Unit 7Unit 7The Cold WarThe Cold War

VocabularyVocabulary 1. “1. “cold warcold war”: a struggle between two ”: a struggle between two

countries to become the world’s only countries to become the world’s only super power nation. A war fought through super power nation. A war fought through influence and weapons build up, not influence and weapons build up, not through actual fighting.through actual fighting.

2. “2. “iron curtainiron curtain”: description of the soviet ”: description of the soviet control of surrounding countries after the control of surrounding countries after the end of WWII. (term coined by Winston end of WWII. (term coined by Winston Churchill)Churchill)

3. 3. CapitalismCapitalism: the economic system of : the economic system of free nations. People can buy and sell free nations. People can buy and sell whatever they please and have any job. whatever they please and have any job. (free market system)(free market system)

4. 4. CommunismCommunism: a system of government : a system of government that is totalitarian. The government that is totalitarian. The government controls how people live their lives and the controls how people live their lives and the economy.economy.

5. 5. ContainmentContainment: The policy of the U.S. to : The policy of the U.S. to prevent the USSR (Soviet Union) from prevent the USSR (Soviet Union) from changing any other nations to changing any other nations to communism.communism.

6. 6. Marshall PlanMarshall Plan: This was the plan to : This was the plan to provide $13 billion to European countries provide $13 billion to European countries to help them rebuild after WWII and to help them rebuild after WWII and prevent them from becoming communist prevent them from becoming communist nations.nations.

7. 7. Satellite nationsSatellite nations: Nations that : Nations that were controlled by the Soviet Union were controlled by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.during the Cold War.

8. 8. Berlin WallBerlin Wall: A wall that divided : A wall that divided free West Berlin from communist East free West Berlin from communist East Berlin. It symbolized the division Berlin. It symbolized the division between communism and capitalism.between communism and capitalism.

9. 9. NATO NATO: North Atlantic Treaty : North Atlantic Treaty Organization. USA’s alliance to Organization. USA’s alliance to counter balance the USSR’s Warsaw counter balance the USSR’s Warsaw Pact.Pact.

10. 10. PerestroikaPerestroika - The reconstruction - The reconstruction (rebuild) of the Soviet (rebuild) of the Soviet economyeconomy and and bureaucracy that began in the mid 1980s. bureaucracy that began in the mid 1980s. (more freedoms for the economy or business)(more freedoms for the economy or business)

11. 11. GlasnostGlasnost - the policy or practice of more - the policy or practice of more open consultative government and wider open consultative government and wider dissemination of information, initiated by dissemination of information, initiated by leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. (more leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. (more freedom for the people)freedom for the people)

I. Trouble in RussiaI. Trouble in Russia

Russia was a nation historically ruled Russia was a nation historically ruled by a Czar. (much like a king)by a Czar. (much like a king)

When WWI began, Russia was one of When WWI began, Russia was one of the first countries to jump into this the first countries to jump into this conflict.conflict.

Russia was not equipped to fight a Russia was not equipped to fight a successful war and they lost more successful war and they lost more battles than they won.battles than they won.

During World War I, while fighting During World War I, while fighting against the Allied forces, Russia against the Allied forces, Russia suffered heavy losses.suffered heavy losses.

Russia’s economy also suffered Russia’s economy also suffered from the war.from the war.

Food shortages were common and Food shortages were common and famine struck Russia.famine struck Russia.

II. Soviet Union is bornII. Soviet Union is born

Lenin and the Bolsheviks began a Lenin and the Bolsheviks began a coup, overthrowing the Czar and coup, overthrowing the Czar and Russian government.Russian government.

This ended with a new government, This ended with a new government, Communism.Communism.

III. CommunismIII. Communism

Communism is more than just a type Communism is more than just a type of government. It is a way of life.of government. It is a way of life.

In communism, everything is owned In communism, everything is owned and controlled by the state or nation.and controlled by the state or nation.

People do not have ownership of People do not have ownership of things, they are shared by the things, they are shared by the nation.nation.

