COLD WAR
Mr. Fisher
US History – 9th Grade
Origins of Cold War (Post-WWII Map)
• Definition:
• Causes of the Cold War
• American fear of Communism (Second Red Scare)
• Russian dislike of Capitalism
• Russian fear of the atomic bomb
• Felt left out during the war
• Russia’s actions in Soviet occupied Germany
• Potsdam Conference: (Dealt with the punishment of Germany)
• No free elections, lim’t rights, lim’t food
• Iron Curtain (Pic 1, Pic 2)
• “Barrier” created by the Soviet Union
• Separated Warsaw Pact countries with NATO countries
• issue of German unification
• Stalin blockades Berlin (Berlin Wall) 2 reasons
• Berlin Airlift (sent aid to East Germany by Allied Powers)
• Containment Policies (contain Communism)
• Depression  Dictators WWII  Dictators? Communism?
• Purposes:
• 1.) Influence with American ideas (Capitalism/Democracy, not Comm.)
• 2.) Long-term benefits (i.e. trade)
• Truman Doctrine ($$ to Greece/Turkey)
• Marshall Plan ($$ rebuilding of Europe post-WWII)
“Hotter” War – Containment Policies
• China:
• The Long March
• Communists (Mao Zedong) vs. Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek)
• US supports Nationalists ($2 billion in aid), but CONTAINMENT failed
• Communist victory (Zedong victor)
• Korean War (The Forgotten War – 1950-1953)
• Korea ruled by Japan from 1910-WWII (forced to give back possessions)
• Peace agreement - Soviet Union obtained north, US allies to obtain South
• Soviet Union and China (North Korea) vs. United States (South Korea)
• Cease-fire issued by the Soviet Union
• Positive – communism contained, no nuclear weapons
• Negative – broken Korea nation split in two (North and South Korea)
• Vietnam War (1959-1975)
• Once part of French Empire – weakened around WWII
• Vietnamese want land rid of foreigners led by Ho Chi Minh (Communist)
• North Vietnam (China, Russia) vs. South Vietnam (US and allies)
• Impact:
• One of the largest antiwar movements
• US loss – take a lesser role in foreign affairs
• North Vietnam victor (capture of Saigon – containment fails)
• War Powers Act
• President cannot commit troops for more than sixty days
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) (picture)
• Cuban Revolution – Communist (Fidel Castro)
• US missiles in Turkey – hit anywhere in Russia
• Soviets counters - missile bases in Cuba
• US issues a blockade of Cuba
• Results: Missiles removed from Turkey and Cuba
“Hotter” War – Containment Policies
• Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)
• Afghan – Islam rule but coup changed to communist rule (Comm. Ideas)
• Soviets invaded Afghan. to maintain communist ruler
• Success with modern technology (helicopter vs. ground troops)
• US supporting groups (mujahideen - resistance)
• Successful at beating back Soviet expansion
• Al-Qaeda headed by Osama bin Laden
• Leader of the 9/11 attacks
• Effects:
• Soviet's = fail
• Communism contained
Effects and Ending of Cold War
• End of the Soviet Union (creation of Russia)
• Soviet Union economy in shambles (went bankrupt)
• Costly arms race and race to space
• Failed Afghan war (“the Soviet Union’s Vietnam”)
• New leadership:
• Gorbachev to rid of oppressive/communist rule
• Change to capitalist econ.
• United States as #1 superpower
• Fall of the Berlin War
• Reunification of Germany