Download The Cold War

The Cold War
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Vocabulary
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Capitalism – Economic competition; You get to keep
what you earn; if you don’t earn anything its on you.
Communism – Government makes sure everyone has
what they need; government controls economy.
Blockade – Military operation designed to block goods
from going in or out of a country
Guerilla War – War fought off of the battlefield; not
conventional (normal) rules for battle.
Proxy War – Countries, supported by opposing
superpowers, fighting each other (typical of cold war)
Superpower – The most powerful, large and important
country or countries.
Containment – Stopping the spread of something.
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Basic Explanation
of the Cold War
 The
cold war was a competition between US
and the USSR for power and influence in the
world, characterized by military, political,
and technological struggles.
 USA and USSR never directly fought each
other in a physical war.
 Began in 1945 (with end of WWII) and
lasted until 1991 (collapse of Soviet Union)
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Cold War Origins
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After World War II ended, the
Allies (Britain, France, Soviet
Union and United States) had to
rebuild Europe
The two major powers with
influence in Europe were The
United States and the Soviet
Union
Each of them wanted different
things for the future of Europe
and the world
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Different Goals
United States wanted to…
 Encourage democracy
 Trade with Eastern
Europe and spread
capitalism
 Rebuild and reunite
Germany; allowing a
strong Germany to
create a lasting peace
Soviet Union wanted to…
 Encourage communism
 Use Eastern Europe to help
rebuild Soviet economy
 Control Eastern Europe to
balance US power over
Western Europe
 Keep Germany divided and
weak as a punishment for
waging two wars against
Soviets in 30 years
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Germany After WWII
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Germany defeated in WWII
Divided into 4 districts
Each ally controlled a district
3 had democracy and
freedoms like free speech
(French, American, British)
1 had less freedom and
communist system of
economy (Soviet)
Berlin (capitol of Germany)
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was in Soviet District
Europe Divided
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Much like with Germany, All of Europe soon became
divided over loyalty to the United States and our
system of capitalism and democracy OR loyalty to
the Soviet Union and communism.
Eastern Europe – became dominated by Soviet
political and economic Influence
Western Europe – was mostly loyal to the United
States, democracy and capitalism
This division line of Soviet dominance of Eastern
Europe was known as the “IRON CURTAIN”
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The Iron Curtain
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NATO vs. Warsaw Pact
NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
 Founded by U.S. and U.S. allies in 1949
 Purpose was to defend free countries from
Soviet invasion/attack.
 West Germany (Allied districts) joined in 1955
 Still exists today
Warsaw Pact
 Founded by Soviet Union & their allies in 1955
 Purpose was to defend members from USA
 Ended in 1991 with fall of Soviet Union
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Two Superpowers
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The United States and the
Soviet Union became the two
most powerful nations in the
world
Known as “Superpowers”
Until the collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991 these
two nations were always
“battling” each other in
different ways
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Truman Doctrine
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Harry S. Truman became President
when FDR died.
In 1947 President Truman declared
that Communism and the Soviet
Union were a threat to the United
States & world.
He said that from then on the U.S.
must intervene around the world to
“contain” the communist threat
Containment: not allowing
communism to spread to any new
countries.
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Quick Quiz
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Give a basic explanation of the Cold War. When did it start?
End?
Who were the two Superpowers after World War II? What did
each want for Europe (3)?
How was Germany divided after World War II? Give at least
FOUR details.
How was Europe Divided? Explain Eastern vs. Western
loyalties.
Explain the meaning of the “Iron Curtain”
Tell me THREE things EACH about NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
Explain the Truman Doctrine. FOUR facts.
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Significant Cold War Events
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Chinese Civil War
Berlin Blockade/Air Lift
Korean War
McCarthyism
Cuba and the Cold War
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Space Race
Vietnam War
The Cold War Relaxes (Détente and Salt)
Cold War Ends
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Chinese Civil War
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1946-1950
Had begun before WII but stopped because
China was fighting Japan.
After WWII Chinese Civil War was between
the Nationalists and Communists
Nationalists supported by U.S.
Communists supported by U.S.S.R.
Nationalists lost and fled to Taiwan
Communists won and found the People’s
Republic of China, which Still exists today.