IV. The Cold WarIV. The Cold War

During WWII, the Soviet Union fought During WWII, the Soviet Union fought on the side of the Allies, but shortly on the side of the Allies, but shortly after the war, the Soviet Union after the war, the Soviet Union became the enemy of the United became the enemy of the United States.States.

By the 1950’s both the U.S. and the By the 1950’s both the U.S. and the USSR had atomic bombs, making USSR had atomic bombs, making them the two superpower nations of them the two superpower nations of the world.the world.

Containment & The Marshall PlanContainment & The Marshall Plan The U.S. feared the spread of The U.S. feared the spread of

communism around the globe and tried communism around the globe and tried to stop it with many different things.to stop it with many different things.

President Truman adopted the policy of President Truman adopted the policy of Containment. This was the idea that Containment. This was the idea that the U.S. would do anything necessary to the U.S. would do anything necessary to slow or stop the spread of communism slow or stop the spread of communism (We did at least 5 things to stop this).(We did at least 5 things to stop this).

The Marshall Plan was the idea to give The Marshall Plan was the idea to give money to war torn countries in Europe money to war torn countries in Europe to insure the survival of Democracy in to insure the survival of Democracy in these nations (13 billion).these nations (13 billion).

The USSR and U.S. became locked The USSR and U.S. became locked into a war to see which country could into a war to see which country could become the strongest on earth.become the strongest on earth.

This “cold war” would last from the This “cold war” would last from the 1950’s until 1989.1950’s until 1989.

This was not only a military struggle, This was not only a military struggle, but a struggle of Western (U.S.) ideas, but a struggle of Western (U.S.) ideas, verses Eastern (USSR) ideas.verses Eastern (USSR) ideas.

Capitalism vs. CommunismCapitalism vs. Communism

Cold War Struggles

FearFear

During the Cold War, both U.S. and During the Cold War, both U.S. and Soviet citizens feared Nuclear War.Soviet citizens feared Nuclear War.

Bomb Shelters were built and cities Bomb Shelters were built and cities prepared for the day the bomb might prepared for the day the bomb might be dropped.be dropped.

Video clip of bomb drillVideo clip of bomb drill

USSR and U.S. competed in every USSR and U.S. competed in every aspect from weapons to the race aspect from weapons to the race for space.for space.

The closest the Cold War ever The closest the Cold War ever comes to becoming a Hot War is comes to becoming a Hot War is when the USSR places nuclear when the USSR places nuclear missiles in Cuba, a nation very missiles in Cuba, a nation very close to the U.S. ( The USA had close to the U.S. ( The USA had missiles in Turkey) missiles in Turkey)

This is called the Cuban Missile This is called the Cuban Missile Crisis. Crisis.

View Cuban Missile Crisis View Cuban Missile Crisis

Link to clip Link to clip

V. Wars during the Cold WarV. Wars during the Cold War

Although the U.S. never fought the Although the U.S. never fought the USSR, they did fight the spread of USSR, they did fight the spread of communism to other nations.communism to other nations.

These wars to stop communism These wars to stop communism were:were:

Korea (1950-1954)Korea (1950-1954) Vietnam (1955-1975)Vietnam (1955-1975)

Korean WarKorean War

View Vietnam Media File

VietnamVietnam

Vietnam was originally a French Vietnam was originally a French Colony known as Indochina.Colony known as Indochina.

France became very weak after WWII France became very weak after WWII and the Vietnamese gained their and the Vietnamese gained their independence in 1954.independence in 1954.

By the 1960’s a communist By the 1960’s a communist movement became strong in the movement became strong in the Northern section of Vietnam. Northern section of Vietnam.

The U.S. was committed to its policy of The U.S. was committed to its policy of containment and soon sent troops to containment and soon sent troops to Vietnam to stop the spread of Vietnam to stop the spread of communism to the southern portion of communism to the southern portion of the country.the country.

The guerrilla tactics of the Vietcong The guerrilla tactics of the Vietcong proved to be very frustrating and proved to be very frustrating and difficult for the American forces to difficult for the American forces to defeat.defeat.

