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June 1945, 50 nations formed the United Nations—international
organization
All members represented in General Assembly; 11 on Security
Council
Five permanent members have Security Council veto power
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U.S. and Soviets split sharply after WWII ends
U.S. was (and still is) world’s richest and most powerful
country after WWII
Soviets were recovering from high war casualties and
many destroyed cities
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Soviets controlled Eastern European countries after World War II
Stalin installed Communist governments in several countries
Truman urged free elections but Stalin refuses
In 1946, Stalin said capitalism and communism cannot co-exist
Germany divided; East Germany - Communist, West Germany Democratic
Iron Curtain—Winston Churchill’s name for the division of Europe
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Containment—U.S. plan to stop the spread of communism
Truman Doctrine—U.S. supported countries that rejected communism
Congress approved Truman’s request for aid to Greece and Turkey
Much of Western Europe was in ruins after World War II
Marshall Plan—U.S. program of assisting Western European countries
Congress approved plan after Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia
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In 1948, U.S., Britain, France withdrew forces from West Germany
Berlin Blockade - Soviets stopped land and water traffic and trade
into West Berlin
West Berlin, which was located in Soviet occupation zone, faced
starvation
U.S. and Britain flew in supplies for 11 months until the blockade
ended
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Cold War—struggle of U.S., Soviet Union using means short of war
In 1949, U.S., Canada, West European countries form NATO
NATO—North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a defensive military alliance
In 1955, Soviets, Eastern European nations signed Warsaw Pact alliance
In 1961, Soviets built Berlin Wall to separate East and West Berlin
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Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949
U.S. and Soviet Union both developed more powerful hydrogen bomb
(nuclear proliferation – building more nuclear weapons)
Brinkmanship—policy of willingness to go to the edge of war
Increasing tensions led to military buildup by U.S. and Soviets
In October 1957, Soviets launched Sputnik, first unmanned satellite
Launching of Sputnik caused U.S. to spend more money on education and
technology and to develop more rigorous science and math programs
In 1960, Soviets shot down American spy plane, increasing tensions
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• ao Zedong—led Chinese Communists against Japanese invaders
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Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek)—leader of Chinese Nationalists in World
War II; lost support because he ignored the needs of the peasants
Nationalist and Communist Chinese resume civil war after WWII ends
Mao’s troops took control of China’s major cities
In 1949, People’s Republic of China created; Nationalists migrated to Taiwan
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Mao took property from landowners and divided it among peasants
Government seized private companies and planned production
increase
The Great Leap Forward established communes—large
collective farms often supporting over 25,000 people
Program is ended after inefficiency led to crop failures and famines
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Red Guards—militia units formed to enforce strict communism in
China
Cultural Revolution—movement to build society of peasants and
workers
Red Guards closed schools and executed or imprisoned many
intellectuals
In 1968, Chinese army imprisoned, executed, or exiled most of the
Red Guards
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38th parallel—line dividing Korea into North Korea and South Korea
In 1950, North Koreans invaded South Korea with Soviet support
South Korea requested UN assistance; 15 nations send troops
Douglas MacArthur—led UN forces against North Koreans
North Koreans controlled most of peninsula when MacArthur attacks
Half of the North’s army surrendered, the rest retreated
UN troops pushed North Koreans almost to Chinese border
Chinese sent 300,000 troops against UN forces and captured Seoul
MacArthur called for nuclear attack and is removed from command
In 1953, cease fire signed and border established at 38th parallel
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Ho Chi Minh—Vietnamese Communist leader
In 1954, French surrendered to Vietnamese after major defeat
Domino theory—U.S. theory of Communist expansion in Southeast Asia;
one nation falls, the rest will follow
International peace conference agreed on a divided Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem—led anti-Communist government in South Vietnam
Vietcong—South Vietnamese Communist guerillas who fought against
Diem
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In 1964, U.S. sent troops to fight Vietcong and North Vietnamese
U.S. fought guerilla war
Vietcong gained support from Ho Chi Minh, China, Soviet Union
War grew unpopular in U.S.; in 1969, Nixon starts withdrawing
troops
Vietnamization—Nixon’s plan to withdraw U.S. from war gradually
Last U.S. troops left in 1973; South Vietnam was overrun in 1975
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Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam united as
Communist nation
About 1.5 million people fled Vietnam; some settled in
U.S., Canada
In 1995, United States normalized relations with Vietnam
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Khmer Rouge—Communist rebels who took control of Cambodia in 1975;
led by Pol Pot
Attempts at agricultural reform led to widespread famine
Arbitrary executions and torture carried out by its cadres against perceived
subversive elements
Purged their own ranks
They slaughtered 2 million people; Khmer Rouge is overthrown by proCommunist, but moderate Vietnamese invaders
In 1993, Cambodia adopted democracy, held elections with UN help
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U.S., Soviet Union, China competed for influence over Third World
by backing revolutions and giving economic, military, technical aid
Third World—developing nations; often newly independent,
nonaligned
Nonaligned nations (nonalignment)—independent countries
not involved in Cold War
Many countries, like India, wanted to avoid involvement in Cold War
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Fidel Castro—led a revolt in Cuba against dictator (Batista) who was
supported by U.S.
In 1959, Castro gained power, nationalized economy, and seized U.S.
property
Bay of Pigs Invasion - In 1961, Castro’s forces defeated U.S.-trained
Cuban exiles at Bay of Pigs; CIA trained these Cubans but they failed to
assassinate Castro
Cuban Missile Crisis - In 1962, U.S. demanded the removal of Soviet
missiles in Cuba; Soviets withdrew missiles and U.S. promised not to invade
Cuba; nuclear war was averted