The power point presentation covers the material from Chapter 19 of
the Mastering the TEKS in World History book by Jarrett, Zimmer,
and Killoran. (pages 324 to 337)
The Cold War
• After WWII there were two
major world powers: the
U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
• Each “superpower”
attempted to extend its
influence across the world.
• It is a “cold war” because
the two powers never
fought directly in open
warfare.
Understanding USA Involvement
After being drawn into World War II, American
leaders feared repeating the errors of
isolationism or the mistakes of Britain & France
in following a policy of appeasement.
American leaders saw Communism as the next
major threat to world stability. They decided to
reject appeasement and to resist Soviet
demands with their containment policy.
Roots of the Cold War
Western Democracies
Soviet Communism
Political System
Citizens elected
representatives and national
leaders.
Opinions, Votes,
Different Political Parties
The Soviet union was a
dictatorship controlled by
Communist Party leaders.
Totalitarian Dictatorship,
Only One Political Party
Individual Rights
Freedom of…
speech , press, and religion.
Govt controls all media = radio,
television, news, & education.
And other basic rights!
Arrest govt critics.
Religion discouraged.
Economic System
Capitalism/Free Enterprise
-Private land
-Private business
-Do what you want to make
whatever profit you can.
No private property!
Govt controls all farms and
production.
The Cold War Begins in Europe
• 1945 Yalta Conference: The
Allies agree to divide Germany
into 4 separate zones of
occupation after the war.
• After the war, the Soviet army
occupied much of eastern
Europe and made these
countries satellites of Russia.
• Winston Churchill said an “iron
curtain” had descended on
Eastern Europe.
• Trade and most communication
between Eastern and Western
Europe was cut off.
Growing American Involvement
• Western leaders feared Stalin was
another Hitler.
• The U.S. was the only country strong
enough to oppose the USSR.
• Truman Doctrine: US policy to help
countries stop the spread of
communism in their countries
(containment).
• Marshall Plan: plan to give Western
Europe money to rebuild their
countries in order to become trading
partners with the US and help resist
Communism.
The political cartoon is of
Joseph Stalin. Describe the
cartoon and explain its
meaning.
Berlin Airlift and Division of Germany
• In 1948 the Western powers began to
merge their sections of Germany into
one country. Stalin refused to give up
East Germany.
• Stalin closed all access to Berlin.
• The Western powers began airlifting
supplies to West Berlin in stop this
blockade. Stalin gave this up after a
year.
• In 1949 the three western zones of
Germany became the Federal
Republic of Germany (West
Germany) and the Soviet zone
became the German Democratic
Republic (East Germany).
What is unusual about the name given
to East Germany?
Formation of NATO and the
Warsaw Pact
• In 1949 the US, Canada, and Western Europe formed the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization to protect Western Europe from Soviet
aggression. The US pledged to help Europe in an attack from Russia.
• In 1955 the USSR created the Warsaw Pact in response to NATO.
Hungary tried to drop out but the USSR sent troops to crush this
uprising.
How the End of WWII Helped Start the
Cold War
• 2 Super Powers
•
– USSR largest military
– USA most productive economy and
weaponry
Ideological Differences:
– USA sought to spread democracy
– USSR wanted to spread communism
• Soviet Fears:
– Germany invaded Russia in 1941..
– USSR wanted Eastern Europe to serve as
a buffer zone so they would not be
invaded again.
• US Leaders Avoid Isolation and
Appeasement:
– The US no longer followed their policy of
isolationism. Did not learn from their
mistakes and the mistakes of the French
and British.
• New Weapons:
– The atomic bomb made both
sides cautious and avoid direct
confrontation
• The Rise of Communism in Asia:
– Japan’s invasion of China
weakened the Chinese National
Government.
– Communist leaders in China used
this weakness to assume power
in China.
The Nuclear Arms Race
• 1945 US invents atomic bomb
• 1949 USSR tests their first atomic
bomb
• USA and USSR begin building more
powerful hydrogen bombs and
missiles to deliver them.
• 1957 USSR launches Sputnik, 1st
man made satellite.
• USA and USSR realize that these
weapons are so destructive that
they are deterrents to war.
• Instead of fighting each other they
help other countries fight smaller
wars.
Do we still live under the threat
of nuclear war today? Explain
your answer.
Twilight Zone “The Shelter”
(1961)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Ehxt9HGSp0g
The Communist Revolution
in China
• Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek believed
in Nationalist govt. Fought both the
Japanese and Communists in WWII to try
and protect China.
