Main Ideas of the Cold WarMain Ideas of the Cold War

1.1. The United States and the USSR became the The United States and the USSR became the two two dominant superpowersdominant superpowers after WWII. after WWII.

2. A Rapid 2. A Rapid increase in the Production of Nuclear increase in the Production of Nuclear WeaponsWeapons led to fear of total annihilation led to fear of total annihilation

3. A 3. A “Space Race“Space Race” was underway to explore beyond ” was underway to explore beyond the atmospherethe atmosphere

4. 4. Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development in developing countries in developing countries

Super PowersSuper Powers US and the USSR are credited for defeating Germany US and the USSR are credited for defeating Germany

and Japanand Japan

US promoted US promoted free market economiesfree market economies (Capitalism) in (Capitalism) in the worldthe world

USSR promoted USSR promoted Command EconomiesCommand Economies (Communism) in the world(Communism) in the world

As WWII ended, the US and USSR could not agree on As WWII ended, the US and USSR could not agree on how to move forward with international affairs because how to move forward with international affairs because of their economic and political differencesof their economic and political differences

Super PowersSuper Powers Each country competed for international alliesEach country competed for international allies

This competition led toThis competition led to NATONATO-an organization between western countries (US and Western -an organization between western countries (US and Western

Europe) to support economic trade and military defenseEurope) to support economic trade and military defense Warsaw Pact-Warsaw Pact- an organization between eastern countries in response to an organization between eastern countries in response to

NATONATO

Winston Churchill declared that “Winston Churchill declared that “an iron curtainan iron curtain has has descended across the continent” (of Europe) dividing East and descended across the continent” (of Europe) dividing East and West.West.

These new alliances led to several smaller conflicts in other These new alliances led to several smaller conflicts in other areas of the world ie Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistanareas of the world ie Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan

Nuclear WeaponsNuclear Weapons The A-bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki began The A-bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki began

a a race to build up nuclear arsenals race to build up nuclear arsenals between between the US and the USSRthe US and the USSR

USSR tested the first Atomic Bomb in 1949.USSR tested the first Atomic Bomb in 1949.

This nuclear race to the MAD idea: This nuclear race to the MAD idea: Mutually Mutually Assured DestructionAssured Destruction

The The Nuclear threat defines the stand offNuclear threat defines the stand off between the US and the USSR, if these two between the US and the USSR, if these two countries went to war, they both promised to use countries went to war, they both promised to use nuclear weapons.nuclear weapons.

The Space RaceThe Space Race There was an huge increase in the There was an huge increase in the advancement of advancement of

technologytechnology during the Cold War during the Cold War

The US and the USSR competed to be the first to explore outer The US and the USSR competed to be the first to explore outer space byspace by Launching satellitesLaunching satellites Shuttle missionsShuttle missions Moon LandingsMoon Landings Defense Weapon SystemsDefense Weapon Systems

The USSR launched the first satellite called The USSR launched the first satellite called SputnikSputnik in 1957 in 1957

The US launched one is 1958The US launched one is 1958

It was It was militarily strategicmilitarily strategic to have control over the skies to to have control over the skies to identify and defend against a nuclear weapon attackidentify and defend against a nuclear weapon attack

Global Economic Development Global Economic Development

The US and USSR sent billions of dollars to The US and USSR sent billions of dollars to developing countries in return for their allegiancedeveloping countries in return for their allegiance

This made economic development is the remote This made economic development is the remote parts of the world possibleparts of the world possible

The The Middle East oil reservesMiddle East oil reserves were a source of were a source of fuel for both the US and the USSR which led to fuel for both the US and the USSR which led to ethnic and religious tensionsethnic and religious tensions in the region in the region

The US followed a The US followed a Policy of ContainmentPolicy of Containment to to stop the spread of Communism stop the spread of Communism

Cold War TimelineCold War Timeline 1945- 1945- United NationsUnited Nations formed to replace the League of Nations and secure formed to replace the League of Nations and secure

peace in the world.peace in the world.

1947-the Jewish State of Israel Created1947-the Jewish State of Israel Created

1947- 1947- Pakistan separates from IndiaPakistan separates from India because of Hindu Muslim tensions because of Hindu Muslim tensions

1949- 1949- China Becomes CommunistChina Becomes Communist under Mao Zedong under Mao Zedong

1957-Soviets Launch first satellite, Sputnik1957-Soviets Launch first satellite, Sputnik

1961- 1961- Berlin WallBerlin Wall Constructed Constructed

1962- 1962- Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

1965 Vietnam War begins1965 Vietnam War begins

Cold War TimelineCold War Timeline 1969- US lands man on the Moon1969- US lands man on the Moon

1973- 1973- Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War between Arabs and Israelis between Arabs and Israelis

1975-Vietnam War Ends1975-Vietnam War Ends

1979- 1979- Iran holds US civilians hostageIran holds US civilians hostage in return for the in return for the ShahShah

1979- 1979- USSR invaded AfghanistanUSSR invaded Afghanistan

1980- US boycotts Moscow Olympics1980- US boycotts Moscow Olympics

1990-the 1990-the USSR collapsesUSSR collapses

All of you are products of the post-All of you are products of the post-Cold War World. Understanding Cold War World. Understanding why the world is as it is today will why the world is as it is today will

help you become a wiser and more help you become a wiser and more enlightened individual as you enlightened individual as you progress through your life and progress through your life and contemplate our existence. It contemplate our existence. It

should give you hope that we can should give you hope that we can achieve peace during our time here achieve peace during our time here

on Earth.on Earth.