Download Unit Outline – The Cold War

American Studies
Mr. Mintzes
Unit Outline – The Cold War (1945-1960s)
End of World War II:
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February 1945 – Big Three (Roosevelt, Churchill & Stalin) meet at Yalta. Discuss peace
terms for Germany and divide up Europe.
Germany divided in 4 occupation zones (US, British, French & Soviet)
Allies agree to replace the League of Nations with The United Nations
April 1945: 50 nations agree to form the United Nations – Unlike the League of Nations,
this time US membership is approved by the Senate
- first headquarters is in Flushing Meadows. Permanent HQ is then built on the east side
of Manhattan on the East River – land donated by the Rockefeller family
July 1945 – Potsdam Conference – western allies agree to Soviet control of Eastern
Europe. Stalin claims Russia needs a buffer zone of protection against Germany.
July 16, 1945 – “nuclear age” begins with the first atomic explosion at Alamogordo, New
Mexico – bomb first used in warfare on 8/6/45 at Hiroshima, Japan. Used a 2nd time on
8/9/45 on Nagasaki. 8/9/45: USSR invades Manchuria – declaring war on Japan on same
day. Russian troops take Manchuria and North Korea.
Post War Activities:
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War Crimes Trials: Advancing allied troops discover death camps and evidence of the
Holocaust – genocide practiced by Nazis
Allies set up War Crimes Tribunal to put Nazi leaders on trial for “Crimes against
humanity” – Trials held at Nuremberg, Germany (site of Hitler’s huge pre-war rallies) 22
were tried – 19 found guilty – some executed while others sent to prison.
War crimes trials in Japan try some Japanese leaders and generals for war crimes in
China and Philippines in particular. All were found guilty – many were executed.
Occupation of Europe:
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Allies set up government in Germany to start to re-establish German self-government
USSR maintains control over the countries in Eastern Europe it liberated during the war
and keeps them as satellites – so called because of their dependence on Russia. Erect
fences to keep refugees in
Iron Curtain: Winston Churchill gives Iron Curtain speech in Missouri – states that an
Iron Curtain (referring to the barbed wire fences) has descended on Europe.
Soviet Expansion and US Policies:
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Soviet backed rebels try to take control of Greece.
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Soviets pressure Turkey and Iran in order to gain access to the Mediterranean and more
control of the Black Sea.
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Truman Doctrine: US aids Greece, Turkey and Iran. President Truman states that US
will support all “free peoples” resisting takeover by outside forces or by revolutions
supported by Communist countries.
Marshall Plan: Truman introduced the Marshall Plan – named for and headed by US
Secretary of State George Marshall. US said it would fund domestic recovery plans in
European countries. Communist countries refused by US sent billions of dollars in aid to
western democracies.
- Western Europe recovered from the War much faster then the East.
Point Four Plan: US gave technical assistance and financial aid to developing countries
in Asia, Africa and Latin America to keep them democratic – or non-communist.
Containment: Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan and Point Four Program made up policy
of containment – designed to block Soviet expansion into areas that had been free of
communism in 1945 – US will ot allow communism to expand any further
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Berlin Blockade & Berlin Airlift:
1948 – USSR tries to test Western resolve in Germany – cuts off the roads and rail lines
into West Berlin – tries to force Berlin into East Germany.
- Allies respond with airlift of food and fuel to keep the city supplied.
- fly in as much as 7,000 tons per tons per day to keep city alive
- after 11 months the Soviets lift the blockade – major “cold war” victory for the Allies
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Military Alliances form:
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization – formed in 1949 by 12 Western nations
- designed to resist Soviet aggression in Europe – “attack on one is an attack on all”
- thousands of US troops remain stationed in West Germany to protect against Soviet
attack
Warsaw Pact: Formed by USSR and its Easter European satellites to resist NATO
aggression in Europe. Fell apart in 1991.
Arms Race and Space Race:
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1949 – USSR explodes its first Atomic bomb
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1950’s – US and USSR develop Hydrogen bombs
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1950s and 1960s – US and USSR develop IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile)
and ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) capable of carrying large nuclear warheads
anywhere in the world.
- both east and west practice policy of “deterrent” and of “MAD” mutually assured
destruction, in order to keep the peace.
- both east and west boas of “overkill” capacity
- US and USSR in particular conduct hundreds of nuclear tests – above ground until test
ban treaty signed – and then underground. Fallout from tests has long term impact not
yet fully known.
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Space Race: October, 1957: USSR launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, into
earth orbit – begins the space race. US space program was far behind the Soviets.
1958 - the United States launches its first satellite, Explorer I
1959 - The Soviet Union launches Luna 2. This is the first space probe to hit the moon
1961 - Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person to orbit the Earth.
1963 - John Glenn, Jr. becomes the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.
1968 - US launches Apollo 8, the first manned space mission to orbit the moon
1969 – Apollo 11, with Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin land on the Moon –
Armstrong is first man to walk on the moon.
