Cold War Study Guide

The Cold War – Beginning

-Post WWII, the US and President Truman abandons the policy of isolationism for various reasons

-Pre-emptive strikes could have stopped World War-WWIII would be much more destructive

-Atomic bombs-Communist threat growing, in power and in number of nations-Didn’t work in the past, like WWI and WWII

-In the post-war treaty, because of Russia’s significance in helping the Allies win and because of Stalin’s desire to spread communism, Stalin wanted all Eastern European lands to be communist-Western nations disagreed and wanted free democratic elections

-We wanted them free-We didn’t want communism to spread

-(We wanted democracy to spread)-Stalin gave support to upstart communistic groups, many of which used illegal

means to gain power-The Truman Doctrine: “I believe that it must be the policy of the Unites States to support

free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”-We must fight to defend democracy across the world

-(Challenging Stalin)-Truman believed that containment of communist nations, limiting them to only

the nations they currently controlled, was the best way to ensure peace and power for the US (resisting Soviet expansion)

-This would remain US policy for years to come-After WWII, many countries had to rebuild (again!) Because of poor and/or working

class struggles, these nations were fertile for communist ideas-To help these nations become democratic, the US started offering financial aid

packages-Known as the “Marshall Plan”-Truman also offers member states of the Soviet Union aid, Stalin declined

the offer and this gesture even heightened his anger towards the US

-Rather than putting all the blame on Germany, the Allies decided to help Germany recover…WHY?-Help them become democratic-Saw what happened when they didn’t help them out-Get them away from Nazi ideology-Learned from WWI…make sure Germany doesn’t hold a grudge towards

Western Nations

-To help provide stability in Europe, and to be a buffer between the USSR and the rest of Europe

-However, rather than reparations, Stalin wanted land and industry from Germany. So, the Allies agreed to divide Germany into two countries, West Germany (democratic) and East Germany (communist)-All 4 countries (France, Britain, US, and USSR) got a chunk of Germany-Problem…Berlin (capital, most industrialized) is in East Germany

-What do you do with unfair Berlin?-Divided into 4 sectors: British, French, US, and Soviet Union

-Allies decide to offer Marshall Plan Aid to West Berlin Sector (1948)-In response, Stalin blockades all trade in and out of West Berlin

-People eventually would have to turn to Stalin-Allies organize the “Berlin Airlift”

-Round the clock air drops of needed items (food, fuel, etc)-Because Airlift was successful, West Berlin survived and Stalin ended the

Blockade but kept East Germany communist-(1949) Because of growing tensions between West VS East countries, Western nations

form NATO-North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Military alliance to provide support if

attacked-In response, the USSR created the Warsaw Pact (1955)

-These 2 organizations helped to polarize the world even more-Berlin being split caused more tension between the Soviets and the US-Tone of the Cold War:

-Fear, paranoia, propaganda -(Similar to 9/11 fear)-“Are the communists going to have more nukes? Are they going to take

over the world?”-2 Industrial superpowers

-(1949) NATO -Military alliance to provide support if attacked-Allied defensive treaty-Designed to stop communism

-In response, the USSR created the Warsaw Pact (1955)-These 2 organizations helped to polarize the world even more-Western Europe vs Eastern Europe

-As European countries rebuild and regain economic strength, West Berlin also grew a strong capitalistic economy

-Cold War because-No direct fighting between Soviets and US-East Berlin upset because they were in East Berlin

-(Not free, communist, etc.)-Problem? How do you keep all people in East Berlin (communist)?

-Build a wall around West Berlin-Stalin builds the “Berlin Wall” (1961)

-Propaganda was a big part of the Cold War, from both sides

-Democracy and Capitalism vs Communism and Totalitarianism-Fear of the Soviets, the Eastern Block nations, the Red Army, and nuclear

war ran rampant in the US (until 1991)-“Who’s going to push the button?”

-Cold War largely played out in an arms race-Most nuclear weapons

-Both sides determined to deter the other from using their nukes-Isolationism can’t work

-Have to be proactive in stopping the other side from wanting to go to war-How do you do this?

-By building more than the other side-Or by having more military allies abroad

-The Cold War was a new and different political era for the US-How do you deal with all these new concerns, fears, polarized world?

The Korean War “The Forgotten War”

-Comparable to Vietnam-Although the US vs USSR was a “Cold War” there were some hot spots

-(Korea, Vietnam, etc.)-Korea was controlled by Japan, gained during WWI, until the end of WWII-At the end of WWII, the US and USSR agreed to divide up Korean land

-North of the 38th parallel = USSR-South of the 38th parallel = US

-Both the USSR and US offered economic aid to their respective side-(Ex. Of Marshal Plan)-N Korea Communist-S Korea Democratic-Both countries stayed in Korea

-Both North and South Korea had dreams of reuniting the whole country together again-But would it be communist or democratic?

