Download - The Cold War: 1945-1991
The Cold War:1945-1991
Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua,
NYEdited by Mrs. Browne
Part I:The Cold War Begins
1945- 1961
The Ideological StruggleDefinition: a conflict of ideas
Soviet & Eastern Bloc
Nations[“Iron
Curtain”]
US & the Western
Democracies
GOAL spread world-wide CommunismGOAL challenge capitalism & the weaknesses of democracy
GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world.GOAL promote democracy & capitalism
The “Iron Curtain”
From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe. -- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946
Truman Doctrine [1947]1. Situation #1: A Civil War begins in
Greece.2. Situation #2: Turkey is under
pressure from the USSR for territory in the Dardanelles (Mediterranean Sea).
3. The U. S. should support free peoples throughout the world who were resisting takeovers by armed minorities or outside pressures…We must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.
4. The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400 million in aid.
Truman Doctrine & Containment
Marshall Plan [1948]
1. “European Recovery Program.”
2. Secretary of State, George Marshall
3. The U. S. should provide aid to all European nations that need it.
4. $12.5 billion of US aid given
Post-War Germany
Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49)
• Stalin attempts to block West Berlin in order to gain control of it.
• The West will not give it up; supplies flown in daily.
• The West “wins”; Stalin reopens access to West Berlin
The Arms Race:A “Missile Gap?”
} The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb in 1949.
} Now there were two nuclear superpowers!
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)
United States Belgium Britain Canada Denmark France Iceland Italy
Luxemburg Netherlands Norway Portugal 1952: Greece &
Turkey 1955: West
Germany 1983: Spain
Warsaw Pact (1955)
} U. S. S. R.} Albania} Bulgaria} Czechoslovak
ia
} East Germany
} Hungary} Poland} Rumania
Premier Nikita Khrushchev
About the capitalist states, it doesn't depend on You whether we (Soviet Union) exist.If you don't like us, don't accept our invitations, and don't invite us to come to see you. Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you. -- 1956• Khrushchev comes to power in 1954 after Stalin dies
• Will remain leader until 1964 (removed after Cuban Missile Crisis)
• Promotes De-Stalinization (recognition that Stalin used terror & repression and gov’t would not do so anymore)
• Crushes rebellion in Hungary in 1956
• Leader when Sputnik was launched beginning Space Race
• Supports Fidel Castro in Cuba
The Hungarian Uprising: 1956
Imre Nagy, Hungarian
Prime Minister} Promised free elections.
} This could lead to the end of communist rule in Hungary.
} USSR crushes this idea, Nagy executed in 1958
} Thousands died
Sputnik I (1957)
The Russians have beaten America in space—they have the
technological edge!
U-2 Spy Incident (1960)
Col. Francis Gary Powers’ plane was
shot down over Soviet airspace.
Khruschev Embraces Castro,1961
The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)
Checkpoint
Charlie
PART II: THE COLD WAR FROM
ITS HEIGHT TO DÉTENTE
1961-1979
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the Russians, and the other man blinked!
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
• Khrushchev removes the missiles from Cuba
• The US will remove missiles from Turkey in exchange
• The top Soviet leaders view this as a humiliation and force Khrushchev to resign!
Creation of the US-USSR Hotline
• June 20, 1963After the scare of the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was believed that a direct line of communication was needed between the US-USSR !Considered the way to avert nuclear war & WW III!
Ich bin ein Berliner!
(June 26, 1963)
President Kennedy tells Berliners that
the West is with them!
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
• August 5,1963• Signed in Moscow, USSR• US, Britain, USSR agreed to
ban any above ground tests of nuclear weapons – Concern over nuclear fallout &
its effects !
Leonid Brezhnev & the Brezhnev Doctrine
• Brezhnev comes to power after Khrushchev is removed for “health reasons”
• Will rule until his death in 1982
• Pursues détente with the US ( a lessening of tension & increase in trade)
• Maintains FIRM control over other USSR controlled areas
The Brezhnev Doctrine: the Soviet Union’s right to intervene in another Communist nation if communism was being threatened in ANY way!
“Prague Spring” (1968)Former Czech President,
Alexander DubčekCommunism with a human
face!
Prague Spring is ended by the USSR under the Brezhnev Doctrine!
The Domino Theory
• 1950’s - 1970’s• Belief in the United States that
if 1 nation falls to communism… all nations in the area could also fall!
