COLD WAR TIME PERIOD
The Cold War
It’s Important Points
 After WWII, the United States played a vital role in
establishing the United Nations, but found itself in a
Cold War with the Soviet Union & communism.
 The Cold War as caused by several conflicting political
and economic ideologies, which resulted in Soviet
expansion into Eastern Europe, the division of
Germany, the creation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact,
and the Communist Revolution in China.
The Cold War
It’s Important Points
 The United States fought the Cold War with the
Truman Doctrine, containment, and the Marshall Plan
– which helped rebuild war torn Allies after WWII.
 Former colonies experienced a rise in dictatorships.
 The Korean War & Vietnam Wars were attempts by the
United States to contain communism.
 After the postwar (post-WWII) prosperity of the 1950s,
changes prompted by social protest and civil rights
movements altered American life in the 1960s and
1970s.
The Cold War
It’s Important Points
 The causes and consequences of the fall of the Soviet
Union and the end of the Cold War include
 The arms race (build up),
 Ethnic unrest,
 Independence movements in former Soviet Union
satellite nations, &
 Global decline of Communism.
The Cold War – Summary of What it Was
The tense face-off between the United States and the
Soviet Union (and their respective allies) was known as
the Cold War. It was unusual for 2 main reasons: it
lasted for 40+ years and Americans & Soviets never fired
shots at each other. It was a contest between democracy
and dictatorship/Communism. The Soviets hoped to
dominate the world by converting governments to
communism, a dictatorial political and economic system
that denied freedom and opportunity to its citizens. The
US committed to a policy of containment (stopping the
spread of communism) and promoting the growth of
democracy in other nations around the world.
Note about C/communism
 It can be confusing to see the word communism
sometimes appear CAPITALIZED and sometimes
uncapitalized.
 Lower-cased communism is the theory that the people
will be more equal if all property is shared.
 Upper-cased Communism is a dictatorial political &
economic system that denies freedom to its citizens.
Churchill & The Iron Curtain
(Background info)
 WWII left many European colonial powers in ruins.
Even Britain and France, which had been on the
winning side, had suffered physical and economic
damage. These countries quickly realized that holding
onto their colonies would be a difficult task while
rebuilding at home and dealing with the threat of the
Soviet Union.
Churchill & The Iron Curtain
(Background info)
 After WWII, the Soviets took back Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania. The Soviet Union refused to remove its
troops from portions of Eastern Europe that it had
captured from the Germans. It took control of the
governments of East Germany, Poland, Romania,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Governments
sympathetic to the Communist system ruled
Yugoslavia and Albania.
Churchill & The Iron Curtain
 By 1946, Soviet Control of Eastern Europe was strong
enough to cause former British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill to say:
 “[A]n iron curtain has descended across the [European]
continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the
ancient states of central and eastern Europe. Warsaw,
Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest,
and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations
around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere…”
 This speech marks the beginning of the Cold War.
US Policy of Containment –
The Truman Doctrine
 Began when President Truman announced the Truman
Doctrine in March 1947.
 The Truman Doctrine stated the US would help
freedom-based nations that were resisting Soviet
domination.
 First applied in Greece (civil war) and Turkey

