cold war in the 20th century an overview

COLD WAR

1945-1991

Many thanks to my “comrade” Gsill for creating the majority of this powerpoint.

Communism Spread in the 20th century

• Starting in the 19th century, groups affiliated with communism gained power throughout regions of the world.

• Russia, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba eventually become communist.

• (Similar to the spread of democracy in the 18th century – American, French, LA revolutions.)

Cold War begins • 1. In WWII, the Soviet army drove the

Germans back across Eastern Europe. Other Allies raced to beat the Soviet Army to Berlin.

• 2. USSR occupied several countries along its western border and considered them a necessary buffer or wall of protection from the west.

• 3. Stalin installed Communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, and Yugoslavia.

• 4. Early in 1946 Stalin declared that communism & capitalism could not exist in the same world. War between the U.S. & U.S.S.R. seemed certain.

COLD WAR

1945-1990s

What was the Cold War?A period of diplomatic hostility between the

Communist Nations and anti-Communist nations (and their allies)

USA

USSR

“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the continent.”

• - Winston Churchill March 5, 1946

• A promise made by the US to provide military & economic support to countries that rejected communism

• This policy of stopping the spread of communism was call the “containment” policy

THE U.S. RESPONSETHE U.S. RESPONSE1948 - The Truman Doctrine1948 - The Truman Doctrine

The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan•A U.S. program of economic aid to European countries to help them rebuild after WWII.

•Provided food, machines, and other materials to European nations to help stabilize Europe.

•Which country received the most aid from the United States?

•Why would those nations receive the most aid?

The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan

Evaluate the two photos. What significant changes have occurred in the second photo?

The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan

SOVIET RESPONSE BERLIN BLOCKADE

1948- Soviets closed all road and rail links to Berlin.

The Western allies began a massive airlift to feed the West Berliners.

How did they fight the Cold War?

• Threaten each other with – military build up, new technology, & global influence

– NATO (US) & Warsaw Pact (USSR) were the two main military alliances

• Use Propaganda – create hatred and paranoia of the other side

• Send economic aid to weaker nations to spread influence and gain allies

• Support allied nations in conflicts to protect interests or agitate the other side (sponsor wars)

COLD WAR

EVENTS

COMMUNIST CHINA 1949Mao and the

Communists founded the People’s Republic of China (not recognized by the US)

KOREAN WAR 1950 - 1953After World War II Korea was

divided, along the 38th parallel, into North Korea, occupied Soviet forces and South Korea occupied by American forces.

North Korean forces, seeking to unify the country under communist rule invaded the south in 1950. Commanded by General Douglas MacArthur, UN forces prevented a northern takeover of South Korea. An Armistice was signed in 1953.

1959 - CUBAN REVOLUTION

BAY OF PIGS INVASION 1961

In 1959 Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba. He nationalized businesses and executed opponents, transforming Cuba into a Communist state.

He threatened to spread Communism to other Latin American countries.

In 1961, U.S.-trained and supported Cuban exiles who invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. They were defeated.

Berlin Wall 1961

• The East German Government built a dividing wall in Berlin to separate East and West Berlin.

• It became a symbol of the Cold War.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 1962 In 1962 the United States discovered

that Cuba was secretly building bases to install Soviet missiles with nuclear warheads. After President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba and threatened and invasion, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles for a pledge that the U.S. would not invade Cuba.

VIETNAM WAR 1954-1975 When the French withdrew from

Indochina in 1954, Vietnam was divided. Ho Chi Minh Founded Communist North Vietnam, while South Vietnam established ties to the West.

Communists known as Vietcong began a guerrilla war in South Vietnam with North Vietnamese support.

The U.S. entered the conflict to resist communism. Although the U.S. had superior technology, and used 500,000 soldiers it could not defeat the North Vietnamese (and its aid from USSR).

In 1973 U.S. troops withdrew under the Paris Peace Accords. In 1975 the South fell to the North.

Soviets War in Afghanistan 1979-In 1979, the Soviets invaded

Afghanistan to support the communist government against the Taliban rebels.

The U.S. supported the Taliban with advisors and weapons.

ARMS RACE

The United States developed the Atomic Bomb during WWII. Soviet scientists developed one in 1949.

For 40 years the superpowers spent huge amounts of money to develop more & more powerful weapons. This raised the tensions between the two countries. It also raised the fears among many people that the superpowers might become involved in a conflict that would destroy the world.

Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What?

HISTORY OF NUCLEAR WARHEAD STOCKPILES -- 1945-1995

NOTE: Totals are estimates. Lists include strategic and non-strategic warheads, as well as warheads awaiting dismantling

1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995

UNITED STATES 6 3,057 31,265 26,675 22,941 14,766

SOVIET UNION 0 200 6,129 19,443 39,197 27,000

BRITAIN 0 10 310 350 300 300

FRANCE 0 0 32 188 360 485

CHINA 0 0 5 185 425 425

Source: National Resources Defense Council

SPACE RACE The super

powers also competed in space.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, a satellite, into orbit around the Earth.

Soon after the United States established NASA. The race was on.

In 1958 the U.S. launched its own first satellite. In 1961, the Soviets sent the first man into space.

In 1969 the U.S. was the first nation to put a man on the moon. Both the Soviets and Americans explored the use of satellites for military purposes.

Who won the Cold War?Who won the Cold War?

The U.S.A.!The U.S.A.!

Beginning in the late 1980s, Beginning in the late 1980s, the Soviet Union began to fall the Soviet Union began to fall apart.apart.

Its satellites and republics Its satellites and republics became independent.became independent.

A “new” government took A “new” government took control of Russiacontrol of Russia

Why did the U.S. win?Why did the U.S. win? The Soviet Union’s economy suffered as The Soviet Union’s economy suffered as

the government spent money to keep the government spent money to keep up with the U.S. (especially military up with the U.S. (especially military spending) while the domestic economy spending) while the domestic economy failed.failed.

Lack of freedom & opportunities within Lack of freedom & opportunities within the Soviet Union and Soviet controlled the Soviet Union and Soviet controlled nations created a mood for change.nations created a mood for change.

Many groups in the USSR pushed for Many groups in the USSR pushed for change as independence movements change as independence movements gained momentum in the satellite gained momentum in the satellite nations.nations.