SALT I TREATY• Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
• Negotiations lasted from November 1969 to May 1972
• Includes “smaller agreements” regarding different types of nuclear weapons
HELSINKI ACCORDS
• August 1,1975• Agreement signed by 35
nations: US, USSR, most European nationsRecognized post WWII borders in
EuropeRecognized need for human rights
protections
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
• 1979• The USSR invaded Afghanistan in
order to “restore” a pro-Soviet government
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
• US Response– collapse of détente– US did not participate in 1980
Moscow Olympics– US embargo of grain shipments
to USSR– US gives military aid to
mujahideen rebels fighting Soviets
PART III:The Cold War &
Conflicts Around the World
1945-1991
The Cold War & Conflicts Around the
World• Both the USSR and the US will use
money, military, and propaganda to win over other nations to “their side”
• This will occur in Asia, Latin America, Africa & the Middle East
China (1949)• 1949• Chinese Communists win Civil War
against the Nationalists• China becomes the
People’s Republic of China
• Mao rules until 1976
The Korean War: A “Police Action” (1950-
1953)
Syngman Rhee
Kim Il-SungNorth Korea: • occupied by USSR
after WWII• supported by China
during conflict • Invaded south in 1950
to unify Korea• Still communist today
South Korea:• occupied by US
after WWII• Supported by US
during conflict• US & UN troops
pushed back invasion
• US still stations troops along DMZ border
The Suez Crisis: 1956-1957
Gamal Abdel Nasser:• Leader of Egypt • Nationalized the Suez
canal to end British control
• Supported by USSR• $ from USSR helped
build Aswan High Dam• Supported by USSR in
wars against Israel until 1979
Cuban Revolution (1959)Causes
Rule by a repressive dictatorship (Batista)
Corruption & bribery widespread
Inequality among people
High unemployment
EffectsCreation of a communist dictatorship under Fidel
Castro
Denial of rights & freedoms
Gov’t control of property & economy
Education & literacy rates soar
Vietnam War: 1964-1973• After WWII, region begins to
fight for independence against France (imperialism)
• France cannot “hold on” and pulls out in 1954
• Vietnam is divided by UN into North & South; Ho Chi Minh is leader of North
• US sees Vietnam as example of the domino theory and begins to send troops
• US fights in Vietnam from 1964-1975 when last troops are pulled out; Vietnam is reunified under communist rule
• Vietnamese always viewed this as a fight against imperialism NOT a fight for communism!
Iran-Iraq: 1979 - 1988
Long (confusing) History here!... We will cover more in Chapter 30!!• OIL!
• 1950’s the US helped put ( & keep) the Shah of Iran in power (BFF’s)• 1979 the Shah of Iran was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution led by
Ayatollah Khomeni, US hostages taken @ embassy in Teheran (no longer BFF’s)
• 1960’s the USSR supported Iraq which was then a socialist dictatorship (BFF’s)
• 1979 Saddam Hussein came to power in Iraq (no longer BFF’s)
• 1980 – 1988 Iran v. Iraq War• US supports Iraq (new BFF until 1990)• USSR supports Iran (new BFF, still kinda a BFF today)
.
Nicaragua 1980’s• The Somoza family dominated
Nicaragua’s government from 1937 until 1990• They were rich & ruthless
• The Sandinistas began to fight against the government in the 1980’s for elections & fair treatment• they used Marxist ideology• They were aligned with the
USSR• The US then began to support
the contras
• Elections were held in 1990• Daniel Ortega (Sandinista) was
elected President in 2007 (ironic?)
Part IV:The Cold War from
Brezhnev to Gorbachev & the Collapse of the
USSR
1979-1991
Leonid Brezhnev
Mikhail Gorbachev
SALT II• 1977 to 1979• Continued to build upon earlier
agreements improved relations (détente)
• However, US never ratified due to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan & pulled out altogether in 1986
Solidarity• Formed in 1980• A labor union in Poland led
by Lech Walesa• Symbolic of fight against USSR &
communism
START Treaty• First proposed by President Reagan
on June 29, 1982– Designed to limit number of nuclear warhead
missiles (5,000) and ICBM’s (2,500)– Rejected by USSR until Gorbachev came to
power– Finally signed…July 31,1991
Gorbachev’s glasnost & perestroika
• Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power March 1985
• Brought reform to the USSR• Perestroika
– Restructure the economy– Allow limited free enterprise & some private
ownership• Glasnost
– Openess in society– Ended support of Eastern European
communists, pulled out of Afghanistan– Elections in the Soviet Parliament
Chernobyl AccidentApril 26, 1986• Largest uncontrolled
release of radioactive materials (over 10 days)
• 19 mile exclusion zone still exists
• Major health & environmental impacts
Fall of the Berlin Wall
November 9, 1989 The Berlin Wall falls. In the next year, Germany will be reunited.
Attempted Coup of Gorbachev
• August 21, 1991• Hardliners attempt to overthrow Gorbachev and
return the USSR to the “old ways”
The Coup fails!
Boris Yeltsin• December 23, 1985
became mayor of Russia (appointed by
Gorbachev)• Helps restore Gorbachev after the
coup• Becomes first President of Russia
after the USSR is dissolved– President of Russia 1991-1999
Russia Today• Vladimir Putin
– President 2000-2008, 2012 - ?– Has helped modernize Russia (again)– Brought economic prosperity– Some claim he is a dictator with the title of
President
Review
• Causes of the Cold War?• Effects of the Cold War?