The Cold War
What is the Cold War?
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The Cold War was a political, social,
economic, and military rivalry between the
U.S. and the Soviet Union.
The Cold War is a misnomer. During the
45 year period of the Cold War, the
Americans and Soviets were involved in
dozens of ‘hot wars’ around the globe
(Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, El Salvador,
Honduras, Afghanistan, etc.)
From Allies to Enemies
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Feelings of Animosity as a result of:
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Yalta Conference – Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), Josef
Stalin (February, 1945)
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Western support of White Army during Civil War after Bolshevik Revolution.
Western fear of worldwide Communist revolution.
Nonaggression Pact between Soviets and Germany.
Delayed Invasion of European Continent by Britain and United States.
US use of atomic bomb.
Agreed to Divide Germany into occupied zones controlled by Allies.
Germany would have to pay compensation to Soviet Union.
Soviet Union would allow free elections in Eastern Europe.
Soviet Union would join war against Japan.
United Nations (UN) (June, 1945)
Differing US and Soviet Postwar Goals
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US wanted a democratic world led by United States.
Soviets wanted a Communist state and protection against invasion from the West.
The US and Soviet Union After WWII
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The United States:
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most wealthy country in the world
400,000 people killed in WWII
Cities and factories intact
Democratic government
Capitalist economy
The Soviet Union :
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More than 25 million Russians killed in WWII
Cities and industry destroyed
Communist government
Socialist economy
What is Communism?
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Theory of Social Organization written by Karl Marx and
Frederic Engels in The Communist Manifesto.
Written as an answer to the problems of the period of
industrialization: huge, poor, working class controlled
by a few wealthy individuals that own the Means of
Production.
Communist Theory – worker’s revolution to overthrow
the bourgeoisie, dictatorship of the proletariat, socialist
economy, government/state disappears and all live in
happiness in a classless society.
Communism v. Stalinism
Josef Stalin’s Rise to Power
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Organization of
Communist Party
Elections in the
Soviet Union
Stalinism
Stalin’s Consolidation of Power
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Five Year Plans
Collectivization
Housing
Education
Show Trials
Purges
Terror
Censorship
Propaganda
Isolation
“Comrade Stalin has concentrated enormous
power in his hands, and I am not sure that he
always knows how to use that power with
sufficient caution.”
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V.I. Lenin
Differing U.S. and Soviet Goals
United States
Soviet Union
Encourage democracy in other
countries to help prevent the rise of
Communist governments.
Encourage communism in other
countries as part of a worldwide
workers’ revolution.
Gain access to raw materials and
markets to fuel booming industries.
Rebuild its war-ravaged economy
using Eastern Europe’s industrial
equipment and raw materials.
Rebuild European governments to
promote stability and create new
markets for American goods.
Control Eastern Europe to protect
Soviet borders and balance the U.S.
influence in Western Europe.
Reunite Germany to stabilize it and
increase the security of Europe.
Keep Germany divided to prevents its
waging war again.
The Iron Curtain Divides East and
West
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Soviets Created a “Buffer Zone” of Eastern
European Satellite Nations (Albania, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, and
Yugoslavia) to protect Russia against future
invasions from the West.
Potsdam Conference – Truman, Stalin, and
Churchill
A Divided Germany
“Iron Curtain” came to represent Europe’s division
between democratic Western Europe and
Communist Eastern Europe.
American Actions Contributing to
the Cold War
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Policy of Containment – contain communism to its
current borders.
Truman Doctrine – U.S. allies with and supports
nations resisting communism.
Support for British interests in Greece and Turkey.
The Marshall Plan - $12.5 billion to rebuild Europe
as a way of containing communism.
National Security Act – preparedness for war during
‘peacetime.’ Established Department of Defense
and Central Intelligence Agency.
Soviet Actions Contributing to the
Cold War
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Soviet control over Poland, Bulgaria, Romania,
Hungary.
Stalin’s order that satellite nations end trade with
Western nations.
Soviet refusal to halt work on nuclear weapons.
Molotov Plan – economic plan for Eastern Europe.
Soviet overthrow of Czech government and
installation of Communist government.
