Cold War (1945-1991)Cold War (1945-1991)-WWII Allies = US, UK, France, & USSR-WWII Allies = US, UK, France, & USSR

*Political & economic differences? *Political & economic differences?

-US bombing of Japan (1945)-US bombing of Japan (1945)

-1949: Russia became the 2-1949: Russia became the 2ndnd country to enter country to enter the nuclear agethe nuclear age

The history of all The history of all hitherto existing hitherto existing society is the society is the history of class history of class struggles.struggles.

THE FATHEROF COMMUNISM

Soviet Influence:Soviet Influence:

--USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

*took control of Eastern European countries after WWII *took control of Eastern European countries after WWII

*behind the “Iron Curtain” of communism*behind the “Iron Curtain” of communism

COLD WAR: COLD WAR: The struggle between the U.S. & USSR The struggle between the U.S. & USSR

following WWII that was determined by their following WWII that was determined by their differing political systems (democracy vs. differing political systems (democracy vs. totalitarianism) & differing economic systems totalitarianism) & differing economic systems (free market capitalism vs. command economy)(free market capitalism vs. command economy)

Political conflict w/no open warfare betw. U.S. & Political conflict w/no open warfare betw. U.S. & USSRUSSR

Marshall Plan Marshall Plan (1947-1951) (1947-1951) (U.S. gave $13 billion)(U.S. gave $13 billion) U.S. financial plan to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to U.S. financial plan to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to

prevent spread of communism prevent spread of communism COMECON = Council for Mutual Economic AssistanceCOMECON = Council for Mutual Economic Assistance

Soviet program to rebuild Eastern EuropeSoviet program to rebuild Eastern Europe

It is clear that the main element of any U.S. policy It is clear that the main element of any U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long term, towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies expansive tendencies –US diplomat –US diplomat

U.S.’ containment policy U.S.’ containment policy (1947): (1947): U.S. pledge to U.S. pledge to prevent communism from spreading prevent communism from spreading

Berlin Airlift Berlin Airlift (June 1948-May 1949)(June 1948-May 1949) First test of U.S. containment policy First test of U.S. containment policy Soviet blockade of West BerlinSoviet blockade of West Berlin

Goal: to force W. Allies out of BerlinGoal: to force W. Allies out of Berlin Allies airlifted food/supplies into Berlin Allies airlifted food/supplies into Berlin

Allies enforced their containment policy Allies enforced their containment policy

NATONATO (1949): (1949):

*North Atlantic Treaty Organization *North Atlantic Treaty Organization

*mutual defense pact between Western allies*mutual defense pact between Western allies

Warsaw Pact Warsaw Pact (1955): (1955):

*mutual defense pact of USSR countries*mutual defense pact of USSR countries

*to protect against NATO*to protect against NATO

Who’s who…Who’s who…

Indirect Conflicts (“proxy wars”):Indirect Conflicts (“proxy wars”):1)1) Korean War Korean War (1950 – 1953)(1950 – 1953)

*divided betw. Communist*divided betw. Communist

North & Democratic SouthNorth & Democratic South

*border = 38*border = 38thth parallel parallel

*US won*US won

2) 2) Vietnam War Vietnam War (1964 – 1975)(1964 – 1975)

*US lost*US lost

3) 3) AfghanistanAfghanistan (1979 – 1989) (1979 – 1989)

*USSR lost—BIG TIME! *USSR lost—BIG TIME!

Events that stressed US/USSR Events that stressed US/USSR diplomatic relations in 1960sdiplomatic relations in 1960s

19601960—Soviets shot down U2 spy plane—Soviets shot down U2 spy plane Francis Gary PowersFrancis Gary Powers

19611961—Berlin Wall (to keep E. Germans in) —Berlin Wall (to keep E. Germans in) 19621962—Cuban Missile Crisis—Cuban Missile Crisis

Closest we came to nuclear war! Closest we came to nuclear war!