-June 1950: N Korea surprise attacks S Korea and takes much of their land-United Nations condemns the attack and sends a military force to push back N

Korean army-*First UN test!*-Troops were mostly S Korean and US

-The UN army pushed back so well that they went further than the 38th parallel-China and USSR got nervous about losing a communist ally nation

-China and USSR send military aid to North Koreans-Chinese

-Weapons, troops, and money-USSR

-Weapons, money-(The US and USSR don’t fight directly)

-N Korean army pushes UN army back to 38th parallel-Stalemate digs in…

-Both sides agree to set up a DMZ (demilitarized zone) at the 38th parallel-DMZ is still in place today, with troops/guards on both sides

-Today, South Korea is democratic and capitalist and US ally-N Korea is communist and dictatorial, acts unilaterally (not many allies)

-More people died in the Korean War than in Vietnam-The war is still going on

-(The DMZ was just a ceasefire agreement)

Cuban Missile Crisis (Early 1960’s)

-Kennedy’s first big challenge-Cuban Missile Crisis was the most serious US vs USSR conflict during the Cold War

-Very close to WWIII-In the 1950’s, Fidel Castro built up a rebel guerilla force to overthrow the “corrupt”

leader of Cuba-Castro was supported by USSR, as Castro was pro-worker (communistic)-US supported previous leader because, although a dictator, Cuba had strong

economic trade relations with US-In 1959, Castro staged a military coup and won control of the government

-Arms for revolt provided by Soviets-*Cuban Revolution

-Castro limits trade with US and pushes all US business out of Cuba-US tried to overthrow Castro (secret CIA plot) by training ex-Cuban exiles to invade

Cuba and kill Castro-Plot fails!-*Bay of Pigs (1961)

-US starts trade embargo on Cuba – Still exists!-Khrushchev asks Castro to place USSR nuclear missiles on Cuba

-Castro says yes to keep economy strong-To protect Cuba from another US attack

-President Kennedy on TV (October 22nd, 1962) announces the discovery of this plan and states that any missile attack from Cuba on US would be considered an attack from the USSR-Kennedy imposes a naval blockade of Cuba; no USSR ships with missiles can

land on Cuba-No one knew what would happen next

-Scared-During the tense standoff, both leaders exchanged letters and other communications

about not wanting a war-Deal is made to not put missiles in Cuba, if US promises not to invade Cuba again, or

take Castro out of power, and also must pull nukes out of Turkey

Communist China and the Cold War

-For thousands of years, China had been ruled by Dynastic families, but this changed in the 20th century

-They have to change quickly, abandon culture-During WWI, China aided the Allies by seizing control of German colonies in East Asia,

along with Japan-At the end of WWI, China wanted all land back that had been colonized, but Japan

maintained control of Manchuria-May 4th (1919) Movement, Chinese students started huge protests in response to

Treaty. They wanted to restore China’s greatness by modernizing and getting rid of old ideas and traditions and foreign influences in its own land-Two leaders emerged in the post-WWI years, hoping to unify and modernize China

-Sun Yatsen – Goumindang (People’s National Party)-Looked to Western nations for support, but got none…so turned to USSR

for money-Yatsen used Soviet weapons and funding to conquer much of China

-Then, before he accomplished his goal, he died of cancer (1925)-Chiang Kaishek became Commanding General of Army

-Kaishek started the “Northern Campaign” where he conquered the rest of China, set up a Nationalist Party government and essentially became the dictator of China-He then turned on his supporter (USSR) and ordered the execution/massacre of

all communists in China-Communist supporters fled and very few escaped, found refuge in the Hunan Province in

SE China-Kaishek maintained his power and support through the bourgeoisie, but wasn’t popular

with the poor-As Japan consolidated control of Manchuria, the Nationalistic Party chose to focus more

on ridding China of Communism-(Not ridding Manchuria of Japan)-People sympathetic of communists, not Japanese-Chinese people wanted more effort in ridding China of Japanese

influence/control-Nationalists began to lose support/loyalty

-The Long March begins (1934)-Communist supporters in Hunan decide they must march across the country to

avoid execution and earn more public support. Kaishek’s army surrounded them, but they broke through

-90,000 people march for 8,000 km for 1 year-Only 20,000 complete journey due to fatigue, sickness, and enemy

attacks-However, communists spread their revolutionary message to other peasant

farmers and earned increased support across China-Mao Zedong begins to become popular by creating his Red Army full of peasant

farmers-Guerilla tactics

-Mao’s “People’s Liberation Army” captured railroad lines to control/disrupt trade and surrounded cities, slowly gaining control of China city by city

