The Cold War

What was the “Cold” War? Intense political rivalry and mistrust between the U.S. and the Soviet Union No physical fighting between the 2 countries Various “satellite” wars (Korea, Vietnam) as the U.S. instituted its containment policy

Yalta Conference February 1945: FDR, Churchill and Stalin planned for division of Germany Germany divided into four occupation zones East: Soviet Union West: France, Britain, and U.S. Berlin, the capital countries

Marshall Plan June 1948 Helped European nations reconstruct their cities Provided economic aid and vital supplies Central to policy of containment

Berlin Blockade June 24, 1948 Attempt by Joseph Stalin to stop aid to Berlin U.S. responded with the Berlin Airlift, dropping supplies into the city from planes Germany officially became 2 countries in 1949

The Containment Policy American diplomat George Kennan proposed a foreign policy of containment The Truman Doctrine expanded the policy of containment by stating the U.S. would send aid to countries wanting democracy

McCarthyism Senator Joseph McCarthy led a political hunt for communist infiltrators in America Targeted people in every walk of life, including the military. Ruined reputations of many people through “blacklisting.” Senate censured McCarthy in 1954 for unbecoming behavior.

Race for Space Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first satellite in space in 1957 America followed with Explorer I in 1958 Yuri Gagarin in the Soviet Union was the first to orbit space in 1961 John Glenn of the U.S. followed in 1963

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) April 1949 Mutual defense pact against Soviet aggression Soviet Union and other Communist government in Eastern Europe created the Warsaw Pact (1955) Defense alliance against Western countries Divided Europe into military camps and Soviet satellites

Original Member Nations

Current Member Nations

The U.S. and the Cold War Korean War; U.S. led effort by 20 nations to prevent the takeover of South Korea by Communist North Korea (September 1950) Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962) forced the Soviets to remove nuclear missiles from Cuba Vietnam War: U.S. became involved to stop communist North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam