Fluctuating Relations IB History: The Cold War

About the Unit... In the unit we will explore various aspects of the Cold War which was a global political and economic conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR) that lasted from Topics Nature of the Cold War Origins of the Cold War The First Cold War (The first period of the Cold War) Fluctuating Relations From Detente to Second Cold War End of the Cold War

Developments in Europe... Following the death of Josef Stalin in 1953 the relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States went through a period that fluctuated between improvement and deterioration Despite both the USA and Soviet Union developing the Hydrogen Bomb, a more powerful nuclear weapon than ever before, they are still more willing to cooperate to ease tensions. The relationship between the USA and Soviet Union deteriorated when the newly formed West Germany joined NATO, the American lead military alliance. The Soviet Union responded with their own alliance of communist nations called the Warsaw Pact. Disagreements over the occupation of Germany’s former capital, Berlin, causes the Soviet Union and East Germany to build the Berlin wall, which physically separated the Soviet Sector of Berlin from the USA, UK, and French Sectors. Despite a string of tense incidents between the Soviet Union and USA the two countries signed an agreement to ban nuclear weapons tests in In 1968 Warsaw Pact nations invaded Czechoslovakia and Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev announced the Brezhnev Doctrine (Soviet Truman Doctrine) to protect communism, but relations continued to improve.

USA test of Hydrogen Bomb 1949 Johnston in front of Berlin Wall August 2014 Berlin Wall

Developments in Asia... The United States continues to provide aid to the French fighting communists in Indochina, and eventually enters what would become the Vietnam War After years of fighting between the French and communists in Indochina, the territory is divided into two countries called North Vietnam and South Vietnam. An election to determine whether the countries were supposed to be held, but because of fears that the communist leader of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, would win the elections South Vietnam refuses to hold them and is supported by the USA. In 1958 communist fighters from North Vietnam wage war on South Vietnam in an attempt to unify the countries and the USA provides support for South Vietnam in terms of money, weapons, and military advisers from the CIA. USA President Lyndon B Johnson commits combat troops to the area surrounding Vietnam, and when a USA ship is allegedly attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin the USA officially enters the war. By the late 1960’s over 500,000 American Soldiers were serving in Vietnam but their tactics were not successful and the war soon became unpopular in the USA causing major anti-war protests during the late 1960’s and 1970’s.

Developments in the Americas... Since the Spanish-American War in 1898 the USA had established its control over the region of North And South America and continued to assert its control during the Cold War In 1954 the USA became concerned that the reform policies of Guatemalan President Arbenez would lead the country towards communism, and as a result the CIA helped remove him from power. The USA’s power in the region caused the new communist leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, to turn to the Soviet Union as an ally. In 1962 Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to place nuclear missiles on their territory, just 90 miles from the USA, and as a result the USA established a naval blockade of Cuba. The entire incident was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. By avoiding direct conflict during the Cuban Missile Crisis the USA and Soviet Union improved relations, and established a direct hotline between Washington and Moscow. The USA maintained its hostile relationship with Cuba as it continued to encourage communists to start revolutions throughout North and South America.

Summary Following the death of Josef Stalin in 1953 the relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States went through a period that fluctuated between improvement and deterioration The United States continues to provide aid to the French fighting communists in Indochina, and eventually enters what would become the Vietnam War Since the Spanish-American War in 1898 the USA had established its control over the region of North And South America and continued to assert its control during the Cold War