Download Cold War DBQ - White Plains Public Schools / Overview

Cold War DBQ
Outside of U.S and U.S.S.R
The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical,
ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after
World War II between the global superpowers of the Soviet
Union and the United States, supported by their respective
and emerging alliance partners. Although the Cold War
affected the U.S. and USSR, their allies and the “Third
World” also experience dramatic changes and effects. Both
sides aided in “proxy wars” throughout the globe
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giving the president…war-making powers
in the absence of a declaration of war.
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Usually its congress which declares
war(Viet Nam)
Senator Wayne Morse, one of only two senators to vote
against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
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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
That iron curtain once again
Winston Churchill (March 5 1946,
Westminster College Missouri
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policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting
attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures
All of this serves as a pretext for
economic aid, proxy wars or supporting
favorable leaders
President Harry Truman, 1947
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A freely elected government in any of the
Eastern European countries would be antiSoviet and we cannot allow that.
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Soviet political policy of choosing Communist
leaders from Moscow’s Politburo (Kremlin)
-Joseph Stalin (Soviet
Leader speech 1946
Iran’s evolution topples the Western Backed leader Shah Reza
Pevlavi who often limited Shiite religious freedoms in the place of
Western education for women, style dress and consumerism (for
oil)

Ayatollah Khomeini, supreme ruler
of Iran after 1979 REvolution
(speech to the faithful)
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India was a member of the non-allignment nations who did not wish to
side with 1st or 2nd worlds for fear of conflict.
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witnessed two tragedies which have powerfully affected men and women
all over the world. These are the tragedies in Egypt (Suez Crisis) and
Hungary (1956 Revolution). But even these tragedies have one hopeful
aspect, for they have demonstrated that the most powerful countries
cannot revert to old colonial methods or impose their domination over
weak countries.
Jewaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister
of India, 1956
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Cuba had been an ally of the Soviet Union after its Revolution and the Soviet
response to U.S Missiles in Turkey was the positioning of them in Cuba (15 miles
form the U.S)
has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet
military buildup on the island of Cuba. Within the past
week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that
a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on
that imprisoned island
John F. Kennedy, Oct. 22, 1962
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The Marshall plan was an attempt at
economically financing post WWI countries to
keep them capitalist and democratic

Our policy is directed not against any country
or doctrine but against hunger, poverty,
desperation, and chaos. Its purpose should
be the revival of working economy in the
world so as to permit the emergence of
political and social conditions in which free
institutions can exist…
George C Marshall Secretary of
State, Speech to Congress 1947
Technology in the argument for capitalism. It breeds competitiveness
Innovation and “improvements”. From tactical (military purpose)
To practical ( everyday purpose) in “Western” areas
Velcro
Microwave oven
Microprocessor
Communication satellites
Bar codes
Supercomputers
Smoke detectors
Calculators
Arpanet
Teflon
Numerous plastics
Satellite dishes
GPS systems
Weather prediction
What do these cold war inventions
have top do with areas outside the
U.S?

Part of the U.S embargo on Cuba for
expropriating U.S held businesses

no products, technology, or services may be exported from the United States to Cuba, either
directly or through third countries, such as Canada or Mexico.
Importing Cuban-Origin Goods or Services-Goods or services of Cuban origin may not be imported
into the United States either directly or through third countries, such as Canada or Mexico. The
only exceptions are publications, artwork, or other informational materials

Why informational materials (U.S. propaganda?)

U.S. Department of the Treasury Cuban Assets Control
Regulations July, 1963

Soviet would financially support favorable
governments in Africa like the Congo,
Mozambique and Angola.
Soviet Ambassador to People’s Republic of Angola in a memo,
1975
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Gamel Nasser of Egypt whose nationalization of the Suez canal would prove a
battleground as he accepted aid by both the “West” as well as the Soviet Union

Anastasio Samoza the U.S backed dictator of Nicaragua or Augusto Pinochet of Chile
who arrested dissenters and ruled abusively and with impunity
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Shah Reza Pevlavi who nationlized Iran’s oil but was U.S backed due to theocratic
rule in Iran and the 1979 revolution toppling his leadership and installing theocratic
rule
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Osama Bin Laden whose Mujahadeen was financially supported by the U.S against
the war with the Soviets to illustrate the shifting sides of the cold war
Missing Voice