After facing growing resistance on the After facing growing resistance on the home front, and heavy casualties, U.S. home front, and heavy casualties, U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam in 1975.forces withdrew from Vietnam in 1975.

VietnamVietnam

VI. End VI. End

By the 1980’s the strong U.S. By the 1980’s the strong U.S. economy, based on capitalism out economy, based on capitalism out paced the sluggish USSR economy paced the sluggish USSR economy based on communism.based on communism.

People in the USSR learned how nice People in the USSR learned how nice life in the U.S. was compared to their life in the U.S. was compared to their country.country.

By 1989 people in USSR were ready By 1989 people in USSR were ready for a change in their government.for a change in their government.

A coup began that would free the A coup began that would free the people of the USSR, give people of the USSR, give independence to 15 countries independence to 15 countries (satellite nations), and end (satellite nations), and end communism in Russia.communism in Russia.

The Cold War is over when the USSR The Cold War is over when the USSR collapses.collapses.

The U.S. did not defeat the USSR, The U.S. did not defeat the USSR, Communism defeated itself.Communism defeated itself.

The country that remained became The country that remained became the Republic of Russia, a democratic the Republic of Russia, a democratic free nation.free nation.

End of the WarEnd of the War

More Info.More Info.

Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev passed a passed a restrestructuring policy called ructuring policy called peperestrestroikaroika that gave more economic that gave more economic freedom to business in the USSR.freedom to business in the USSR.

Gorbachev also allowed some Gorbachev also allowed some freedoms for the people.  This was freedoms for the people.  This was called called glasnostglasnost..

  

Video clip of Russia Today

QuestionsQuestions

1.  Who led the revolt in Cuba that changed it to a 1.  Who led the revolt in Cuba that changed it to a communist nation in 1959?  What was this communist nation in 1959?  What was this person’s previous occupation?person’s previous occupation?

2.  What did the U.S. place on Cuba after they 2.  What did the U.S. place on Cuba after they changed to communism?changed to communism?

3. What was the “Bay of Pigs” in 1961? 3. What was the “Bay of Pigs” in 1961?

QuestionsQuestions

4.  What was the goal of the Korean 4.  What was the goal of the Korean War? War?

5.  Who helped the North Korean’s 5.  Who helped the North Korean’s fight? fight?

6.  Who was the leader of communist 6.  Who was the leader of communist forces in Vietnam? forces in Vietnam?

7.  What happened to South Vietnam 7.  What happened to South Vietnam in 1975? in 1975?

AnswersAnswers

1. Fidel Castro  he was a lawyer 1. Fidel Castro  he was a lawyer 2. An embargo 2. An embargo 3. The U.S. attempted to overthrow Castro 3. The U.S. attempted to overthrow Castro

and free the island of Cuba and free the island of Cuba 4. To prevent Korea from becoming 4. To prevent Korea from becoming

communist communist 5. China / Russia 5. China / Russia 6. Ho Chi Minh 6. Ho Chi Minh 7. They became communist and united 7. They became communist and united

with North Vietnam. with North Vietnam.

Review QuestionsReview Questions What caused the end of the Cold War?What caused the end of the Cold War? What event almost changed the Cold What event almost changed the Cold

War into a “hot war?”War into a “hot war?” What were some differences between What were some differences between

Korea and Vietnam?Korea and Vietnam? What is the Berlin Wall and why was it What is the Berlin Wall and why was it

built?built? Why can’t the U.S. claim victory in the Why can’t the U.S. claim victory in the

Vietnam War?Vietnam War? What is Mutual Assured Destruction What is Mutual Assured Destruction

(MAD)?(MAD)?

AnswersAnswers

1. when the USSR collapses.1. when the USSR collapses. 2. Cuban Missile Crisis2. Cuban Missile Crisis 3. terrain3. terrain 4. Wall built to separate Germany 4. Wall built to separate Germany

(Capitalist and Communist)(Capitalist and Communist) 5. Because it is still Communist5. Because it is still Communist 6. The understanding that if one country 6. The understanding that if one country

fires a nuclear weapon, both of them will fires a nuclear weapon, both of them will ultimately be destroyedultimately be destroyed