u.s. history. background following world war i (1914-1918) and world war ii (1939-1945), the united...
TRANSCRIPT
The Cold WarU.S. History
BackgroundFollowing World War I (1914-1918) and World
War II (1939-1945), the United States was one of two “superpowers” in the world, the other being the Soviet Union (modern day Russia).
A superpower is a country with a leading position in the world.
It has the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a world wide scale to protect those interests
Why the “Cold” War?The Cold War was “fought” between the U.S. and
the Soviet Union (1945-1991)The armies of the two superpowers never fought
each other directly...it was more like a game of chess.
Both produced huge stockpiles of weapons, including nuclear arms.
Instead of fighting, they tried to spread their economic systems (capitalism and
communism) and their “spheres of influence,” or countries that
were loyal to them.
Cold War Map
Capitalism vs. CommunismMost view the Cold War as a battle between
two distinct economic systems.Capitalism (U.S., Western Europe)- free
markets, class disparity, private ownership, lassiez faire.
Communism (Soviet Union, Asia, Latin America)- government influence in economy, class equality, common ownership, pure democracy accord. to Marx.
Why did the U.S fear communism?
U.S. InterventionsWhile the U.S. and Soviet Union never fought each
other, the U.S. intervened in foreign countries over 200 times during the Cold War. Some examples:
Korean War 1950-1953U.S. supports capitalist S. Korea vs. communist N
Korea.Iran 1953
U.S. overthrows democratically elected govt., installs dictator after nationalizes oil.
Guatemala 1954CIA overthrows democratically elected leader because
of communist reforms, installs military leader.
U.S. InterventionsVietnam, Cambodia, Laos 1960-1975Cuba 1961-1962
Failed attempt to overthrow Communist govt., Cuban missile crisis.
Iraq 1963Brings Saddam Hussein back from exile to head
secret serviceDominican Republic 1965
U.S. soldiers influence electionChile 1973
CIA ousts democratically elected communist president.
U.S. InterventionsInterventions continued from the 1980’s, 90’s
to today.