Berlin Blockade – Stalin blockaded West Berlin,
U.S. airlifted supplies into citizens.
The Cold War and a Divided
World
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Rival Military Alliances
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) –
United States, Canada, ten Western European
nations.
Warsaw Pact – Soviet Union, Poland, East
Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania,
Bulgaria, and Albania.
Nuclear Weapons and the Space Race
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Nuclear Threat
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US had atomic bomb in 1945
Soviet Union had atomic bomb in 1949
Development of Hydrogen Bomb (US, 1952 – Soviets, 1953)
Brinksmanship
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
The Cold War in the Skies
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Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
Sputnik I
U-2 Incident
The Space Race
Yuri Gagarin – Soviet, first person in space
The Chinese Revolution
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Civil War
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Communist Victory, 1949
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Nationalists – Jiang Jieshi
Communists – Mao
Zedong
Soviet-Chinese Treaty of
Friendship, 1950
Communist Victory in
China Fueled AntiCommunist Hysteria in
the United States
The Korean ‘Conflict’
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Korea divided at the 38th
Parallel After World War II
By 1949, Soviets and
Americans had pulled most
of their troops from Korea.
June, 1950, North Koreans
launched surprise attack
against South Korea.
Containment Policy Tested
The UN Reacts to Invasion of South
Korea
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15 UN nations participated
in action to stop the
invasion of Korea. Led by
Douglas MacArthur.
Initially, North Koreans got
deep into South Korea.
Containment policy tested.
UN surprise counterattack ,
pursued North Koreans
across the 38th parallel
almost to Yalu River, border
with China.
China Gets Involved
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China felt threatened by American troops and naval fleet off
their coast, sent 300,000 troops to aid North Korea.
Fight between North and South Korea had turned into war
between the Chinese and Americans.
China drove UN troops south, captured South Korean capital
Seoul.
MacArthur called for a nuclear attack against China; Truman
fired him.
For two years, UN forces fought to drive North Koreans back
to 38th parallel.
After three years of fighting, UN forces and North Korea
signed a cease-fire agreement, border between the two
Koreas again set near 38th parallel.
Aftermath and Legacy of the Korean
‘Conflict’
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5 million soldiers and civilians were killed.
Korea remained divided into two nations.
North Korea
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Communist dictator Kim Il Sung established
collective farms, developed heavy industry, and
built up country’s military power.
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In 1994, Kim Jong Il ascended to power after his
father died. Kim Jong Un now in power.
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Developed nuclear weapons and is well armed,
but continues to struggle with economic
problems.
South Korea
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Prospered thanks to U.S. aid
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Ruled by dictators until 1987, then a democratic
constitution.
Korea still divided
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Troops in demilitarized zone (DMZ).
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U.S. maintains troops in South Korea.
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South Korea has begun limited shipments of food
aid to North Korea.
The Berlin Wall
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Berlin Wall erected in August, 1961 after
Khrushchev and Kennedy had unpleasant
meeting.
Berlin Wall enclosed West Berlin to prevent
people from escaping East Germany into West
Berlin and then to West Germany.
Barrier completed within two days, then more
permanent structure.
City remained divided until 1989.
Trouble in Cuba
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Revolution in Cuba led by Fidel Castro in 1959.
Communist government turned to Soviet Union for
support/protection.
Bay of Pigs – U.S. trained, coordinated and armed
group of Cuban counterrevolutionaries in attack on
Castro government. Failed. Huge embarrassment to
Kennedy Administration.
Castro always believed the United States would attempt
to overthrow him again.
U.S. had recently coordinated a massive military
exercise nearby in Puerto Rico – an amphibious
invasion to remove a dictator named ORTSAC.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
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U.S. had nuclear missiles pointed at Soviet
Union in Turkey.
Soviet Union arranged with Castro to position
nuclear missiles on Cuba within striking
distance of major U.S. cities.
Castro took on risks of being site of nuclear
missiles because he always believed the U.S.
would try to invade again and he felt that a
conventional war would be as devastating to
the island as a nuclear war would be.
Thirteen Days in 1962
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U.S. surveillance photos provided clear evidence that Soviet missile sites were
being developed.
Nuclear missiles on Soviet ships headed for Cuba. Some tactical weapons
already on the island.
