The Cold War

The Cold War [1945-1991]: An Ideological StruggleIdeological Struggle

Soviet & Eastern Bloc

Nations[“Iron

Curtain”]

US & the Western

Democracies

GOAL spread world-wide Communism

GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world.

METHODOLOGIES:

1. Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]

2. Arms Race [nuclear escalation]

3. Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist [Communist govtgovt. & command economy. & command economy vs. Democratic Democratic govtgovt. & capitalist economy. & capitalist economy] ] “proxy wars”“proxy wars”

4. Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

The COLD WAR was a period of The COLD WAR was a period of strained relations between the strained relations between the United States of America United States of America and and the Soviet Union the Soviet Union..

After World War II, Allied leaders After World War II, Allied leaders divided Germany into four divided Germany into four sectorssectors, with each of the major Allied powers occupying a sector , with each of the major Allied powers occupying a sector (area). The city of Berlin itself was similarly divided into four zones. (area). The city of Berlin itself was similarly divided into four zones. The The Soviet zone of Germany eventually became EAST GermanySoviet zone of Germany eventually became EAST Germany – a – a communist country – while the communist country – while the BRITISH, FRENCH, AND USA BRITISH, FRENCH, AND USA

zones zones became noncommunist WEST Germanybecame noncommunist WEST Germany..

The establishment of communist governments in EAST The establishment of communist governments in EAST Germany and other nations in EASTERN Europe Germany and other nations in EASTERN Europe reinforced reinforced the belief of most Americans that the Soviet Union wanted the belief of most Americans that the Soviet Union wanted to spread communism around the worldto spread communism around the world. It also . It also set the set the stage for the stage for the USA-Soviet power struggle that USA-Soviet power struggle that dominated world politics for several dominated world politics for several decadesdecades..

T h e C o l d W a r

THE UNITED NATIONS PROVIDES HOPE

• Hopes for world peace were high at the end of the war.

• Formed in June of 1945.

• Unfortunately, the U.N. soon became a forum for competing superpowers to spread their influence over others

NATO vs. WARSAW PACTNATO vs. WARSAW PACTNorth Atlantic Treaty North Atlantic Treaty

OrganizationOrganization: defense alliance among U.S. and Europe against the Soviet Union. Still exists. (Created in 1949.)

Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact: Defense alliance among Soviet Union and its satellite governments in Eastern Europe. (Created in 1955)

THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE• President Truman had been

horrified at the pre-war Allied policy of appeasement and was determined to stand up to stand up to any Soviet intimidation any Soviet intimidation & & stop the growth of stop the growth of Communism.Communism.

• The Truman Doctrine in March 1947 promised that the USA “would support would support free peoples who are free peoples who are resisting overthrow resisting overthrow by armed minorities by armed minorities or by outside or by outside pressurespressures”.

• It signalled the endthe end of “isolationist” policies of the United States.

• Secretary of State George Marshall introduced the Marshall Plan which reflected the strength of the US economy and offered huge sums of offered huge sums of money tomoney to enable the enable the war shattered war shattered economies of Europe to rebuildeconomies of Europe to rebuild and, by generating prosperity, toto reject the appeal of reject the appeal of CommunismCommunism.

• The Marshall Plan helped the countries of Western Europe recover economically from the war. It also discouraged the further spread of communismdiscouraged the further spread of communism in Europe (Domino Affect).

THE MARSHALL PLAN

The Arms RaceThe Arms Race• This title was given This title was given to the activity to the activity

of one’s country trying to of one’s country trying to build build more weapons than any other more weapons than any other countrycountry. This started with the started with the invention of the Atomic Bombinvention of the Atomic Bomb.

Both the Both the United States and United States and Russia believed that having the Russia believed that having the most and strongest weapons most and strongest weapons would keep them safewould keep them safe. People People began to build underground began to build underground shelters to protect themselves. shelters to protect themselves.

• This title was given This title was given to the activity to the activity of one’s country trying to of one’s country trying to build build more weapons than any other more weapons than any other countrycountry. This started with the started with the invention of the Atomic Bombinvention of the Atomic Bomb.

Both the Both the United States and United States and Russia believed that having the Russia believed that having the most and strongest weapons most and strongest weapons would keep them safewould keep them safe. People People began to build underground began to build underground shelters to protect themselves. shelters to protect themselves.

MCCARTHY LAUNCHES “WITCH HUNT”

• The most famous anti-most famous anti-Communist activistCommunist activist of of the 1950’s was Senator the 1950’s was Senator Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin

• McCarthy took took advantage of advantage of people’s concern people’s concern about Communismabout Communism by making unsupported claims that 205 state department members were Communists

MCCARTHY’S DOWNFALL• Finally, in 1954 in 1954

McCarthy went too McCarthy went too

farfar……………….……………….• He accused high accused high

ranking Army ranking Army officers of being officers of being CommunistsCommunists

• In the televised proceedings McCarthy’s McCarthy’s bullying of bullying of witnesseswitnesses alienated the alienated the national audiencenational audience

• Three years later he died of alcoholism at age 49

McCarthy’s attacking style McCarthy’s attacking style and utter lack of evidence led and utter lack of evidence led

to his downfallto his downfall

North KoreaNorth Korea and South KoreaSouth Korea were were divided along the 38divided along the 38thth parallel following WWII parallel following WWII. The War began with North Korea invading The War began with North Korea invading South KoreaSouth Korea. North Korea and its leader Kim Il Sung were communist and supported by the Soviet Union, Soviet Union, and Chinaand China. South KoreaSouth Korea and its leader Syngman Rhee were supported by the supported by the United StatesUnited States. The UN authorized sending troops into the region under the command of U.S. general Douglas MacArthur.