-As WWII was fought, China found itself fighting with the Allies against increased Japanese invasion-As the end of the war was near, the USSR turned its attention/focus on Japan,

they began to support the Maoist movement in China…. together they helped conquer Manchuria-As the conclusion of WWII neared, (1945) Mao had earned the support of the people of

China-Kaishek and his Nationalist Party lost support, fought a bloody civil war against

Mao, and fled to the island Taiwan-*China is now officially a communist nation*-Mao declared China as against imperialism, feudalism, bureaucracy, and

struggle for independence, democracy, peace, and unity-Mao established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) (1949)

-Discouraged religion (ie Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, etc)-Seized private property and businesses, put under government control, set up a

system of “collectivization” which was a forced pooling of peasant land and labor to increase production

-Bourgeoisie who disagreed with Mao’s revolution were arrested, beaten, killed-Although Mao and China wanted to move forward on their own, with limited/no outside

influence, the Korean War broke out in 1950-*Mao and Soviets sided together to help communist North Korea…and against

USA*-USSR helped China modernize by providing funding for their factories,

dams, and armies

Maoist China – a Cold War “Wild Card”

-Mao established the PRC in 1949, under communist control-In 1950, Mao’s army conquered the neighboring country of Tibet, to expand their

borders and resources-Also believed they were spiritually similar-Thousands of Tibetans killed, some consider this take-over as genocide-Dalai Lama was forced to flee for fear of death (1959)

-Now resides in India and still fights for his country’s freedom-Mao’s China was in many ways communist and in other ways a dictatorship…. like

Stalin’s Russia-The USSR helped support Mao and China with economic support/aid in modernization

plans, and help with Korean War-But disagreements over border areas/conflicts caused tension and a break in

relations-By 1960, aid was cut off

-By 1958-60, Mao created a program called the Great Leap forward-Plan to rapidly industrialize/catch up (still communist though)

-Communal system to get everyone working on industrializing

-Propaganda was used-Set up “communes” to increase farm/factory production under state control/regulation

-For example, peasant farmers would work together to produce steel/iron, instead of local produce for the village markets

-People/workers would live in and eat in communal housing-However, “communes” produced low quality goods, due to lack of

experience/training-Therefore, limited people working local/private farmland

-Lack of food production, for an increase in factory output, plus a weather drought, caused widespread famine; approximately 55 million

Chinese starved to death-Failure of Great Leap Forward caused Mao and the CCP much public criticism

-Mao threatened critics with prison/death-Mao slowed his plan for the GLF, but decided to head in a new direction to

modernize China…-They needed a “Cultural Revolution”

-In 1966-69, the “Cultural Revolution” begins-Purpose is to get rid of capitalist/bourgeoisie/feudal tendencies -Mao urged the youth of China to help cause/create the revolution

-Persecuted or killed bourgeoisie, skilled workers forced to do manual labor, schools and factories close, railroad lines disrupted,

burned modern literature/books-(Similar to the French Revolution)

-Youth carried Mao’s “Little Red Book” (Mao’s quotes) with them-Began to be widespread rioting on both sides of movement

-Killed thousands who were not with the Cultural Revolution-Mao began to become an emperor. He had the People’s Liberation Army as support and

used this army to help control the revolution and rioting-Mao and the CCP was the “people’s” hero

-The “Cult of Personality” began… people began to see Mao as greater than life/god-like

-*Is this against Marxist Communism? Why?*-There’s no leader in Marxism/communists have no religion or god

-Relations between China and the USA were complicated-We didn’t like China

-Truman Doctrine against communism-Ties with Soviets

-US still supported Kaishek, and his Nationalist Party, as the “true” leader of China

-Similar to Russian Revolution (Mao = Lenin)-*Why?*

-Truman Doctrine – communist containment-After China split with USSR, USA changed opinion on China

-*Why?*-Geographic advantage to have China as an ally

-We wanted them as allies to provide them with supplies the Soviets weren’t giving(Nixon)

-To isolate China between NATO and East Asia politically-In 1971, USA allowed PRC to replace Taiwan in the UN-1972, President Nixon met with Mao for the first time-1979, Nixon/USA sets up trade relations with China

-Clearly still growing today-Taiwan and China still in conflict today, China considers this a rogue territory/island,

but still part of China-US has strong trade relations with both Taiwan and China

-After Mao died in 1976, who takes power next?-Twice exiled during Mao’s rule, Den Xiaoping emerges as new leader and starts

an economic reform program to help China recover and move forward

-However, China still remains communist-Was Mao good or bad for China?