• In 1937 the Communists, under
Mao Zedong agreed to help fight the
Japanese.
• After Japan was defeated the 2 sides
started fighting again.
• The Soviets helped the Communists and
they drove the Nationalists out of China.
– All aspects of Chinese life came under the
control of the Communists.
• Mao emphasized “living the life of a
peasant” to the Chinese people and told
them that was their destiny.
How do you think Chinese
citizens reacted to these
changes?
Changes in China Under Mao
Elimination of the “Capitalist Class”
• Landowners, factory-owners, village leaders, and better-off peasants
were considered to be the “capitalist class”.
• The Communists said these people exploited others.
• At least 1 million of these so-called “capitalists” were killed.
Re-Education
• Communist beliefs became
required learning in all
universities and schools.
• Newspapers and books were
brought under the control of the
government and had to promote
Communism.
• Even art and music came under
the direct supervision of the
government.
The Family
• Family authority was replaced by the
authority of the Communist Party.
• Children were taught to obey the state,
not their parents.
• Ancestor worship, which had once
promoted family tradition, was
forbidden.
• This prohibition further weakened
the father’s traditional role as the
family leader.
The “Great Leap Forward”
• In 1956 Mao forced peasants into
cooperative farms where families
worked together and shared the
crops.
• In 1958 He introduced his
“5 Year Plan” to make China an
industrial power.
• The 5 Year Plan proposed the
building of dams, roads, and
factories.
– This failed due to poor planning and
high costs.
• Because of this 30-50 million people
died of starvation.
Card issued to celebrate the
Great Leap Forward
Describe the card and its meaning
The Korean War (1950-1953)
• Korea was divided in 1945.
• In 1950 Communist North Korea
invaded Democratic South Korea.
• The United Nations, led by the
US, sent troops to aid South
Korea.
• When the UN forces pushed the
North Koreans to the Chinese
border, China got involved to help
North Korea.
• In 1953 a compromise ended the
war. The compromise left North
and South Korea divided.
The Red Guards
• In 1966, Mao closed China’s universities
and schools.
• He invited 11 million students to Beijing as
“Red Guards.”
• The Red Guards went throughout China
attacking the nation’s professionals for not
embracing Communist ideals.
• They forced these educated men and
women to work in the fields. Many were
tortured and killed.
• Mao had to use the army to control the
Red Guard.
• This led to a shortage of food and goods.
• Eventually he sent the Red Guard back to
the countryside to help with the farming.
Changes Come to China
After Mao died in 1976, China introduced free enterprise (capitalism) without
giving up political power. The new leader, Deng Xiaoping’s goal was to
modernize China by reforming its economy.
Land Reforms: People were able
to “rent” the land and have some
rights as tenants on the land. This
led to greater food production.
New Factory Management: Less
govt control.
Business owners were given more
control over their products and
able to sell for profit.
Consumer Goods: China began
producing more consumer goods,
such as radios and televisions.
Limited Capitalism: Individuals
could own businesses and hire
workers. The private sector
became responsible for much of
China’s industrial output.
Foreign Investment: Foreign
investment was allowed. This
brought capital and high
technology to China. Foreign
companies were allowed joint
ventures with Chinese companies
Tiananmen Square and the
Limits of Reform
• China encouraged economic
reform but remained Communist.
• In 1989 college students
demonstrated peacefully for
personal freedom and
democracy.
• When the students refused to
leave army tanks fired on them
killing hundreds.
• In response, Western countries
reduced trade for a brief time.
• China has become the fastest
growing economy in the world.
Krushchev and Eastern Europe
• 1953 Stalin died
• Nikita Krushchev took over
the USSR
– He condemned Stalin’s
atrocities
– He freed many political
prisoners
– And tried to introduced
changes in the Soviet Union.
• This triggered unrest in
Eastern Europe, where
many were unhappy with
Communist rule.
Krushchev with President
John F. Kennedy
Why would Krushchev’s actions
encourage Eastern European
countries to cause trouble for the
USSR?
Problems and Protests in Eastern Europe
Poland: In 1956,
workers went on strike
and demanded greater
freedom. Krushchev
allowed Poland to
handle the problem as
long as they stayed loyal
to the USSR.
East Berlin: In 1961, a wall
was built around West Berlin
to cut off the east from the
west. Also barriers were
constructed between East and
West Germany. The Berlin
Wall became a symbol of the
Cold War.
Hungary: Students led
protests in favor of
reform. The country
threatened to leave the
Warsaw Pact. Soviet
troops were sent to
brutally crush the
reform government in
1956.
