Chapter 33: Restructuring the Postwar World, 1945-Present

1. Chapter 33: Restructuring the Postwar World, 1945-Present The United States and the Soviet Union vie for superiority, and both countries extend their control over other nations.

2. Cold War Timeline, 1946-1980

3. Allies Become Enemies • Yalta Conference: A Postwar Plan • In February 1945, British, American, and Soviet leaders meet at Yalta • They agree to divide Germany into zones of occupation when WWI ends • Soviet leader Stalin agrees to allow free elections in Eastern Europe

5. Allies Become Enemies • Creation of the United Nations • June 1945, 50 nations form the United Nations—an international organization • All members are represented in the General Assembly; 11 nations are on the Security Council • Five permanent members have Security Council veto power

6. Allies Become Enemies • Differing U.S. and Soviet Goals • U.S. and Soviets split sharply after WWII ends • U.S. is world’s richest and most powerful country after WWII • Soviets recovering from high war casualties and had many destroyed cities

7. Eastern Europe’s Iron Curtain • Soviets Build a Buffer • Soviets control Eastern European countries after World War II • Stalin installs Communist governments in several countries • Truman urges free elections; Stalin refuses to allow free elections • In 1946, Stalin says capitalism and communism cannot co-exist

9. Eastern Europe’s Iron Curtain • An Iron Curtain Divides East and West • Germany is divided; East Germany is Communist, West Germany democratic • Iron Curtain—Winston Churchill’s name for the division of Europe

11. Churchill, Truman, and Stalin at the Potsdam Conference

12. Fence alone the East/West Border in Germany

13. The nations on the eastern side of the “Iron Curtain” were known as the Eastern Bloc

14. Preserved section of the border between East Germany and West Germany called the "Little Berlin Wall" at Mödlareuth

15. United States Tries to Contain Soviets • Containment • Containment—U.S. plan to stop the spread of communism • The Truman Doctrine • Truman Doctrine—U.S. supports countries that reject communism • Congress approves Truman’s request for aid to Greece and Turkey

16. United States Tries to Contain Soviets • The Marshall Plan • Much of Western Europe lay in ruins after World War II • Marshall Plan—U.S. program of assisting Western European countries • Congress approves plan after Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia

17. United States Tries to Contain Soviets • The Berlin Airlift • In 1948, U.S., Britain, and France withdraw forces from West Germany • Their former occupation zones form one country • Soviets oppose this, stop land and water traffic into West Berlin • West Berlin, located in Soviet occupation zone, faces starvation • U.S. and Britain fly in supplies for 11 months until the blockade ends

18. Routes of Berlin Airlift

20. The Cold War Divides the World • The Cold War • Cold-War—struggle of U.S. and Soviet Union using means short of war • Superpowers Form Rival Alliances • In 1949, U.S., Canada, and West European countries form NATO • NATO—North Atlantic Treaty Organization—is a defensive military alliance • In 1955, Soviets and Eastern nations sign the Warsaw Pact alliance • In 1961, Soviets build the Berlin Wall to separate East and West Berlin

21. NATO Warsaw Pact and Non-aligned nations

22. Warsaw Pact Nations • Note: Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia is forced out of the Warsaw Pact in 1948

23. The Cold War Divides the World • The Threat of Nuclear War • Soviet Union explodes its first atomic bomb in 1949 • U.S. and Soviet Union both develop the more powerful hydrogen bomb • Brinkmanship—policy of willingness to go to the edge of war • Increasing tensions lead to military buildup by U.S. and the Soviets

24. The Cold War Divides the World • The Cold War in the Skies • In 1957, Soviets launch Sputnik, first unmanned satellite. THE SPACE RACE BEGINS! • In 1960, Soviets shoot down American spy plane (a U-2), increasing tensions

26. A replica of Sputnik 1

27. U-2 spy plane similar to the one shot down over the U.S.S.R.

28. Francis Gary Powers with a model of a U-2 spy plane.

29. Wreckage of Gary Powers’ U-2

30. The Two Chinas Affect the Cold War • The Superpowers React • U.S. supports Nationalist state in Taiwan, called Republic of China • Soviets and China agree to help each other in event of attack • U.S. tries to stop Soviet expansion and spread of communism in China

31. 33.3 Wars in Korea and Vietnam In Asia, the Cold War flares into actual wars supported mainly by the superpowers.

