The Cold War:The Cold War:The Cold War The Cold War

AbroadAbroad

Troubles In EuropeTroubles In Europe Because of the effects of WWII on Because of the effects of WWII on

continental Europe they became very continental Europe they became very dependent on foreign investment, dependent on foreign investment, primarily from the US.primarily from the US.

As was mentioned before, it took the As was mentioned before, it took the massive influx of cash into the European massive influx of cash into the European economy via the Marshall Plan to save economy via the Marshall Plan to save places like France and Italy from ‘turning places like France and Italy from ‘turning red.’red.’

American “Red Scare” propaganda

China: The New Communist China: The New Communist FrontFront

America had backed the Kuomintang America had backed the Kuomintang regime in China since before the war.regime in China since before the war.

In 1949 Mao Zedong led his In 1949 Mao Zedong led his revolutionary against the Chinese regime revolutionary against the Chinese regime and beat them in a bloody Civil War.and beat them in a bloody Civil War.

He created the People’s republic of China He created the People’s republic of China which immediately allied with the which immediately allied with the Soviets.Soviets.

Chairman Mao: 1945-1976Chairman Mao: 1945-1976

Mao.

Cold War TerminologyCold War Terminology A A Proxy WarProxy War is where two powers use third is where two powers use third

parties as a substitute for fighting each parties as a substitute for fighting each other directly.other directly.

Balance of PowerBalance of Power, as it relates to the Cold , as it relates to the Cold War, is where the Soviets and the Americans War, is where the Soviets and the Americans would continue adding to their nuclear would continue adding to their nuclear armaments in order to offset the other.armaments in order to offset the other.

MADMAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) was a (Mutual Assured Destruction) was a Cold War military strategy where both sides Cold War military strategy where both sides would be destroyed if one attacked the would be destroyed if one attacked the other.other.

North & South KoreaNorth & South Korea Korea had been split into two halves much Korea had been split into two halves much

the same way Germany had been after the the same way Germany had been after the war. Japan gave the top half to the Soviets war. Japan gave the top half to the Soviets and the bottom to the Americans.and the bottom to the Americans.

In 1950 the Soviets backed the southern In 1950 the Soviets backed the southern invasion by the north. China later joined in invasion by the north. China later joined in 1951.1951.

South Korea was under prepared and the South Korea was under prepared and the Americans came to help out. Soon Canada Americans came to help out. Soon Canada and the UN arrived. Canada sent over and the UN arrived. Canada sent over 26,000 troops to Korea.26,000 troops to Korea.

The conflict ended in 1953 with borders at The conflict ended in 1953 with borders at the same place. A DMZ zone was created the same place. A DMZ zone was created to ease tensions.to ease tensions.

Battle In The Battle In The ‘Nam’‘Nam’ In 1953 Eisenhower replaced Truman In 1953 Eisenhower replaced Truman

(US Pres.) and Khrushchev replaced (US Pres.) and Khrushchev replaced the recently deceased Stalin.the recently deceased Stalin.

As the Korean War wound down As the Korean War wound down Vietnam began heating up. War Vietnam began heating up. War between North and South Vietnam between North and South Vietnam broke out in 1956 originally with the broke out in 1956 originally with the French.French.

The Americans came in to help and The Americans came in to help and Vietnam became the second major Vietnam became the second major proxy war in the Cold War era.proxy war in the Cold War era.

Battle In The ‘Nam’ Battle In The ‘Nam’ ContinuedContinued

The Americans were attempting to help The Americans were attempting to help withstand guerrilla attacks by the National withstand guerrilla attacks by the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam.Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam.

The US enacted a conscription policy and The US enacted a conscription policy and as a result 90,000 people fled to Canada as a result 90,000 people fled to Canada who became known as Draft Dodgers.who became known as Draft Dodgers.

By now it was apparent that the US was By now it was apparent that the US was staying involved in these national conflicts staying involved in these national conflicts in order to protect governments against in order to protect governments against the threat of communism.the threat of communism.

The South impressively drove away the The South impressively drove away the American forces by 1975. This was a huge American forces by 1975. This was a huge embarrassment to the American embarrassment to the American government.government.

Hungarian Revolution in 1956Hungarian Revolution in 1956

Yeah…they get an A for effort, but Yeah…they get an A for effort, but effort doesn’t resurrect those that die effort doesn’t resurrect those that die

in a failed rebellion. They lost.in a failed rebellion. They lost.

The Cuban Missile The Cuban Missile CrisisCrisis

Until 1959 Cuba had been an American Until 1959 Cuba had been an American colony. Castro and Che Guevara overthrew colony. Castro and Che Guevara overthrew the Americans and made the country the Americans and made the country communist as it remains today.communist as it remains today.

The Cubans received funding from the The Cubans received funding from the Soviets and in exchange the Cubans Soviets and in exchange the Cubans allowed the USSR to plant nuclear missiles allowed the USSR to plant nuclear missiles on the island.on the island.