THE KOREAN CONFLICT

“Domino Theory”

CHINA JOINS THE FIGHT• Just as it looked like the Americans were looked like the Americans were

going to score a victorygoing to score a victory in the North, then 1 1 millionmillion Chinese soldiers joined the Chinese soldiers joined the war on the side of the North war on the side of the North KoreansKoreans

• The fight between North and South Korea had turned into a warturned into a war in which the main main opponents were opponents were Chinese Chinese CommunistsCommunists supported by the supported by the Soviet Union vs. AmericaSoviet Union vs. America

War ends in a Stalemate along the 38th Parallel 38th Parallel the war ends in a tie, nobody winsthe war ends in a tie, nobody wins

To Summarize The The “Red Scare”“Red Scare”, launched by , launched by

Senator Senator Joe McCarthyJoe McCarthy, , dominated US politics for dominated US politics for several years 1948-53 and several years 1948-53 and helped pressure Truman into helped pressure Truman into the Korean Warthe Korean War, , a costly and a costly and ultimately stalemated conflictultimately stalemated conflict. . Given the suddenness of the Given the suddenness of the fall of China, the development fall of China, the development of the Soviet bomb, and the of the Soviet bomb, and the shocking performance of the shocking performance of the Western secret services, the Western secret services, the level of panic was level of panic was understandable.understandable.

Sputnik I (1957)Sputnik I (1957)

The Russians have beaten America The Russians have beaten America in space—they have the in space—they have the

technological edge!technological edge!

On October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik a communications satellite, the first the first man-made object man-made object ever sent into ever sent into spacespace. This would kick off kick off the space race the space race accelerate accelerate America’s America’s pushpush to the to the MOON and MOON and elevate Cold elevate Cold War tensionsWar tensions

• During the 1950’s a steady outflow of refugees a steady outflow of refugees (immigrants) from East Germany( Soviet (immigrants) from East Germany( Soviet controlled)controlled) moved into West Germany( Allies controlled), primarily working age individuals.

• * In November 1958, Soviet Premier Khrushchev issued an ultimatum giving the Western powers six months to agree to withdraw from Berlin and make it a free, demilitarized city.

• The sides could not reach an agreement, so in could not reach an agreement, so in the spring and early summer months of the spring and early summer months of 1961 1961 the East German regime stockpiled the East German regime stockpiled building materials for the creation of the building materials for the creation of the Berlin WallBerlin Wall. .

1961 - Berlin Wall

• On August 15, communist authorities begin construction on the Berlin Wall to stop East stop East Germans Germans from trying from trying to flee to to flee to West BerlinWest Berlin.

On the November 9, 1989, the the Border separating Western from Border separating Western from Eastern Germany was effectively Eastern Germany was effectively openedopened.

In the days that followed large groups of individuals with their hands and with machinery, started physically tearing down started physically tearing down the wallthe wall. The The Fall of the Berlin Fall of the Berlin WallWall AFTER STANDING FOR AFTER STANDING FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, will always ALMOST 30 YEARS, will always be be used as used as a symbol for the end of a symbol for the end of the Cold Warthe Cold War..

Fall of the BERLIN WALL

Postwar Western Europe faced economic ruin and Postwar Western Europe faced economic ruin and starving people.starving people.

SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE C. MARSHALLSECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE C. MARSHALL proposed proposed the the EUROPEAN RECOVERY PROGRAMEUROPEAN RECOVERY PROGRAM called the called the MARSHALL PLANMARSHALL PLAN..

The plan would The plan would give European nations American give European nations American aid (money) to rebuildaid (money) to rebuild. The plan was an effort to . The plan was an effort to fight hunger, poverty, & chaos. fight hunger, poverty, & chaos.

The Soviet UnionThe Soviet Union & its SATELLITE nations in & its SATELLITE nations in Eastern Eastern Europe rejected the offer & developed their own economic program.

The The MARSHALL PLANMARSHALL PLAN gave billions of dollars gave billions of dollars worth of supplies, machinery, & food to WESTERN worth of supplies, machinery, & food to WESTERN Europe, Europe, lessening the appeal of COMMUNISM & lessening the appeal of COMMUNISM & opening new trade marketsopening new trade markets. .

The

EN

D

The following is a synopsis of the The following is a synopsis of the Cold WarCold War..

1.1. Cold War – divided BerlinCold War – divided Berlin

2.2. Truman Doctrine –contain communism – insure democracy to those who want democracyTruman Doctrine –contain communism – insure democracy to those who want democracy

3.3. Marshall Plan - $$ to rebuild Europe – stop the spread of communismMarshall Plan - $$ to rebuild Europe – stop the spread of communism

4.4. McCarthyism – unsupported claims of communists in the USAMcCarthyism – unsupported claims of communists in the USA

5.5. Arms RACE – start of Korean War- STALMATE, no clear winnerArms RACE – start of Korean War- STALMATE, no clear winner

6.6. Sputnik – Soviet Union 1Sputnik – Soviet Union 1stst in Space, NASA created, emphasis on Math & Science in USA schools to catch up in Space, NASA created, emphasis on Math & Science in USA schools to catch up

7.7. Berlin Wall – rise & fall, end of the Cold War – America wins – Berlin Wall – rise & fall, end of the Cold War – America wins – Symbolic VictorySymbolic Victory – Democracy – Democracy overover CommunismCommunism

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