliousness in many eastern bloc countries. Put a former leader, Imre Nagy, into power Announces Hungary might leave the Warsaw Pact Soviets roll in. Put down the uprising – killing tens of thousands. More people flee to the West US refuses to intervene. They don’t want to risk a World War Poland also has demonstrations in 1956. The Soviets do not roll in because Poland promises to remain loyal to Warsaw Pact, but the seeds of rebellion are planted.

Decolonization: Colonies become nations after WWII Increased independence movements – especially from countries who had helped their imperial rulers in WWII (and WWI!) European countries – especially Britain – found their power severely diminished and could not afford empire.

Case Study: India Gandhi as leader (nonviolence) Partition and the problems of independence Pakistan becomes aligned with US India becomes a democracy and manages ties to US while still being friendly to socialism. Desire for independence increased with WWI British limit freedoms of Indians (Rowlatt Act, Salt Acts) Gandhi leads a nonviolent movement Partition brings problems between Hindus and Muslims

Decolonization and the Cold War New nations become pawns in the US and USSRs game. Increasing independence movements and economic issues lead European countries to grant independence to their colonies. The Marxist vision of independence vs the Capitalist free market vision compete. New nations felt compelled to support one side or the other in the Cold War as many needed financial and political assistance of a superpower.

Alignment and “Proxy” Wars Alignment: Newly independent nations are swept into the CW as the US and USSR compete to Help build countries financially/assist in development Accepting help also meant, in most cases, accepting politics and influence. Some countries chose to be “non-aligned”

The Chinese Revolution Mao Zedong and the communist revolution As the Japanese left China, a power vacuum results. China erupts in Civil War between a communist group, led by Mao Zedong and a group called the Nationalists. Mao had read deeply into Marxism and Leninism and believed that China, a rural country, was ripe for a revolution of the peasants. The Soviets agreed and gave support. The US aided the Nationalists. China’s revolution becomes a proxy war and a study in post war decolonization. The war ends in 1949. The communists are successful. Mao becomes a long time Totalitarian ruler, with Stalinist characteristics including modernization plans, and also some modernization mishaps like the Great Leap Forward which results in millions dying in a famine.

Proxy Wars and the CIA Patrice Lumumba – US fears about him being sympathetic to the Soviets lead to a US sponsored coup Joseph Mobutu was corrupt and repressive USSRs invasion of Afghanistan to Protect their interests The alignment game meant that when new nations weren’t representing the interests of the superpowers, often the US or USSR would intervene to support their interests. Another issue is when the US would cut off support to those they saw as leaning toward communism, the country actually would be forced to lean toward communism more by asking the USSR for support. This happened in the Congo when independence led by Patrice Lumumba caused the US concern when he wanted to keep Congo non-aligned, and more concerned when Lumumba asked the USSR for aid and support. The CIA helped implement a military coup and put in place a dictator – Joseph Mobutu who was repressive and corrupt. The same pattern happened in Chile in 1980 when a socialist president was elected. Other examples of the US becoming involved in communist vs noncommunist civil wars: Vietnam. The USSR had their own proxy wars. When a socialist leader was threatened in Afghanistan, the USSR invaded, leading to a 10 year conflict.

Immigration to Europe from countries formerly colonized Britain’s creation of the “commonwealth” Europe becomes a more diverse society.

People’s Revolutions – Prague 1968 Alexander Dubcek Prague Spring 1968 is a year of crisis around the world: MLK assassinated. Protests in Europe, Latin America, United States People are reacting to racism, Vietnam War, Sexism Prague Spring: Alexander Dubcek, Communist leader, calls for reform. Czech citizens start to call for “socialism with a human face” Put Dubcek in power. When he fails to attend a meeting of the Warsaw Pact, Soviet tanks roll in. More students protest