The US demanded that the Soviets remove The US demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles but they originally refused.the missiles but they originally refused.

As the threat of nuclear war grew As the threat of nuclear war grew increasingly close the Soviets offered to increasingly close the Soviets offered to remove the missiles in exchange for remove the missiles in exchange for America leaving Cuba alone and taking America leaving Cuba alone and taking missiles out of Turkey.missiles out of Turkey.

Fidel Castro and Che Guevara

A song dedicated to Che

NORADNORAD Stands for North American Aerospace Stands for North American Aerospace

Defence Command.Defence Command. The US pressured Canada to setup a The US pressured Canada to setup a

missile defence program to warn of missile defence program to warn of incoming nuclear weapons.incoming nuclear weapons.

The program was established in The program was established in 1958.1958.

Détente & The ThawDétente & The Thaw By 1970 the cost of building arms was By 1970 the cost of building arms was

spiralling out of control and both countries spiralling out of control and both countries stopped building up their armaments as stopped building up their armaments as much.much.

As other countries around the world had As other countries around the world had finished recovering from WWII they began finished recovering from WWII they began stepping outside the US/Soviet spheres of stepping outside the US/Soviet spheres of influence.influence.

The war re-heated up with Afghanistan in The war re-heated up with Afghanistan in 1979. The Soviets backed the communist 1979. The Soviets backed the communist government in power while the US provided government in power while the US provided materials, guns and aid to the insurgents so materials, guns and aid to the insurgents so that they could continue the war.that they could continue the war.

The War ended 9 years later with the Soviets The War ended 9 years later with the Soviets being kicked out of Afghanistan after losing being kicked out of Afghanistan after losing 100,000 troops and their puppet government 100,000 troops and their puppet government failing.failing.

The Iran – Contra AffairThe Iran – Contra Affair Was a political scandal that was discovered in 1987Was a political scandal that was discovered in 1987 Members of U.S. President Reagan’s government had Members of U.S. President Reagan’s government had

been illegally selling weapons to Iran in exchange for been illegally selling weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of hostagethe release of hostage

The profits from these weapons sales were then used to The profits from these weapons sales were then used to covertly fund the “covertly fund the “Contras”Contras”, a right-wing extremist , a right-wing extremist terrorist group fighting the government of Nicaragua. terrorist group fighting the government of Nicaragua.

As well, it has been alleged that the CIA was involved in As well, it has been alleged that the CIA was involved in aiding the Contras in cocaine trafficking, and that the aiding the Contras in cocaine trafficking, and that the CIA knowingly used drug money to fund the Contras.CIA knowingly used drug money to fund the Contras.

The CIA distributed the, a booklet describing ways for The CIA distributed the, a booklet describing ways for the average citizen to cause disorder, to the the average citizen to cause disorder, to the Nicaraguan public via airdrop.Nicaraguan public via airdrop.

President Reagan would initially deny any and all President Reagan would initially deny any and all weapon sales to Iran, but would later admit to it, weapon sales to Iran, but would later admit to it, though only saying “one planeload of weapons” was though only saying “one planeload of weapons” was sold, and in the spirit of “a new relationship between sold, and in the spirit of “a new relationship between the US and Iran”the US and Iran”

End Of The Cold WarEnd Of The Cold War By the end of the Cold War the Soviets By the end of the Cold War the Soviets

were starving their own people to keep up were starving their own people to keep up their military and armaments.their military and armaments.

Mikhail Gorbachev, who had taken control Mikhail Gorbachev, who had taken control of the USSR, decided to make peace with of the USSR, decided to make peace with the US (George Bush Sr.) and the Cold War the US (George Bush Sr.) and the Cold War officially ended in 1989.officially ended in 1989.

Following the peace, the Soviet empire Following the peace, the Soviet empire would collapse politically, economically would collapse politically, economically and socially.and socially.

That November the Berlin Wall (Built 1961) That November the Berlin Wall (Built 1961) which had split Germany in two was torn which had split Germany in two was torn down by the citizens of East Germany.down by the citizens of East Germany.

Glasnost: The Canadian Glasnost: The Canadian ConnectionConnection

Alexander Yakovlev, the Soviet ambassador Alexander Yakovlev, the Soviet ambassador to Canada, was a close friend and advisor to to Canada, was a close friend and advisor to Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev

He had been credited as helping pioneer the He had been credited as helping pioneer the idea of perestroika (economic reform in the idea of perestroika (economic reform in the USSR), and the driving force behind USSR), and the driving force behind glasnost (freedom of information and glasnost (freedom of information and government transparency) in the Soviet government transparency) in the Soviet UnionUnion

Alexander was also a friend of famous PM Alexander was also a friend of famous PM Trudeau, and the two often talked of the Trudeau, and the two often talked of the need for liberalization in the USSRneed for liberalization in the USSR

Destruction of the Berlin WallDestruction of the Berlin Wall