Cold War - WordPress.com · Worst point in Cold War in terms of being on the brink of nuclear war...

Cold War

Division of Europe

After World War II, the Soviets aggressively set up communist governments in eastern European countries

These countries became known as Soviet Satellites

Containment Policy

doing whatever was necessary to stop the spread of communism

Domino Theory—the fear that if one country falls to communism, the one next to it will soon fall as well

U.S. responded with

Truman Doctrine

Economic/Political Differences

U.S.

democratic government

free enterprise or capitalist economic system.

U.S. was in good shape after WWII and did not have to rebuild.

USSR

communist government

Communist economic system.

USSR had the biggest losses by far of any country in WWII, both civilian and military, and had much to rebuild. In addition, they had poor economic growth after the war.

Berlin Blockade and Airlift In 1948, Soviet Union

blockaded West Berlin. No one could go in or out, by road or train.

United Nations responded with the Berlin Airlift—daily delivering supplies into W. Berlin.

Airlift continued from June 1948 – May 1949. Soviets decided the blockade was unsuccessful and ended it.

Arms Race

Began in 1949 with first successful Soviet atomic test

Build-up of weapons on both sides in order to keep the other side from attacking—they would be afraid of the response. This was called a policy of deterrence.

Space Race

Closely tied to arms race,

because they shared

technology (rockets,

missiles, etc.)

Sputnik—first satellite to

orbit earth, Soviet, 1957

U.S. astronauts landed on

moon, 1969

Chinese Communist Revolution

Mao Zedong (communist)

came to power in 1949

Followed conflict with

Nationalists, led by

Chiang Kai-Shek

(Jiang Jieshi)

Nationalists fled to Taiwan,

and still refuse to accept

communist government

War between communists from North Korea and anti-communists in South Korea; North was trying to control all of Korea

North was backed by USSR and China; South was backed by United Nations, including US.

This was an example of war by proxy—the superpowers were involved but not fighting directly with each other.

Korean War 1950-53

Korean War

War ended with North

Koreans being

defeated;

Result was that Korea

remained divided at

38th Parallel, where it

had been divided

before the war as well

Built in 1961 to block access between East and West Berlin

28 miles long

Dozens of people killed in the next 28 years trying to escape East Berlin across Berlin Wall

Torn down in November, 1989 after massive pro-democracy protests

Berlin Wall

Castro and the Cuban Revolution

http://www.history.com/topics/cold-

war/fidel-castro/videos/castro-and-the-

cuban-revolution

Communist Revolution in 1959; Fidel Castro came to power

Bay of Pigs—embarrassing and unsuccessful attempt by American government to assassinate Fidel Castro

Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis

Worst point in Cold War in terms of being on the brink of nuclear war

1962—Soviets tried to place nuclear armed missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida

U.S. President John F. Kennedydemanded that Khrushchev (Soviet leader) remove the missiles and blockaded Cuba

Soviets backed down and removed the missiles.

Vietnam War

Began with Vietnamese fight for independence from France 1945-1954; French left; Vietnam divided

North Vietnamese communists, led by Ho Chi Minh, tried to take over all of Vietnam

US troops into Vietnam in 1965, left in 1975

Vietnam War—who fought?

North was backed by USSR and China; Southwas backed by US.

This was another example of war by proxy—the superpowers were involved but not fighting directly with each other.

Vietnam War

Also fighting for the

Communists were

the Vietcong —

South Vietnamese

people who secretly

fought against

Americans and S.

Vietnamese army

Vietnam War

Tet Offensive—1968. Tet is an important Asian holiday. The North Vietnamese attack on this day was unexpected. The US/South won, but losses were terrible.

Along with new reports of the 1967 My Lai massacre, it changed Americans’ opinions about the war.

Vietnam War Saigon—capital of

South Vietnam—fell to communists hours after US troops evacuated Vietnam; it is now called Ho Chi Minh City

War ended with North Vietnam victorious—all of Vietnam is communist.

Fall of Communism

Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in Soviet Union in 1984 and instituted new policies

Glasnost—greater freedom of speech and press

Perestroika—privatizing state-owned business—allowing a more free economy.

Chernobyl

■Explosion at Soviet nuclear

plant, 1986

■Worst environmental disaster

ever

■Reflected the disrepair of Soviet

infrastructure

■News about it was more open

because of glasnost

Nationalism in Warsaw Pact countries and China

Protests for democracy throughout 1989

Poland—April 1989

Hungary—May 1989

[China—Tiananmen Square]—unsuccessful—June 1989

East Germany—Fall of Berlin Wall—November 1989

Bulgaria—November 1989

Romania—December 1989

Czechoslovakia—December 1989

Tiananmen Square, June 4, 1989

Tiananmen Square, June 4, 1989

Fall of the Berlin Wall

Attempted coup■ Attempt to overthrow

Gorbachev in 1991 by hardliner Communists

Unsuccessful

Followed by massive protests against hardliners

Gorbachev resigned and theSoviet Union collapsed

Boris Yeltsin elected president—first election in Russia ever

The End

US remained as only superpower

Without a superpower enemy, the Cold

War ended