Landing on the Moon signifies that the US won the Space Race
Espionage: Spying on each other becomes major weapon in Cold War – both sides plant
agents & double agents, undermine governments, steal secrets, etc. US=C.I.A.; USSR=
KGB, England-MI 5 & MI 6, Israel=Mossad
Cold War in Developing Countries
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Western allies and Soviet bloc in competition for countries in “third world”
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“Democratic” fronts formed in many African and Latin American countries as well as in
Southeast Asia
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Eastern and Western alliances supplied money and arms to both sides in many
revolutions and civil wars
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US supports virtually any government that pledges it will resist communism. As a result
the US loses the support of people in many countries as it supports dictators.
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Major hot spots in cold war: Middle East (Israel and neighboring Arab countries) Congo,
Angola, Nicaragua, Cuba, Chile
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1980 – USSR sends troops to Afghanistan to assist communist government there – gets
involved in guerilla was against Muslim guerillas reminiscent of US experience in
Vietnam.
Korean War: June 1950 – North Koreans invade South Korea – cross the 38th Parallel
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US sends troops to aid South Korea
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UN condemns North Korean aggression – sends multi-national force to fight
North
Koreans –
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After North Koreans driven back Communist China intervenes with 800,000 troops.
Drives back UN. Line stabilizes for next 2 years – armistice signed in July, 1953. War
does not officially end until 1996 when South and North agree to peace
Vietnam War:
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After WW II the French are driven from Indochina by Viet Minh communist led by Ho
Chi Minh – aided by USSR
Vietnam remains as North and South. In late 1950s and early 1960s Communist guerilla
movement in South (Viet Cong) grows in power and control, aided by North and by
USSR. US sends advisors to S. Vietnam and troops to fight. War continues until 1975
when Saigon falls to North Vietnam.
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US reasons for fighting war based upon “Domino Theory” that if one country in SE Asia
falls to communists then so will the next and so on and so on.
Eastern Europe:
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Popular uprisings to Soviet rule occur in Hungary in 1956, in Poland and in
Czechoslovakia -n 1968. All are put down by Russian tanks and troops when negotiations
cannot persuade democratic reformers to “give up.” US and western allies ignore please
for help and support from Hungarians and Czechs.
Cuba – Cuban Missile Crisis
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Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba – aligns himself with USSR
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US cuts off all trade with Cuba – illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba
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Failed invasion by Cuban refugees aided by CIA (“Bay of Pigs”) increase Castor fear of
invasion by US
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Castro allows USSR to place IRBMs in Cuba – missiles can hit almost anywhere in US
without allowing time for any warning - October, 1962: Missiles are discovered by US
spy planes – US demands they be withdrawn – US declares “quarantine” of Cuba – sets
up naval blockade – threatens to sink any Russian ships bringing missiles to Cuba.
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Nikita Khrushchev agrees to withdraw missiles – US in return agrees to pull IRBMs from
Turkey
Berlin and Berlin Wall
Thousands of East Berliners cross in West Berlin and do not return – escape to West for
better life – many are best educated in E. Germany
1961: E. Germany builds a wall in Berlin to separate East from West and to keep East
Germans in. Wall becomes a symbol of lack of freedom in East vs the freedoms and
economic prosperity of West.
1961: Pres. Kennedy goes to Berlin – makes famous “I am a Berliner” speech to show
that US and NATO will protect Berlin and Germany from Soviets
Wall torn down in 1989 when East Germany “falls”
Economic differences:
Western economies, particularly in Germany and Japan, recover quickly from WWII
destruction because of US aid and construction of factories to replace those destroyed in
war.
Eastern economies – Soviet bloc – money spent on industrialization and on military
prevents development of consumer products industry – shortages of all forms of
consumer goods - lines for food and for clothing – long lines form when word gets out of
any type of “luxury item” in the stores.
USSR attempts to demonstrate the decadence of capitalist countries by showing US TV
in Russia – shows such as Brady Bunch, Leave it To Beaver, Happy Days, etc. instead
show Russian people the luxuries available to all Americans.
During 1980s the US intentionally steps up the arms race and increase military spending
in order to further damage the Soviet economy – forces Russian to match or exceed US
spending – policy “breaks” USSR and leads to collapse of Soviet Union in 1990
Cold War Culture:
People live under threat of nuclear war from early 1950s through late 1980s
Growth in peace movements and anti-nuclear movements in West – not allowed in East
Movies, particular in America, reflect cold war mentality – James Bond spy movies, “On
the Beach”, “Fail Safe”, “Dr. Strangelove”, “The Day After” – numerous books
published that tell about life in post-apocalyptic world ravaged by thermonuclear war.
Early Sci-fi and monster movies based on nuclear war or monsters that developed due to
atomic testing.
China: 1949 - Communists under Mao Tse Tsung (Mao Zedong) defeat Nationalist government
in China – Nationalists under Chang Kai Chek (Jiang Jieshi) retreat to Taiwan and
establish Republic of China.
Tensions between Taiwan and PRC (People’s Republic of China) continue to present day
over who is rightful rulers of China and Taiwan.
Chinese economy remains Communist – Taiwan is capitalist economy and a major trade
partner with the US.
US and PRC had no diplomatic relations until 1976 when US finally recognized PRC and
opened an embassy in Peking (Beijing)