The Cold WarThe Cold War

International clash of International clash of ideologiesideologies

What was the Cold War?What was the Cold War?

A conflict between the world’s two A conflict between the world’s two super-powers – the U.S. and the super-powers – the U.S. and the Soviet Union (USSR)Soviet Union (USSR)

Lasted from 1945 until the break up Lasted from 1945 until the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991of the Soviet Union in 1991

The two countries never directly The two countries never directly fought each other on the battlefieldfought each other on the battlefield

Rather, they competed for influence Rather, they competed for influence over other parts of the worldover other parts of the world

Roots of the Cold WarRoots of the Cold War

U.S. and Soviet Union U.S. and Soviet Union had been allies during had been allies during WWIIWWII

Soviets suffered more Soviets suffered more than any other Allied than any other Allied nation at the hands of nation at the hands of Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

As WWII comes to a close in 1945, U.S. and As WWII comes to a close in 1945, U.S. and Soviets compete for influence in a Soviets compete for influence in a rebuilding Europe, and eventually the rebuilding Europe, and eventually the entire worldentire world

““Spheres of Influence”Spheres of Influence” Soviet dictator Josef Stalin wants Eastern Soviet dictator Josef Stalin wants Eastern

Europe under Soviet control to act as a Europe under Soviet control to act as a “buffer zone” from any future invasions“buffer zone” from any future invasions

Stalin promises to allow free elections in Stalin promises to allow free elections in Poland, but later goes against this Poland, but later goes against this promisepromise

American President Truman pushes for American President Truman pushes for free democracies in Europe, which will free democracies in Europe, which will create new markets for American goodscreate new markets for American goods

““Truman Doctrine” declares that U.S. will Truman Doctrine” declares that U.S. will combat Communist influence worldwidecombat Communist influence worldwide

The “Iron Curtain”The “Iron Curtain” By 1946, Communist, Soviet-controlled By 1946, Communist, Soviet-controlled

governments are in place in most of governments are in place in most of central and eastern Europe, creating a central and eastern Europe, creating a strict boundary with democratic, strict boundary with democratic, American-influenced Western EuropeAmerican-influenced Western Europe

Building alliancesBuilding alliances

Western liberal democracies (US, UK, Western liberal democracies (US, UK, France, Canada, West Germany, and France, Canada, West Germany, and others) formed a military alliance called others) formed a military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)(NATO)

• NATO is still around today and sends NATO is still around today and sends soldiers to places like Afghanistansoldiers to places like Afghanistan

Communist countries form the Warsaw Communist countries form the Warsaw PactPact

• Eastern European countries ruled as Eastern European countries ruled as “satellites” of the Soviet Union“satellites” of the Soviet Union

Raising the StakesRaising the Stakes Expanded Soviet influence makes Expanded Soviet influence makes

Americans fear that their dominance may Americans fear that their dominance may be coming to an endbe coming to an end Mao Zedong leads successful Communist Mao Zedong leads successful Communist

revolution in China (1949)revolution in China (1949) Soviets successfully test atomic bomb (1949)Soviets successfully test atomic bomb (1949) Communists North Korea invades South Korea, Communists North Korea invades South Korea,

retreats but withstands U.S. military forces in retreats but withstands U.S. military forces in the Korean War (1950-53)the Korean War (1950-53)

Soviets send first satellite into space – Sputnik Soviets send first satellite into space – Sputnik (1957)(1957)

Communist East Germany government Communist East Germany government constructs Berlin Wall to prevent its citizens constructs Berlin Wall to prevent its citizens from escaping to the “free” West (1961)from escaping to the “free” West (1961)

The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall(Graffitied side on West, “death strip” on (Graffitied side on West, “death strip” on

East)East)

The Arms RaceThe Arms Race

Nuclear weapons became the biggest Nuclear weapons became the biggest source of tension in the Cold War source of tension in the Cold War

– The U.S. used used two nuclear bombs The U.S. used used two nuclear bombs on Japanese cities to end World War II on Japanese cities to end World War II in 1945in 1945

– The USSR tested their first nuke in The USSR tested their first nuke in 1949 1949

By the 1950’s, both sides had enough By the 1950’s, both sides had enough weapons to literally wipe out the other weapons to literally wipe out the other countrycountry

MAD = Mutually Assured DestructionMAD = Mutually Assured Destruction

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile CrisisThe Cold War hit its most tense moment The Cold War hit its most tense moment during the Cuban Missile during the Cuban Missile Crisis in Crisis in October of 1962October of 1962Soviets placed missiles in Cuba (90 Soviets placed missiles in Cuba (90 miles from Florida)miles from Florida)After 13 tense days of negotiation with After 13 tense days of negotiation with U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Soviet U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Soviet President Kruschev agreed to remove President Kruschev agreed to remove missiles from Cubamissiles from Cuba

What was it like to live under the threat of a

nuclear attack?

Duck and Cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60

Tension around the worldTension around the world The U.S. never actually went to battle with The U.S. never actually went to battle with

the Sovietsthe Soviets Rather, U.S. fought in places to prevent the Rather, U.S. fought in places to prevent the

spread of Soviet influence - e.g. Korea, spread of Soviet influence - e.g. Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, NicaraguaVietnam, Cuba, Nicaragua

Americans were afraid of “Domino Effect” – Americans were afraid of “Domino Effect” – if China falls to Communism, then Korea will if China falls to Communism, then Korea will fall, then Vietnam will fall, then Cambodia fall, then Vietnam will fall, then Cambodia will fall…will fall…

Both the U.S. And Soviets also fought “proxy Both the U.S. And Soviets also fought “proxy wars” - supporting rival forces within wars” - supporting rival forces within countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin AmericaAfrica, and Latin America

How did it How did it end?end?

Presidents Reagan and Presidents Reagan and Premier Gorbachev Premier Gorbachev began peace talks in began peace talks in the mid-1980’sthe mid-1980’s

By late 1980’s, Soviets By late 1980’s, Soviets had loosened their grip had loosened their grip on other countries they on other countries they had controlledhad controlled

Soviet Communist Party Soviet Communist Party steps out of power in steps out of power in 1989, ending 73-year 1989, ending 73-year reignreign

November, 1989: November, 1989: Removal of Berlin Wall Removal of Berlin Wall beginsbegins

Soviet Union breaks up Soviet Union breaks up into 15 countries in into 15 countries in 19911991

Nuclear Arms ReductionNuclear Arms Reduction

The U.S. and The U.S. and the USSR signed the USSR signed the START the START treaty in 1991treaty in 1991

This led to both This led to both countries countries reducing the reducing the size of their size of their nuclear arsenalsnuclear arsenals

Nuclear weapons today?Nuclear weapons today?

Dark blue: Large stockpile with global range

Medium blue: Small stockpile with global range

Pale blue: Small stockpile with regional range