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Berlin Blockade/Air Lift
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June, 1948 – May, 1949
Berlin is capitol city of Germany and was located in
Soviet district after WWII. Like the rest of Germany, the
city was also divided into 4 districts after WWII
East Berlin – controlled by U.S.S.R.
West Berlin – The 3 Districts controlled by France, Britain
and U.S.A.
The Blockade: Soviet Union blocked food and supplies to
West Berlin to tried and take over the whole city
The Airlift: U.S. dropped food and supplies in by plane
and eventually the blockade ended.
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In 1961, Soviets built a wall separating East and West
Berlin. The Berlin Wall was destroyed in 1990 and the city
was unified again.
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Berlin Wall
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Korean War
June, 1950 - July,1953
 WWII had left Korea divided into North
(Communist) and South (Capitalist)
 In 1950 the North attacked the South starting
the Korean war
 U.S. supported South Korea
 China (Soviet Ally) supported North Korea
 By 1953, U.S. troops were able to repel North
Korean troops and keep South Korea free from
communism
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McCarthyism
Roughly 1950-1956
 Senator Joseph McCarthy (R) Wisconsin
 Believed communists had infiltrated United States
government & society
 Put people on trial in congress for having
“communist ties”
 Often accused people of these ties with little
evidence – Witch hunt.
 Caused a “red scare” or fear among Americans that
communists and soviet spies were everywhere. 21
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Cuba & the Cold War
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Roughly 1956-1962
Starting in 1956 rebel leader Fidel
Castro began a guerilla war against U.S.
backed dictator Fulgencio Batista
Fidel Castro and the communists won
this war in 1959 and Cuba welcomed
assistance from the Soviet Union
Communism was at America’s doorstep
Bay of Pigs - invasion of Cuba ordered
by President Kennedy in 1960 to get rid
of Fidel Castro – it was NOT successful.
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Cuban Missile Crisis
October, 1962
 Soviet Union put nuclear missiles into Cuba just 228
miles from Miami, Florida
 Closest USA and Soviets ever came to nuclear war
with each other
 President Kennedy (USA) and Nikita Khruschev
(USSR) were able to find a secret compromise to end
crisis
 Soviets removed missiles in exchange for U.S.
promise to never invade Cuba and remove missiles
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from Turkey within six months
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The Space Race
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Roughly 1961-1969
In 1961 Soviet radio said that the
gov. there had launched the
worlds first spaceship – Vostok
U.S. was stunned and President
Kennedy launched U.S. Space
Program
Goal was to get a man on the
moon before the end of the
1960s – and before the Soviets!
U.S. put first man on moon July
20th 1969
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Vietnam War
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Roughly 1950-1973
After WWII, Vietnam was French colony; after France left,
two different governments took over
North Vietnam – Communist led by Ho Chi Minh
South Vietnam – Anti-communist led by Ngo Dinh Diem
U.S. Supported South in their fight against Northern gov.
and communist guerilla warriors in South called Viet-Cong
U.S. lost over 58,000 servicemen trying to stop the spread
of communism in South Vietnam – America had enough.
U.S. troops withdrew in August of 1973. The Communist
government of North Vietnam then beat the south and
reunified Vietnam in 1976.
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The Cold War Relaxes
1972-1991
 The policy of détente was thought up by President
Nixon and his Secretary or State Henry Kissinger
 Détente was about easing tension with the Soviet
Union and China (the other major communist
power) by agreeing to disagree on certain issues
 The Salt I and Salt II (Strategic Arms Limitation
Talks) were both agreements on how many
missiles the U.S. and U.S.S.R. would launch.
 Nixon Even Visited Communist China in 1972
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Nixon Visits China
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Cold War Ends
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1991 – Soviet Union fell apart
1992 – Cold War officially ends
Many people ruled by the Soviet
Union rebelled and demanded
change – helped cause collapse.
Boris Yeltsin (President of Russia)
and George Bush (President of
U.S.A.) declared the end of the
Cold War and a new era of
“friendship and partnership”
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Quick Quiz
Explain FIVE facts about each of the following important Cold War
events.
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Chinese Civil War
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Berlin Blockade/Air Lift
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Korean War
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McCarthyism
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Cuba and the Cold War
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Cuban Missile Crisis
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The Space Race
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Vietnam War
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The Cold War Relaxes (Détente and Salt)
10. Cold War Ends
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