32. War in Korea • A Divided Land • 38th parallel—line dividing Korea into North Korea and South Korea

34. War in Korea • Standoff at the 38th Parallel • In 1950, North Koreans invade South Korea with Soviet support • South Korea requests UN assistance; 15 nations send troops • Douglas MacArthur—leads UN forces against North Koreans • North Koreans controls most of the peninsula when MacArthur attacks • Half of North Korea’s army surrenders, the rest retreat

35. War in Korea • The Fighting Continues • UN troops push North Koreans almost to Chinese border • Chinese send 300,000 troops against UN forces and capture Seoul • MacArthur calls for nuclear attack and is removed from command • In 1953, cease fire signed and border established at 38th parallel

36. War in Korea • Aftermath of the War • North Korea builds collective farms, heavy industry, nuclear weapons • South Korea establishes democracy, growing economy with U.S. aid

37. War Breaks Out in Vietnam • The Road to War • Ho Chi Minh—Vietnamese nationalist, later Communist leader • The Fighting Begins • In 1954, French surrender to Vietnamese after major defeat • Domino theory—U.S. theory of Communist expansion in Southeast Asia Ho Chi Minh

38. The War in Vietnam, 1957-1973 Note the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia

39. War Breaks Out in Vietnam • Vietnam—A Divided Country • International peace conference agrees on a divided Vietnam • Ngo Dinh Diem—leads anti-Communist government in South Vietnam • Vietcong—South Vietnamese Communist guerillas fighting against Diem Ngo Dinh Diem

40. Lyndon B. Johnson, the President of the United States from 1963 to 1970, makes a public statement on the Tonkin Gulf incident, August 4, 1964. When North Vietnam was said to have attacked two U.S. destroyers, Congress hastily passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, giving the president blanket authority to take necessary actions to protect U.S. forces. Subsequently, there have been serious questions as to what actually occurred in the Tonkin Gulf, but with vastly increased U.S. expenditures, the war quickly escalated; by 1969 the U.S. forces totaled almost 550,000 individuals. There was much opposition to the war in the Congress and among the U.S. people, and Johnson's very considerable domestic policy achievements were overshadowed by the criticism of his war policy.

41. General William C. Westmoreland, McGeorge Bundy and General Kanh of South Vietnam, photographed at Camp Holloway, South Vietnam, in February 1965. Gen. Westmoreland commanded the U.S. troops in Vietnam 1964-68; Bundy was special assistant for national security to President Johnson from 1961 to 1966, and a key supporter of the Vietnam war.

42. The United States Gets Involved • U.S. Troops Enter the Fight • In 1964, U.S. sends troops to fight Viet Cong and North Vietnamese • U.S. fights guerilla war defending increasingly unpopular government • Vietcong gains support from Ho Chi Minh, China, and Soviet Union

43. The United States Gets Involved • The United States Withdraws • War grows unpopular in the U.S.; in 1969, Nixon starts withdrawing troops • Vietnamization—Nixon’s plan to withdraw U.S. from war gradually • Last U.S. troops leave in 1973; South Vietnam overrun in 1975

44. Nixon appeared on television January 23, 1973, to announce the ceasefire. The agreement ended nearly 12 years of warfare in which 58,000 Americans had lost their lives. It did not contain an enforceable plan for the peaceable settlement of Vietnam's internal problems; within a year, fighting there had resumed. Eventually, the South Vietnamese government of Thieu was defeated by the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) of South Vietnamese communist rebels and North Vietnamese troops. Even had Nixon wished to intervene, Congress passed, over his veto, a ''War Powers Act'' that gave Congress the power to prevent him from acting without its consent - a consent that Congress would have been unwilling to extend in 1974 or 1975.

45. Postwar Southeast Asia • Cambodia in Turmoil • Khmer Rouge—Communist rebels who take control of Cambodia in 1975 • They slaughter 2 million people; overthrown by Vietnamese invaders • In 1993, Cambodia adopts democracy, holds elections with UN help Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Communist Party, literally “Red Khmers”) in 1977 at the height of his power

46. Postwar Southeast Asia • The Killing Fields were a number of sites in Cambodia where large numbers of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule of the country from 1975 to 1979, immediately after the end of the Vietnam War.

47. Postwar Southeast Asia • At least 200,000 people were executed by the Khmer Rouge (while estimates of the total number of deaths resulting from Khmer Rouge policies, including disease and starvation, range from 1.4 to 2.2 million out of a population of around 7 million). A commemorative stupa filled with the skulls of the victims.

48. Choung Ek Killing Field: The bones of young children who were killed by Khmer Rouge soldiers.

49. Mass grave in Choeung Ek.

50. Postwar Southeast Asia • Vietnam after the War • Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam united as Communist nation • About 1.5 million people flee Vietnam, some settling in the U.S. and Canada • In 1995, United States normalizes relations with Vietnam