-Starved and killed millions-Mostly educated people

-Helped modernize China

Vietnam…..A Cold War?

-The French had controlled SE Asia (Indochina) since the 1800’s as a colony for resources-During WWII, the French had to focus on the war in Europe, so they lost focus

on controlling Indochina-Japanese moved in to conquer the region

-The people of Indochina were tired of foreign imperial rule, so (with guerilla warfare) they fought off the Japanese successfully

-After WWII (1946), France tried to reestablish control over Indochina, but faced resistance also-Nationalistic, patriotic ideas-Resistance movement was led by a communist leader named Ho Chi Minh

-In 1954, French lost the Indochina War…Vietnam was now liberated and free-With UN involvement, they decided to divide North and South Vietnam until an official

election could be held to unite the people from both sides-North Korea was communist, South was democratic

-US blocked elections…why?-Didn’t want Ho Chi Minh leader-Offer aid to Vietnam

-Vietnam stays split-In the early 1960’s, North Vietnamese guerillas are sneaking in the South’s jungles and

getting into small battles or fights-South Vietnam (and US) felt they must respond (Domino

Theory/Containment/Truman Doctrine)

-Ho Chi Minh was funding the “National Liberation Front” (or Viet Cong), a guerilla army, to overthrow the South Vietnamese government

-US sends weapons and other military supplies, later sends approximately 500,000 troops-USSR and China both send military aid, but no troops

-In 1968, during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), the N Vietnamese launched a surprise attack all over the country (called Tet Offensive)-Although they did not win the war, many S Vietnamese and US troops died

-US citizen support began to change….why?....how?-(US population becomes divided…but troops keep fighting)

-President Nixon pulls US out of war in 1973, and signs a cease-fire agreement with N Vietnam-2 years later, North Vietnam conquered the South-Vietnam is now communist…did the US lose the Vietnam War?

The End of the Cold War…….and Fall of the Soviet Union

-In the late 1980’s, the USSR began to decline in power and stability-Signs had been evident for some time, however…

-After Stalin, Khrushchev allowed more freedoms to the Soviet people, and less “enemy of the State” labor camps (Gulags)-But he was committed to maintaining Soviet Union and the idea of a “command

economy”-For example, in 1956, Hungary began to protest and wanted to break free

from the USSR, so Khrushchev sent in army and tanks to enforce their loyalty

-In 1968, Brezhnev (replacement for Khrushchev) did the same to Czech when they tried to break from the Union

-Economic Problems:-Collectivized agriculture, under the command economic system, was a failure

and USSR had to import grain to feed populace-Most goods produced under Soviet industry were inferior to Western goods

(shoes, cars, etc)-Equal paid workers had little incentive to produce better goods

-No competition, attempt to improve-No skilled workers/motivation

-Generally, their huge bureaucracy was slow to make decisions and was costly to operate

-Plus, government officials did not understand localized issues/challenges-As Western nations’ economies grew and flourished after WWII, Soviet people began to

envy the materialism of the West-In 1979, the USSR got involved in a war in Afghanistan, supporting a new government

regime that, once in power, would be another Soviet ally and possible communist nation-Mujadin-USSR Afghanistan = USA Vietnam

-Trying to protect the interests of a certain government

-Costly, social unrest-Soldiers trained by “other side”

-In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of USSR, when their economy was in bad shape-To help Soviet economy:

-Wanted Cold War to decline-Decrease military budget-End Afghan war-More trade partners-Decreased tension would boost trade nation opportunities

-Signs arms treaty with US -Cost less in production, and to help Cold War decline

-Pulled troops out of Afghanistan-Started “Glasnost” (openness policy)

-“Iron Curtain” – Winston Churchill-Permanent blockade East to West

-Ended government censorship and encouraged public discussion of USSR problems

-Started “Perestroika” (restructuring of economic/political system)-By reducing government bureaucracy to boost industrial

efficiency/output-Allowed limited private enterprises for the first time-Allowed local factory managers to make own decisions vs Central

government officials-Local farmers given more workable land and ability to make

productivity decisions-Despite positive and popular changes…the rapid pace of change brought challenges and

hardships-Openness to changes, or those who were not, brought many protests and societal

disagreements/struggles-Soviet nations began to declare independence because of unrest

-(ie Estonia, Poland, Romania)-1989, Berlin Wall “falls” and East Germany ends communist rule, with hopes of

rejoining West Germany-In 1991, Gorbachev resigned, and the USSR ended its existence

-Only Russia is left as an independent nation-(Boris Yeltsin as leader)