The Nuclear Arms RaceThe Nuclear Arms Race*Nuclear arms race: *Nuclear arms race:

*competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare *competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare betw. U.S. & USSRbetw. U.S. & USSR

*1952- U.S. detonated H-bomb*1952- U.S. detonated H-bomb

*1953- Russians produce H-bomb*1953- Russians produce H-bomb

**MADMAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) (Mutually Assured Destruction)

*deterrence for war?*deterrence for war?

*Diplomacy:*Diplomacy:

-when govts. negotiate & -when govts. negotiate &

deal w/each other in peace deal w/each other in peace

The Space RaceThe Space Race

Space Race: Space Race: competition betw. U.S. & USSR for supremacy in space competition betw. U.S. & USSR for supremacy in space

exploration (mid-late 1900s) exploration (mid-late 1900s) 1957- Soviets launched 1957- Soviets launched SputnikSputnik (Threat to the US?) (Threat to the US?) ICBMs: Inter-Continental Ballistic MissileICBMs: Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Yuri Gagarin (1961)—first man in spaceYuri Gagarin (1961)—first man in space Neil Armstrong (1969)—first man on the moon Neil Armstrong (1969)—first man on the moon

Neil Armstrong: first man to step Neil Armstrong: first man to step on the moon (July 1969)on the moon (July 1969)

Early 1980s: Reagan era in U.S.Early 1980s: Reagan era in U.S.

--Most tense times of Cold War since Cuba--Most tense times of Cold War since Cuba

*Soviet downing of S. Korean airliner*Soviet downing of S. Korean airliner

*U.S. invasion of Grenada *U.S. invasion of Grenada

*Boycotting of Olympics (US ‘80, USSR ‘84)*Boycotting of Olympics (US ‘80, USSR ‘84)

*Soviet support of Sandinistas in Nicaragua*Soviet support of Sandinistas in Nicaragua

1981: US had 8,000 ICBMs & USSR had 7,0001981: US had 8,000 ICBMs & USSR had 7,000

**Defense spending Defense spending (early 1980s)(early 1980s)

-U.S. = <10% of GDP-U.S. = <10% of GDP

-USSR = about 20% of GDP—SOCIAL -USSR = about 20% of GDP—SOCIAL EFFECTS?EFFECTS?

The “Iron Curtain” falls!The “Iron Curtain” falls!

*Most $ went to military & space exploration*Most $ went to military & space exploration

-very little $ for consumer goods & services-very little $ for consumer goods & services

-aid decreased to satellite nations of E. Europe-aid decreased to satellite nations of E. Europe

*Ronald Reagan’s speech at *Ronald Reagan’s speech at

Brandenburg Gate, West Germany, Brandenburg Gate, West Germany,

June 12, 1987June 12, 1987

Mikhail Gorbechev Mikhail Gorbechev (1985): Last Pres. USSR (1985): Last Pres. USSR

*sought reconciliation betw. U.S. & USSR*sought reconciliation betw. U.S. & USSR

**PerestroikaPerestroika: : “restructuring” the economy & govt. “restructuring” the economy & govt.

*to introduce private enterprise*to introduce private enterprise

*EX: McDonald’s in Moscow *EX: McDonald’s in Moscow

*Glasnost*Glasnost: : “openness” w/ the West“openness” w/ the West

*discuss political/social issues*discuss political/social issues

*move towards democracy *move towards democracy

*freedom of speech & media *freedom of speech & media

Late 1980s & early 1990s: one by one, eastern Euro. Late 1980s & early 1990s: one by one, eastern Euro. countries were granted self-determinationcountries were granted self-determination collapse of Warsaw Pactcollapse of Warsaw Pact

1989: Berlin Wall falls1989: Berlin Wall falls 1990: Germany is reunited 1990: Germany is reunited

Dec. 25, 1991: USSR collapses Cold War is over!Dec. 25, 1991: USSR collapses Cold War is over! USSR broke into 15 independent republics USSR broke into 15 independent republics