Download The Cold War Competition between the United States and the

The Cold War
Competition between the United States and the U.S.S.R. laid out the
foundation for the Cold War. The Cold War influenced the policies of
the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. towards other nations and conflicts around the world.
Beginning of the Cold War (1945-1948):
- Yalta Conference and Soviet control of Eastern Europe. The Yalta Conference of
1945 was when allied leaders divided Germany and Berlin into four zones that they
would occupy and administer.
- Rivalry between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
- Democracy and the free enterprise system v. dictatorship and communism.
- President Truman and the policy of containment. Containment is the policy of preventing
the expansion of communism. The domino theory is the belief that if one country in a region
fell to communism, its neighbors would also fall.
- Eastern Europe – Soviet satellite nations/the Iron Curtain.
The presence of nuclear weapons influenced patterns of conflict and cooperation since 1945.
The Soviet Union developed nuclear weapons in 1949. Each superpower developed more
and more weapons as a show of power. This led to deterrence in the end, because neither
side wanted to attack.
Characteristics of the Cold War (1945-1989):
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) v. the Warsaw Pact.
- The policy of Containment. The US adopted this policy to stop the spread of communism.
This policy would dictate many of the foreign relations during the Cold War.
- Korean Conflict. Korea was split between North and South. The Soviet Union controlled
the restructuring of the North and the Capitalists controlled the restructuring of the South.
When the communist North attempted to take over the South, The United Nations stepped in
to defend the South. The Korean War went on for about 3 years. Eventually, there was a
seize fire. A line was drawn between North and South at the 38th Parallel. The North
remained communist and the South remained capitalist.
- Vietnam War. This war was similar to the Korean War in the way Vietnam was divided
and the Communists tried to spread communism. The communists would
eventually win in Vietnam; Vietnam would unify under a communist flag.
- Berlin and significance of the Berlin Wall. Berlin was divided between the
capitalist countries and the Soviet Union. As the Capitalist side became
increasingly more prosperous than the communist side, a wall was put up. The
Berlin wall became a symbol of the Cold War and the division between East
and West.
- Cuban Missile Crisis. During the arms buildup, the closest that the
US and the Soviet Union came to nuclear war was during the Cuban
Missile Crisis. When Cuba became allies with the Soviet Union, the
Soviets began moving missiles into Cuba, which is close to Florida
(about 90 miles). The United States blockaded Cuba. There was a
standoff. Eventually, the Soviets pulled their missiles out of Cuba.
- Nuclear weapons and the theory of deterrence. Deterrence is the elimination of the use of
nuclear weapons through mutually assured destruction.
Japanese occupation of European colonies in Asia heightened demands for independence
after World War II. After World War II, the United States pursued a policy of containment
against communism. Containment is the policy of preventing the expansion of communism.
This policy included the development of regional alliance against Soviet and Chinese
aggression. The Cold War led to armed conflict in Korea and Vietnam.
Conflicts and Revolutionary Movements in China:
- Division of China into two nations at the end of the Chinese civil war. China
was split between the Communists and the Nationalists.
- Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) – Nationalist China (Island of Taiwan).
- Mao Tse-Tung (Mao Zedong) – Communist China (mainland China).
- Continuing conflict between the two Chinas. Civil war broke out in China.
Eventually, the Chinese Communists won.
- Communist China’s participation in Korean Conflict.
For fear of the spread of communism, the US fought to contain communism. The
US intervened, but was unsuccessful in stopping communism in Vietnam.
Eventually, Vietnam did unify as a communist country.
Conflicts of Revolutionary Movements in Vietnam:
- Role of French Imperialism. Vietnam was a French colony. Eventually, the Vietnamese
fought the French and France abandoned their colony.
- Leadership of Ho Chi Minh.
- Vietnam as a divided nation. Vietnam was split in two in 1954. The North
was supported by the Soviet Union and the South was capitalist and supported
by the United States.
- Influence of policy of containment. The North, led by Ho Chi Minh, began
raids to take over the South unify Vietnam as a communist country.
- The United States in the Vietnam War.
- Vietnam as a reunited communist country today.
The End of the Cold War
Internal Problems of the Soviet Union:
Communism failed as an economic system in the Soviet Union and elsewhere. Both internal
and external pressures led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union spent an
increasing amount of money and resources to compete with the U.S. There were great
amounts of economic inefficiencies, causing budget and management problems. Fast paced
reforms in the Soviet Union contributed to the instabilities.
Rising Nationalism in Soviet Republics led to Soviet satellites wanting to break away from
Soviet control.
Mikhail Gorbachev became the last premier/leader of the U.S.S.R. (19851991)
Gorbachev Brought about 2 Reforms:
“Glasnost”: It encouraged people to discuss public issues in order to do away
with communist corruption. Before this, many issues in the Soviet Union
were closed off.
“Perestroika”: It was an economic restructuring that encouraged individual enterprise to
stimulate the Soviet economy.
Gorbachev’s policies loosened tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States.
This relaxation is called Détente. Gorbachev is credited by many as the man who helped
bring an end to the Cold War.
Role of President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) in the Collapse of the Soviet Union:
Ronald Reagan challenged moral legitimacy of the Soviet Union. He referred to the Soviet
Union as an “Evil Empire.” He gave a speech at the Berlin Wall saying “Mr. Gorbachev, tear
down this wall.”
The communists started building the Berlin Wall in 1961. It was built to
prevent people in East (communist) Berlin from escaping into West Berlin
(capitalist/free). The Berlin Wall, for many, was a symbol of Soviet
oppression.
Reagan increased U.S. military and economic pressure on the Soviet
Union. Reagan had a conservative economic policy. Reagan urged
Congress to appropriate money for the Strategic Defense Initiative (also
referred to as “Star Wars”). It was a computerized system designed to
destroy missiles before they could reach the U.S.
Collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union
and Eastern Europe:
- Soviet economic collapse.
- Nationalism in Warsaw Pact countries.
- Tearing down of the Berlin Wall.
- Breakup of the Soviet Union.
- Expansion of NATO.
World leaders made major contributions to events in the second half of the twentieth century.
Indira Gandhi:
- First and only female prime minister of India (1966-1977 and 1980 to
1984). No relation to Mohandas Gandhi.
- Women’s rights expanded under her leadership.
- Closer relationship between India and the Soviet Union during the Cold
War.
- Developed a nuclear program.
- Eventually, she was killed by Sikhs in retaliation for military action.
Margaret Thatcher:
- British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990.
- Free trade and less government regulations of business.
- Close relationship with the United States and U.S. foreign policy.
- Openly criticized the Soviet Union.
- Asserted United Kingdom’s military power.
- Reduced welfare programs and returned governmentowned industries to private ownership.
Den Xiaoping:
- Leader after the death of Mao Tse-tung in 1976.
- Leader of the Communist Party of China who became a reformer
who led China towards market economics.
- Reformed communist economy to market economy leading to
rapid growth.
- Massacre at Tiananmen Square. Protestors, asking for democracy,
were killed by the military.
- Communist control of government continued.
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