The Cold War

A Timeline of “Cold War” Events and “Hot” Spots 1945: Soviets establish “Eastern Bloc” 1945: Soviets establish “Eastern Bloc” 1947: Cominform, “Containment” the “Truman Doctrine” and the “Marshall Plan” 1947: Cominform, “Containment” the “Truman Doctrine” and the “Marshall Plan” 1948: Berlin Blockade and airlift 1948: Berlin Blockade and airlift 1949: NATO and the Maoist Revolution 1949: NATO and the Maoist Revolution 1950: the Korean War 1950: the Korean War 1955: the Warsaw Pact 1955: the Warsaw Pact 1957: “Space Race” 1957: “Space Race” 1959: the Cuban Revolution 1959: the Cuban Revolution 1961: the “Berlin Wall” 1961: the “Berlin Wall” 1962: the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962: the Cuban Missile Crisis 1963: Vietnam War 1963: Vietnam War 1979: Soviets attack Afghanistan 1979: Soviets attack Afghanistan 1989: Fall of Berlin Wall 1989: Fall of Berlin Wall

Causes of “Cold War” Ideological differences b/t communism and capitalism Ideological differences b/t communism and capitalism Division of Europe among Allies after WWII Division of Europe among Allies after WWII Development, possession and threat of A-Bomb Development, possession and threat of A-Bomb Distrust b/c of high level espionage Distrust b/c of high level espionage Expansion and Containment efforts on both sides Expansion and Containment efforts on both sides Propaganda Propaganda Desire for “superpower” status and capability Desire for “superpower” status and capability

Communism Goal of classless society Goal of socio-economic equality Good of “community” over individual Revolution of working class Tends towards totalitarianism Repression of all that might threaten revolution and “worker’s control” Nationalization of business and industry Seizure and redistribution of private property and private wealth Capitalism Self-interest and drive for profit Good of individual over community Private ownership of property and wealth Free markets and free enterprise Emphasis of individual rights and civil liberties Tends towards class-based society Tends towards socio-economic inequality Often claims to be democratic, but usually takes form of elite “democracy” (oligarchy)

Soviet “Commun”ism Gov’t run by Communist Party Communist Party suppose to represent working class, but became a group of party elite (oligarchy) “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” Goal of gov’t to complete revolutionary transformation and then cease to exist Communist Party leadership tended towards totalitarianism and dictatorship Repression of individual rights American “Democracy” Multi-party elections (really just two viable parties) Leaders elected by people for limited terms Law-makers elected by people for limited terms Laws / policies based on Constitution Emphasis on individual rights (though often compromised… McCarthyism) Because of class / wealth differences there is no equitable access to power Govn’t ruled by wealthy (oligarchy)

Cold War Germany

Cold War Berlin

The Cold War World: 1 st World, 2 nd World, 3 rd World

Yalta Conference… 1945