US gave economic aid
 Greek government defeated communists
 Turks resisted Soviet pressure
US Policy of Containment –
The Marshall Plan
 Gave billions of dollars to European countries to repair
factories & mines.
 Proposed by Secretary of State – George Marshall
 Way US hoped to promote democracy
 Nations receiving aid were required to spend some of
it with American companies
Arms Race
 US was the only country in the world with atomic
weapons UNTIL 1949!
 Soviets developed their own atomic bomb.
 Two nations (US & USSR) began building large
stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
 Meant growing danger for the whole world
Cold War Military Alliances
NATO (1949)
WARSAW PACT (1955)
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
Belgium
Britain
Canada
Denmark
France
Greece
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Turkey
United States
West Germany
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Hungary
Poland
Romania
Soviet Union (USSR)
Spread of Communism in Asia
The Cold War soon spread from Europe to Asia.
When China came under Communist control in
1949, many Americans began talking of an
international Communist conspiracy -- pitting the
combined muscle of China and the Soviets against
the United States.
In such an atmosphere, almost any conflict
anywhere in the world threatened to turn the
Cold War into a hot one.
HOT SPOT - Berlin
 After WWII, Germany was broken into 2 countries.
 East Germany was dominated by Soviets.
 West Germany was supported by Western Europe & the
US.
 Berlin was divided into 4 zones (1 Great Britain, 1 France, 1
US, 1 USSR) but was located inside EAST Germany.
 1948 – Berlin Blockade - Soviets closed off Berlin
 Berlin Airlift – France, Great Britain, & US airlifted
supplies – Almost a year.
 Soviets realized that the blockade wasn’t going to work,
so they lifted the blockade.
Hot Spot - Berlin
 1949-1961 – Many East Germans fled their country through
Berlin.
 1961 – Berlin Wall was built – First wall built to keep
citizens IN rather than enemies out.
 The Berlin Wall was up until the Fall of 1989.
 Torn down as communism fell in Eastern Europe
 Reagan’s Speech: “Mr. Gorbachev – Tear down this
wall!”
HOT WAR – Korean War
 1950 (Summer) – North Korean (Communist) troops
invaded South Korean (Democratic)
 US (and UN forces) aided South Korea; China
(Communist; USSR “ally”/friend) aided North Korea
 Fought for 3 years (1950-53); Never a peace treaty.
 Ending boundaries of countries very close to what they
were at the beginning – Drawn near the 38th parallel.
 Demilitarized Zone on each side of the border
 International tension with North Korea over its
nuclear weapons program continues to present danger.
In the US – Another Red Scare –
McCarthyism in the Early 1950s
 Americans were worried about Soviet spies being in the
country.
 House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) –
Investigated disloyalty in the government, schools
(universities), and Hollywood.
 1950 – Joseph McCarthy – Rep. Senator from WI – claimed
he had a list of 205 communists who worked for the State
Department.
 Provoked huge sensation - “witch” hunts for communists
began all over America.
 McCarthy never produced any evidence to support his claims.
In the US – Another Red Scare –
McCarthyism in the Early 1950s
 McCarthy kept making accusations for 4 years!
 He claimed the was working to protect national security.
 Many Americans’ careers were ruined as a result of
McCarthy’s charges.
 1954 - US Senate finally condemned McCarthy for
“contemptuous” conduct (conduct unbecoming a
member of Congress) and censured him.
 McCarthy lost popularity and McCarthyism died out.
 Not long after that, McCarthy died.
Hot Spot - Vietnam
 France wanted to keep Indochina (Present day
Vietnam, Cambodia, & Laos).
 USSR backed Communist independence movement
leader Ho Chi Minh.
 France divided region into Vietnam, Cambodia, and
Laos (to appease the Communists)
 French forces still occupied the area, but each state had
its own government.
 1954 - Communist rebels defeated French forces; French
left all together soon after.
Hot Spot - Vietnam
 After the French left, Vietnam was divided in two.
 US began helping newly formed democratic South
Vietnam in its struggle against Communist North Vietnam.
 Result of containment policy
 At first, the US was just sending money and military advisors,
giving military advice, to the South Vietnamese.
 US did not want communism to spread any further.
 Afraid of domino effect.
 If one nation falls to communism, the one next to it will fall
and so on.
HOT Spot - Cuba
 1959 – Fidel Castro led revolution in Cuba that turned it
into a Communist dictatorship.
 1961 – US tried to overthrow Castro – Bay of Pigs Invasion
– Failed, miserably
 1962 – Soviets put nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles
from the tip of Florida.
 Resulted in an extremely tense stand-off between the US
and the USSR – AKA: Cuban Missile Crisis
 Both realized that if one were to strike the other, it could
escalate into WWIII.
 Compromise drawn:


USSR would remove missiles and base from Cuba.
US would stay out of Cuban affairs.
 Many Cubans have fled Cuba for the US.
 Cuba is one of the few Communist states still in existence.
HOT WAR - Vietnam
 1964 – North Vietnamese attacked American ships off
the coast of NV
 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Allowed President Lyndon
Johnson to take stronger military action.


Johnson sent in the first combat troops.
This marks the beginning of direct US involvement
(TROOPS) in Vietnam.
HOT WAR - Vietnam
 1965-1973 – More than 8 million Americans served in
the military during the Vietnam War.
 Draft was instituted
 People tried to dodge the draft by leaving the country.
 As a whole, it affected the poor the worst, including
many minority groups in US.

If you were in college, you could get out of going to war, but
most poor people could not afford college and, thus, were
eligible for the draft.
HOT WAR - Vietnam
 The VW was the first to be seen on TV and viewed by the
American public.
 Split the country between “Hawks” (those who supported
US involvement in the war) and “Doves” (those who were
against US involvement in the war).
 “Doves” were a HUGE part of the counterculture movement
in the US.
 Seemed to be a war that the US could not win.
 Vietcong (South Vietnamese fighters, guerillas who
supported NORTH Vietnam) looked like everyday South
Vietnamese citizens – Hard to recognize the enemy.
 Vietnam was like a jungle; Different fighting tactics were
needed and used – Guerilla warfare & booby traps.
HOT WAR - Vietnam
 January 1968 – Tet Offensive – Surprise attacks launched
on South Vietnam cities by Vietcong.
 Tet = Vietnamese New Year’s holiday.
 Vietcong managed to infiltrate all the way down to Saigon
(which is WAY south in South Vietnam)
 In the end, US and SV forces pushed the enemy back, BUT
the Vietcong had own a MAJOR political victory
 Tet Offensive showed that even with a half a million US
troops, no part of SV was safe from Vietcong attacks.
 Turning point in war; More Americans started to protest it.