World on edge – would the two superpowers engage in nuclear war?
Kennedy was presented with a difficult situation – how to resolve this issue
without setting off nuclear war?
JFK decided to set up a naval blockade around Cuba.
After much fear and tension, Khrushchev turned the Soviet ships around.
Soviet missile equipment and tactical weapons removed from Cuba.
U.S. promises never to invade Cuba.
Privately, Robert Kennedy had negotiated a compromise – U.S. missiles
removed from Turkey.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the United States and Soviet Union
ever got to nuclear war – as far as the general public knows.
Vietnam
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History of Colonialism
Due to Rich Natural
Resources
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China, 208 BC
France, 1861
Japan, 1940
France Returns, 1945
United States, 19541975
The Road to the Vietnam War
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French Indochina
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After Japanese defeated in 1945, Vietnam expected
independence, but French regained their colony.
In 1950, Ho Chi Minh declared the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam the only legal government. Soviets and Chinese
recognize Ho Chi Minh’s government, U.S. and Britain
recognize French appointed leader.
Independence Movements Developed
Ho Chi Minh turned to Communists for help gaining
independence.
Formed Vietminh Independence League.
Guerilla Attacks Against French
1954, Battle of Dien Bien Phu, French surrendered.
A Divided Vietnam
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1954, Geneva Conference
Vietnam Divided at 17th Parallel, Free
Elections Scheduled for 1956
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Ho Chi Minh Very Popular
Ngo Dinh Diem Very Unpopular,
Cancelled Elections.
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Ho Chi Minh and Communists ruled in North
U.S. and France set up anti-Communist
government of Ngo Dinh Diem in South
Immolation of Quang Duc
Communist guerillas called Vietcong formed
to get rid of Diem.
Diem killed in a coup backed by the U.S., but
new leaders no more popular with people of
Vietnam.
It seemed that Communist Vietcong, with
help of North Vietnam, would take over.
U.S. Involvement in Vietnam
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Domino Theory – belief that if one nation fell to
Communism, the nations around it would turn
communist and so on.
U.S. greatly increased “advisers” in South Vietnam and
military supplies.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – allowed President to
increase American involvement and combat action in
Vietnam without a declaration of war from Congress.
U.S. soon supplying American troops.
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1965, more than 185,000 American soldiers in Vietnam.
By 1968, more than 500,000 American soldiers in Vietnam.
Americans Faced Major Problems in
Vietnam War
Guerilla Warfare in Unfamiliar Jungle
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Hit and Run Tactics
South Vietnamese government the U.S. was supporting was very
unpopular, while support for Vietcong grew steadily.
Ho Chi Minh, Soviet Union, and China supported Vietcong with
troops and munitions.
Unable to win decisive victory on ground, U.S. turned to air
power, increasing peasant opposition to South Vietnamese
government
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More fire power dropped on Vietnam than in all of WWII, including
atomic weapons.
Agent Orange
Napalm
Phosphorous Bombs
The U.S. Withdrawal From Vietnam
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War Unpopular in U.S.
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Selective Service System
Role of Television
Tet Offensive
My Lai Massacre
Nixon and the Policy of Vietnamization
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U.S. troops withdrawn, replaced with South Vietnamese troops.
Increased bombing and illegal incursions into Laos and
Cambodia.
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Kent State Tragedy – 4 students killed by National Guard
Jackson State Tragedy – 2 students killed by police.
Repeal of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution.
The U.S. Leaves Vietnam
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Paris Peace Accords, 1973
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Communist North Overran South Vietnam
in 1975
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U.S. POWs released.
Last American Troops Withdrawn in 1973
Communists renamed Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City
1.5 million Vietnamese Killed
48,000 Americans Killed
Cambodia
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The Vietnam War and American
Bombing Resulted in an Unstable
Cambodia.
Communists Known as the Khmer
Rouge took control under brutal
leadership of Pol Pot.
In an attempt to return Cambodia to a
rural society, more than 2 million people
– almost 25% of the population - were
killed by the Khmer Rouge.
Vietnam invaded in 1978, overthrew
Khmer Rouge.
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Vietnamese withdrew in 1989.