Czechoslovakia: In 1968, the
country introduced a moregiving form of Communism.
The USSR sent tanks in and
replaced the leaders with
hard-line Communists.
Communism Comes to Latin America
• 1958 Fidel Castro came to
power in Cuba with a
promise of democracy.
• Instead he nationalized all
businesses and killed any
opposition.
• The US broke off trade with
Cuba.
– This is why goods from Cuba
are illegal.
• Castro asked the USSR for
help and made Cuba a
communist country.
Cuba and the USA
• Bay of Pigs: 1961 Cuban exiles
invaded Cuba with US training and
supplies.
• The US refused to send air support
and the invasion failed.
• Cuban Missile Crisis: 1962 a US spy
plane discovered that Cuba
planned to house nuclear missiles
on the island.
• The US blockaded Cuba to stop the
USSR from delivering the missiles.
• The USSR backed down and the US
promised not to invade Cuba.
Krushchev was removed from
power because of his failure in the
crisis.
Explain the political cartoon
The Vietnam War (1954-1975)
• Communist North Vietnam launched a
guerrilla war against democratic South
Vietnam.
• In 1964 the US began sending troops to aid
South Vietnam in an attempt to stop the
spread of communism.
• The US sent troops, helicopters, and planes
to assist in the war but was never able to
turn the tide in favor of the south.
• In 1968 the Tet Offensive showed how
strong the Viet Cong could be.
• In 1973 US troops withdrew from Vietnam.
• In 1975 South Vietnam fell to North
Vietnam and the communists.
• Many South Vietnamese fled the country,
some even came to the US.
Soviet Stagnation 1964-1982
Period in which the USSR
failed to advance in its
goals.
The standard of
living dropped.
Alcoholism and
corruption increased.
Communist economic
planners were unable to
predict people’s needs.
The Socialist economy was
not able to keep up with
the Capitalist economy of
the West.
Soviet citizens were imprisoned
when they questioned the
government. Natan Sharansky
was imprisoned for 9 years after
demanding human rights.
Soviet workers had no
incentive to work. Farms
failed to produce enough
food. Factory made
goods were of poor
quality.
Soviet troops had to be
sent in when countries
began to question
Communism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=IrQW_ifdOJw
Monster’s University
Snail
The Gorbachev Years (1985-1991)
Glasnost: a more open USSR
-free speech
-free press
-dissidents were released from prison
-Soviet Jews were allowed to emigrate
-Citizens elected their own government
Perestroika: an economic reform
-moved away from central planning
-allowed more individual decision making
-people could form small businesses
-factory managers were given greater control
of production
-foreign countries were invited to invest in
the USSR
Foreign Policy:
Traveled to the USA to talk
with President Reagan about
reducing nuclear weapons
and repairing relations.
Allowed Eastern European
countries self government.
The Iron Curtain Falls in
Eastern Europe
• 1978: Polish Cardinal becomes Pope John
Paul II.
– He inspired Lech Walesa to create an
independent trade union in Poland.
– The Polish government tried to crush the
movement from 1981 to 1983.
– Gorbachev did not allow the use of force
after 1985.
• In 1989 Walesa led a strike at the Gdansk
shipyard to demand freedom.
• Poland became the 1st Soviet controlled
country to elect a non-communist
government.
– Other Eastern European countries soon
followed Poland.
• In 1989 the Berlin Wall was torn down and
East and West Germany reunified.
The Reunification of Germany
• By the end of 1990 East
and West Germany had
been formed back into
one country.
• They merged their
currency and moved
the capital to Berlin.
Gorbachev’s Problems Grow
• Gorbachev’s policies did not solve
the economic problems.
• Glasnost unleashed nationalism
and social discontent.
• Non Russian nations, forced into
the USSR, began seeking
independence.
• The Russian Republic also
became nationalistic. In 1991
they elected Boris Yeltsin as
president.
– Yeltsin began policies that
would hopefully move Russia
away from Communism.
– Gorbachev could do nothing
without returning to the
policy of repression.
President Ronald Reagan
and Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev.
The Dissolution of the Soviet Union
1991
• Hard line Communists overthrew
Gorbachev in a military coup in 1991.
• They were unable to hold onto power
and the Communist Party was
discredited.
• By the end of 1991 Russia, Belarus,
and the Ukraine also declared their
independence.
• They formed the Commonwealth of
Independent States, which other
former Soviet states also joined to
work together.
• Gorbachev resigned as President at the
end of 1991.