Cold War

US History

Cold War Explained

The Dates

1. 1945 through 1990

2. 1950s beginnings of the Arms Race3. 1950s Korean War4. 1960s beginnings of the Space Race5. 1960s Vietnam War6. 1970s Detente -- two sides coexist7. 1980s Renewed Arms Race

Definition of Cold War

It is a period of tension between the 2

superpowers, it is political and ideological. It is

a struggle to show superiority. It is not a hot

war (direct war).

Yalta Conference

1. Free Elections in Poland

2. Creation of the UN 1. Trying to avoid what happened during WWII

2. Leaders of the Axis Powers would be put on trial at the

Nuremberg Trials for Crimes against humanity

3. Division of Germany

2 Superpowers

1. US1. Democratic

2. Free Enterprise -- Capitalism

3. More Individual Rights

2. USSR1. Communist 1 party dictatorship

2. Command Economy

3. Few Individual Rights

United States

1. Become the worlds wealthiest economy2. Adopt a policy of CONTAINMENT, where we

try to contain Communism where it already

exist.

3. The US begins to rebuild Western Europe

(Marshall Plan) and rebuild Japan

4. To stop the spread of Communism, the US

fought wars in Korea and then Vietnam

Korean War for Dummies

United States

1. Once the Soviets gain atomic capability the

US will engage in an Arms Race2. Alliances form and the US leads the NATO

alliance.

3. In the early 1960s, the US avoids potential war with the Soviet in the Cuban Missile

Crisis (JFK)

Cuban Missile Crisis

Western Europe

1. Capitalist and Democratic

2. Was rebuilt by the Marshall Plan

3. Part of NATO

4. Divide between Eastern Europe and

Western Europe is called the Iron Curtain

Germany

1. It is divided between Communist East

Germany and Democratic West Germany

2. Its capital, Berlin, is also divided 3. To keep Berlin from falling the Allies after

WWII airlift supplies into Berlin (Berlin

Airlift)

4. Eventually, they will build the Berlin Wall to

keep East Germans in

USSR

1. Stalin conducted several 5 years plans in an

attempt to industrialize his nation

2. Stalin seized control of farmland forming

large collectives

3. Stalin eliminated all political enemies during

his Great Purge

4. In 1949 the soviets tested their first atomic

bomb

Eastern Europe

1. These countries have Communist

dictatorships under the influence of the

Soviet Union

2. Eastern Block or Soviet Satellites

3. They will fall behind Western Europe

Economically

4. The Soviets and Eastern Europe form the

Warsaw Pact

The World Largest Bomb

How does Cold War Europe affect US

1. Western Europe and Nato remains alliances

to the US today.

2. Western Europe and Eastern Europe

provided a real life example of how

democracy and free enterprise works better

than Communism and Command

Economies.

Khan Academy Vietnam War

Vietnam @ Home

1. Because of the high casualties, the US instituted a draft. By

1965 most American soldiers had been drafted.

2. The draft was very unpopular. Some people avoided the

draft by exemptions for education or religion, other people

fled to Canada.

3. This led to many protest. Some people would burn their

draft cards. Make love not war (Counter Culture)

4. The Silent Majority of white collar and blue collar workers

who were not protesting help Nixon win the election of 1968

Japan

1. US will rebuild Japan following WWII

2. Japan will be protected by the US military and will not

rebuild their military

3. Japan will become democratic

4. Japan will become an economic power

5. Japan will begin to export many high quality consumer

goods.

6. Japan also protected its industries against competition

How does this pertain to US

1. Japan today is a major trading partner.

2. Japan is an Allie in the Pacific and America

has troops stationed there today

China and US

1. Had no relations before Nixon visited

2. Since restoring relations and trade, US and China are

now trading partners and are connected Economically.

3. China becomes a mixed economy and not just a

command economy. China allows free enterprize into

country

4. Growing economy with growing Middle Class, but

prosperity in cities only, still much poverty.

Dtente: Cooling Off

End of the Cold War

1. Decline of the Soviet Union

1. Soviet people never really benefited from the Soviet

win in WWII

2. Under Khrushchev, Soviets enjoyed more freedoms

and consumer goods, but still a command

economy controlled peoples lives

3. When Eastern European nations tried to break

away, the Soviets crushed the rebellions.

4. Command economy and collectivization failed, there

was very low productivity and products were poor

Soviet Union Declines

1. The US economy was better suited for an

arms race than the Soviets. The Soviets

could not keep up the cost of the arms race.

2. Soviet War in Afghanistan drained the

economy and morale of the Soviet Union

Mikhail Gorbachev1. New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, began a

series of reforms to try to bring the Soviet

Economy/Culture to life1. Glasnost -- Openness -- he allowed people to

openly discuss the issues of the country

2. Perestroika -- restructuring -- restructure the Soviet

Economy and government -- he will for limited free

market economy

3. He willing worked with Reagan and British Prime

Minister Margaret Thatcher

Soviet Union Collapses1. Reforms failed because of the void of government

control

2. The Russian empire breaks apart

3. Eastern Europe breaks away from the Soviet Union

4. Communist try to overthrow Gorbachev but fail

5. Gorbachev eventually resigns and makes a nice living

speaking in US

Review John Greene Style