UN Peacekeepers supervised creation of
democratic constitution in 1993 and free
elections.
Pol Pot captured and detained for war
crimes.
Postwar Vietnam
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Communists imposed Strict
Control
1.5 Million Refugees Fled
Communist Oppression
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Today, Vietnam Still a
Communist Government
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200,000 “Boat People” died at
sea
About 70,000 Vietnamese
Refugees settled in U.S.
U.S. and Vietnam are now
trading partners
Vietnamese are very forgiving
and understanding of the
‘American War’
The Cold War Around The World
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The Cold War in the
Developing World
Consequences of
Imperialism – Poverty and
Political Instability
Cold War Tactics/Strategies
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Sponsored and/or supported
wars of revolution or
counterrevolution.
CIA and KGB
Military Aid
Schools
Volunteer Workers
Peace Corps
The Cold War in Latin America
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Chile
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Cuba
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Salvador Allende , a Marxist, elected president in free elections in 1970.
CIA helped forces opposed to Allende overthrow his government.
Replaced by Augusto Pinochet, brutal military dictator.
US supported unpopular Fulgencio Batista.
Batista overthrown by Fidel Castro.
Bay of Pigs – Failed American attempt to overthrow Castro.
Cuban Missile Crisis
Nicaragua
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Sandinistas Overthrew The Brutal Samoza Dictatorship that US had put in power and had
been supporting since 1933.
Sandinistas then began to aid socialist rebels in El Salvador.
To help the El Salvadoran government fight those rebels, the US supported Nicaraguan
anti-Communist rebel forces, also known as Contra or contrarevolucionarios.
Civil War in Nicaragua lasted more than a decade.
Why did the United States often
support horrible dictators rather than
freely elected leaders during the Cold
War? What effects does this have in
the present day?
The Cold War in the Middle East
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Iran
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Shah Pahlavi embraced Western governments and wealthy western oil
companies.
Iranian nationalists angry at growing western influence and that Western oil
companies were making huge profits while Iranian people continued to live in
poverty, led by Prime Minister Mossaddeq
Mossaddeq and his followers seized and nationalized a British oil company and
forced Shah to flee.
US arrested Mossaddeq, because they feared he would seek support from the
Soviet Union, and put Shah back in power.
Shah government corrupt and brutal.
Shah wanted to limit influence of Islam in government.
Ayatollah Khomeini encouraged workers to go on strike – riots erupted across
Iran; Shah forced to flee.
Khomeini and followers established Islamic law as legal code of Iran.
Iranian Hostage Crisis
Iran/Iraq War
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Afghanistan
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Muslim revolt threatened to remove Communist
regime.
Soviets invaded Afghanistan and got stuck there
fighting rebels called mujahadeen.
Americans supplied mujahadeen with weapons.
Americans boycotted 1980 Olympic games in
Moscow.
Soviets withdrew after 10 years of fighting.
The End of the Cold War
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Eastern European Nations Began To Protest Soviet
Control.
Nikita Khrushchev
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Hungary
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Imre Nagy
Leonid Brezhnev
Czechoslovakia
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Destalinization
Alexander Dubcek and Prague Spring
Soviets and Chinese Became Enemies
Germany Reunified
From Brinksmanship to Détente
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Brinksmanship created too many crises and nearly developed into
nuclear war on several occasions.
Nixon Visit to China
Nixon Visit to Soviet Union
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
SALT I Treaty – five year agreement limiting to 1972 levels the number
of ICBM and submarine-launched missiles each country could have.
Helsinki Accords – US, Soviet Union, and 33 other nations signed a
commitment to détente and cooperation.
Détente Cools Under President Jimmy Carter
President Reagan Intensified Anti-Communist Actions and Reignited
the Cold War
The Fall of the Soviet Union
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Mikhail Gorbachev succeeded Leonid Brezhnev
Glasnost “openness” – Soviet citizens encouraged
to discuss ways to improve society.
Perestroika – economic restructuring.
Democratization.
Foreign Policy – Gorbachev realized arms race too
costly. Stressed diplomacy over force.
Boris Yeltsin.
August Coup.
The Soviet Republics Declared Independence.