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II. Cold War (1945-1991) -WWII Allies = US, UK, France, & USSR *Political & economic differences? -US bombing of Japan (1945) -1949: Russia became the 2 nd country to enter the nuclear age
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Soviet Influence: -USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) *took control of Eastern European countries after WWII *took control of Eastern European countries after WWII *behind the “Iron Curtain” of communism *behind the “Iron Curtain” of communism
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COLD WAR: The struggle between the U.S. & USSR following WWII that was determined by their differing political systems (democracy vs. totalitarianism) & differing economic systems (free market capitalism vs. command economy) Political conflict w/no open warfare betw. U.S. & USSR
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Truman Doctrine (1947)—U.S. aid to those who are threatened by outside forces (Greece & Turkey?) Marshall Plan (1947-1951) (U.S. gave $13 billion) U.S. financial plan to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to prevent spread of communism COMECON = Council for Mutual Economic Assistance Soviet program to rebuild Eastern Europe
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It is clear that the main element of any U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies –US diplomat U.S.’ containment policy (1947): U.S. pledge to prevent communism from spreading
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Berlin Airlift (June 1948-May 1949) First test of U.S. containment policy Soviet blockade of West Berlin Goal: to force W. Allies out of Berlin Allies airlifted food/supplies into Berlin Allies enforced their containment policy
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NATO (1949): *North Atlantic Treaty Organization *mutual defense pact between Western allies Warsaw Pact (1955): *mutual defense pact of USSR countries *mutual defense pact of USSR countries *to protect against NATO
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Who’s who…
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Indirect Conflicts (“proxy wars”): 1) Korean War (1950 – 1953) *divided betw. Communist North & Democratic South North & Democratic South *border = 38 th parallel *US won 2) Vietnam War (1964 – 1975) *US lost 3) Afghanistan (1979 – 1989) *USSR lost—BIG TIME!
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Events that stressed US/USSR diplomatic relations in 1960s 1960—Soviets shot down U2 spy plane Francis Gary Powers 1961—Berlin Wall (to keep E. Germans in) 1962—Cuban Missile Crisis Closest we came to nuclear war!
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The Nuclear Arms Race *Nuclear arms race: *competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between the U.S. & USSR *1952- U.S. detonated H-bomb *1953- Russians produce H-bomb *MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) *Diplomacy? -when govts. negotiate & deal w/each other in peace deal w/each other in peace
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The Space Race Space Race: competition between U.S. & USSR for supremacy in space exploration (mid-late 1900s) 1957- Soviets launched Sputnik ICBMs: Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Yuri Gagarin (1961)—first man in space Neil Armstrong (1969)—first man on the moon
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Neil Armstrong: first man to step on the moon (July 1969)
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Early 1980s: Reagan era in U.S. --Most tense times of Cold War since Cuba *Soviet downing of S. Korean airliner *U.S. invasion of Grenada *Boycotting of Olympics (US ‘80, USSR ‘84) *Soviet support of Sandinistas in Nicaragua 1981: US had 8,000 ICBMs & USSR had 7,000 *Defense spending (early 1980s) -U.S. = <10% of GDP -USSR = about 20% of GDP—SOCIAL EFFECTS?
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The Gradual Fall of the USSR 1960s: USSR economy was struggling Conflict in Middle East caused oil prices to soar 1973-’74 Oil Embargo: oil prices rose 1979 Oil Crisis USSR imported more food, consumer goods, & developed oil/natural gas DID NOT DEVELOP REAL INDUSTRY! 1986: global oil prices fell 46%
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The “Iron Curtain” falls! *Most $ went to military & space exploration -very little $ for consumer goods & services -aid decreased to satellite nations of E. Europe *Ronald Reagan’s speech at *Ronald Reagan’s speech at Brandenburg Gate, West Germany, Brandenburg Gate, West Germany, June 12, 1987 June 12, 1987
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Mikhail Gorbechev (1985): Last Pres. USSR *sought reconciliation betw. U.S. & USSR *perestroika: “restructuring” the economy & govt. *to become more “Western” *EX: McDonald’s in Moscow *glasnost: “openness” w/ the West *discuss political/social issues *move towards democracy
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Late 1980s & early 1990s: one by one, eastern Euro. countries were granted self-determination collapse of Warsaw Pact 1989: Berlin Wall falls 1990: Germany is reunited Dec. 25, 1991: USSR collapses Cold War is over! USSR broke into 15 independent republics
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