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The Cold War
The Cold War [1945-1991]:
An Ideological Struggle
Soviet &
Eastern Bloc
Nations
[“Iron Curtain”]
GOAL  spread worldwide Communism
METHODOLOGIES:
US & the
Western
Democracies
GOAL  “Containment”
of Communism & the
eventual collapse of the
Communist world.
1. Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]
2. Arms Race [nuclear escalation]
3. Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts
of Third World peoples [Communist govt. &
command economy vs. Democratic govt. & capitalist
economy]  “proxy wars”
4. Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]
T h e
C o l d
W a r
The COLD WAR was a period of strained relations between the
United States of America and the Soviet Union.
After World War II, Allied leaders divided Germany into four
sectors, with each of the major Allied powers occupying a sector
(area). The city of Berlin itself was similarly divided into four zones.
The Soviet zone of Germany eventually became EAST Germany – a
communist country – while the BRITISH, FRENCH, AND USA zones
became noncommunist WEST Germany.
The establishment of communist governments in EAST
Germany and other nations in EASTERN Europe reinforced
the belief of most Americans that the Soviet Union wanted
to spread communism around the world. It also set the
stage for the USA-Soviet power struggle that
dominated world politics for several decades.
THE UNITED NATIONS
PROVIDES HOPE
• Hopes for world peace
were high at the end of
the war.
• Formed in June of 1945.
• Unfortunately, the U.N.
soon became a forum
for competing
superpowers to
spread their influence
over others
NATO vs. WARSAW PACT
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization: defense
alliance among U.S. and
Europe against the Soviet
Union. Still exists. (Created
in 1949.)
Warsaw Pact: Defense
alliance among Soviet Union
and its satellite governments
in Eastern Europe. (Created
in 1955)
THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE
• President Truman had been
horrified at the pre-war Allied
policy of appeasement and was
determined to stand up to any
Soviet intimidation & stop
the growth of Communism.
• The Truman Doctrine in
March 1947 promised that the
USA “would support free
peoples who are resisting
overthrow by armed
minorities or by outside
pressures”.
• It signalled the end of
“isolationist” policies of the
United States.
THE MARSHALL PLAN
• Secretary of State George Marshall introduced the
Marshall Plan which reflected the strength of the US
economy and offered huge sums of money to
enable the war shattered economies of
Europe to rebuild and, by generating prosperity, to
reject the appeal of Communism.
• The Marshall Plan helped the countries of Western
Europe recover economically from the war. It also
discouraged the further spread of communism in
Europe (Domino Affect).
The Arms Race
• This title was given to the activity of
one’s country trying to build more
weapons than any other country. This
started with the invention of the
Atomic Bomb. Both the United States
and Russia believed that having the
most and strongest weapons would
keep them safe. People began to
build underground shelters to
protect themselves.
MCCARTHY LAUNCHES
“WITCH HUNT”
• The most famous antiCommunist activist of the
1950’s was Senator
Joseph McCarthy, a
Republican from Wisconsin
• McCarthy took advantage
of people’s concern
about Communism by
making unsupported claims
that 205 state department
members were Communists
MCCARTHY’S DOWNFALL
• Finally, in 1954 McCarthy
went too far……………….
• He accused
high
ranking Army
officers of being
Communists
• In the televised
proceedings McCarthy’s
bullying of
witnesses alienated
the national audience
• Three years later he died of
alcoholism at age 49
McCarthy’s attacking style
and utter lack of evidence led
to his downfall
THE KOREAN CONFLICT
North Korea and South Korea were
divided along the 38th parallel following WWII.
The War began with North Korea invading
South Korea. North Korea and its leader
Kim Il Sung were communist and supported
by the Soviet Union, and China. South
Korea and its leader Syngman Rhee were
supported by the United States. The UN
authorized sending troops into the region
under the command of U.S. general Douglas
“Domino Theory”
MacArthur.
CHINA JOINS THE FIGHT
• Just as it looked like the Americans were going
to score a victory in the North, then 1 million
Chinese soldiers joined the war on the side
of the North Koreans
• The fight between North and South Korea had
turned into a war in which the main
opponents were Chinese Communists
supported by the Soviet Union vs.
America
War ends in a Stalemate along the 38th Parallel
the war ends in a tie, nobody wins
To Summarize
The “Red Scare”, launched by
Senator Joe McCarthy, dominated
US politics for several years 194853 and helped pressure Truman into
the Korean War, a costly and
ultimately stalemated conflict.
Given the suddenness of the fall of
China, the development of the
Soviet bomb, and the shocking
performance of the Western secret
services, the level of panic was
understandable.
Sputnik I (1957)
The Russians have beaten America in
space—they have the technological edge!
On October 4, 1957
the Soviet Union
launched Sputnik a
communications
satellite, the first
man-made
object ever sent
into space. This
would kick off
the space race
accelerate
America’s push to
the MOON and
elevate Cold War
tensions
•
•
•
During the 1950’s a steady outflow of refugees
(immigrants) from East Germany( Soviet controlled)
moved into West Germany( Allies controlled),
primarily working age individuals.
* In November 1958, Soviet Premier Khrushchev issued an
ultimatum giving the Western powers six months to agree to
withdraw from Berlin and make it a free, demilitarized city.
The sides could not reach an agreement, so in the
spring and early summer months of 1961 the East
German regime stockpiled building materials for
the creation of the Berlin Wall.
1961 - Berlin Wall
• On August 15,
communist
authorities
begin
construction on
the Berlin Wall
to stop East
Germans from
trying to flee
to West Berlin.
On the November 9, 1989, the Border
separating Western from Eastern Germany
was effectively opened.
In the days that followed large
groups of individuals with their hands
and with machinery, started physically
tearing down the wall. The Fall of
the Berlin Wall AFTER STANDING
FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, will always
be used as a symbol for the end of
the Cold War.
Fall of the BERLIN WALL
Postwar Western Europe faced economic ruin and starving
people.
SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE C. MARSHALL proposed
the EUROPEAN RECOVERY
PROGRAM called the
MARSHALL PLAN.
The plan would give European nations American aid
(money) to rebuild. The plan was an effort to fight
hunger, poverty, & chaos.
The Soviet Union & its SATELLITE nations in Eastern
Europe rejected the offer & developed their own
economic program.
The MARSHALL PLAN gave billions of
dollars worth of supplies, machinery, & food to
WESTERN Europe, lessening the appeal of COMMUNISM
& opening new trade markets.
The following is a synopsis of the Cold War.
1.
Cold War – divided Berlin
2.
Truman Doctrine –contain communism – insure democracy to those who want democracy
3.
Marshall Plan - $$ to rebuild Europe – stop the spread of communism
4.
McCarthyism – unsupported claims of communists in the USA
5.
Arms RACE – start of Korean War- STALMATE, no clear winner
6.
Sputnik – Soviet Union 1st in Space, NASA created, emphasis on Math & Science in USA schools to catch up
7.
Berlin Wall – rise & fall, end of the Cold War – America wins – Symbolic Victory – Democracy over Communism
Politics, Cold War, and Science Fiction Space Exploration
“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”