Johnson did NOT seek reelection in 1968.
HOT
WAR
Vietnam
 When Nixon came into office, he widened the war effort (at
first), hoping to weaken the enemy.
 NV had used trails in Cambodia to send supplies to their soldiers
and Vietcong in SV.
 1969 – Nixon ordered bombing on communist bases in
Cambodia, then US & SV troops invaded by land.
 Plunged Cambodia into civil war
 In 1975 – Khmer Rouge won civil war
 1979 – Vietnam invaded Cambodia; Set up new communist gov’t.
 Nixon under pressure at home – began to turn war over to SV
and withdraw US troops.
 Peace talks in Paris
 In January 1973 – Cease fire agreement reached
 1974 – Last of US Troops left.
 Result (by April 1975)– NV & SV became one, Communist, Vietnam
Space Race
 1957 – Soviets launch Sputnik I into space – 1st satellite
 1961 – USSR sent first human into space to circle the
Earth
 US formed NASA and began their own space program
to keep up with (or surpass) the Soviets
 Congress approved funds for NASA
 US strove to become the leader in space travel
 July 20, 1969 – Neil Armstrong – 1st human to walk on
the moon
Cold War – Winds Down
 US had refused to recognize Mao Zedong’s communist




government in China (since 1949)
US recognized the Chinese Nationalists – now on
island Taiwan.
US gave arms and aid to the Nationalists & supported
their claim to being the legitimate government in
China.
1972 – Nixon visited mainland China
1979 – US and China finally established diplomatic
relations (tension had eased to allow this)
Cold War – Détente
 Détente – Lessening of tensions (specifically between
the superpowers – US & USSR)
 May 1972 – Nixon visits the USSR (1st President to do so
since start of Cold War) – Détente in play
 Détente led superpowers to sign SALT Agreement –
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
Cold War – Détente Challenged
 1979 – Soviets invaded Afghanistan – sent there to set
up a pro-Soviet government that had just seized power.
 US condemned the invasion
 President Carter withdrew SALT II Treaty from Senate
approval hearings and the US boycotted the 1980
Summer Olympic Games in Moscow.
 Eventually, Soviets couldn’t afford to stay in
Afghanistan and withdrew troops in 1989.
Cold War
(Spend that money! See who wins this thing!)
 In 1970s – US started cutting back military budget
 Some believed we needed less weapons due to détente
 Others believed US was still at risk – spending should
continue
 Ronald Reagan (1981) – Pushed for higher levels of
military spending.
 Caused USSR to spend more money (Arms Race
continued)
 1987 – US & USSR signed Intermediate-Range Nuclear
Forces (INF) Treaty – limit medium-range nuclear
arms.
Cold War
(Spend that money! See who wins this thing!)
 Reagan’s tough stand against Communism and the
Soviets – spending extraordinary amounts of money
on defense – led the Soviets into so much debt that
they couldn’t provide for Soviet citizens.
 People within the Soviet Union started to revolt.
 Mikhail Gorbachev (came to power in 1985) – Glasnost
policy – allowed people to talk openly without attack by
the government.
Soviet Union Breaks Apart
USSR broke apart in 1991
 Commonwealth of Independent States (Russia, Belarus,
Ukraine) formed
 15 New Republics formed: Germany (unified), Poland, Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia,
Bosnia/Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria,
Albania, Macedonia
 US emerged as the leading nation of power in the
world.
 Has led to struggles – Should US use power to help
others gain independence? US became a target to “take
down” by nationalist groups (like al-Qaeda)
Also During the Cold War
Throughout the World
 Independence Movements were happening all around
the world – primarily on the Asian & African
continent.
 US & USSR would try to ally with those newly forming
countries.
 Some accepted the help of one or the other, allying with
one or the other.
 Some accepted help from both, but would not ally with
either.
 This allowed the US & USSR to increase their pull &
influence worldwide.
During the Cold War in US
 Civil Rights Movement
 1954 – Brown v. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas Supreme
Court decision ends segregation in schools. (Over-turns
Plessy v. Ferguson)
 1955 – Montgomery, AL bus boycott begins
 1957 – President Eisenhower sends in National Guard soldiers
to Little Rock, Arkansas to help 9 black students enroll in a
white school.
 1961 – “Freedom Rides” and other peaceful protests happen
throughout the South.
 1964 – Civil Rights Act is passed; MLK, Jr wins Nobel Peace
Prize
 1968 – MLK, Jr is assassinated in Memphis, TN.
During
the
Cold
War
in
US
 While in the early 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement
focused on voting rights, winning economic rights became
the focus in the late 1960s.
 Women’s Rights Movement – 1960s & 70s
 Betty Friedan – Feminine Mystique – Described how society
pressured women to remain in the home and reject a
career.
 Women’s Liberation Movement
 Women examined personal lives
 Led to a movement for social and political change in
workplace, education, and in politics.
 Argued for rights like equal pay for equal work, less
governmental interference in private lives, and fairness of
women seeking political office or high achievement in
academics.
During the Cold War in US
 Counterculture Movement
 Children of postwar “Baby Boom” – young adults
 Followers pushed for equal rights for AfricanAmericans, women and other minorities.
 Followers were against the Vietnam War (Doves)
 450,000 young people from all over US went to
Woodstock Music & Art Fair (1969)
 Peace, Love, & Rock-n-Roll – Hippies & Flower Children.
 Counterculture politics tended to be very liberal –
Libertarian – hardly any rules.