Chapter 28 – The Cold War Era 1945-1991

1. Chapter 28 –The Cold War Era1945-1991 Section 3 – Cold War Battlegrounds

2. Emerging Nations • Many nations in Africa and Asia had been colonies before World War II. After the war ended, they demanded independence. Review: Korea? • Often, communist rebels would try to get rid of foreign control. • Khrushchev (?) promised support for “wars of national liberation” • US, in trying to CONTAIN communism, faced choices: • Should the US help a government with a military dictator who was threatened by communism? • Should the US send troops into other countries to influence what happened inside those countries?

3. Emerging Nations, continued • The Philippines • July 4, 1946, US gave independence to the Philippines. Why July 4th? • A few rich Filipinos owned most of the land • Many wanted the land divided more equally • Fighting started; some of the rebels were communists • 1954 – gov’t defeated the rebels and began making reforms • 1965 – Ferdinand Marcos became President of the Philippines. That government became less democratic. • India and Southeast Asia • 1947 – India won independence from England. (Gandhi). Because of religious differences, they became two countries – India and Pakistan. • Both US and USSR tried to win support from these countries • Because it felt threatened by the USSR to its north, Pakistan became an ally of the US. • India accepted aid from both but remained neutral in the Cold War. India led a group of neutral countries that asked both sides to stop their arms race. • Many countries became independent from England • Indonesia became independent from the Netherlands • In Indochina, nationalists fought for independence from France beginning in 1945. That fight lasted 30 years and eventually involved the US. (?) Next section.

4. Emerging Nations, continued • African Nations • After WWII, Africans demanded independence from European rule. • By 1970 (25 years after WWII), more than 30 independent countries had been formed. • Most political differences within these emerging countries were based on tribal loyalties. • Both the US and USSR wanted support from these countries. They offered military and economic aid to countries, or the tribal groups within countries. • In East Africa, US supported Somalia and the USSR supported Ethiopia in a long war. • In southern Africa, Angola’s communist government were challenged by rebels supported by the US.

5. Latin America and the Cold War Just imagine a person thinking he can actually do something about world hunger, poverty, illiteracy, or disease. These are not ‘just’ problems, but problems the size of mountains, yet the average Peace Corps volunteer believes he can do his part by chipping away at those mountains . . . one person at a time. A Peace Corps volunteer • Review: In the early 1900s, how did US treat Latin America? • Cold War led US to go back to interfering • Review: Cuba – Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis (why important?) • Economic Issues • Population grew • Not enough jobs, schools, hospitals • Poor people looked for work in cities • Some lived in cardboard shacks with no heat, light or water – what’s that sound like? • Communists pointed out that a small number of rich people owned most of the land in Latin America. Said land should be divided more equally. • American corporations made large profits from Latin American businesses and paid workers very low wages. • Reformers wanted stronger regulation of these companies. • Communists wanted the government to take over these companies. • American Aid • US leaders hoped American aid would help Latin American countries become more democratic, ease the lives of the people, AND keep the communists from taking control. • President Kennedy – • Alliance for Progress – helped build schools and hospitals, improve farming, and win reform • Peace Corps – US volunteers go to Latin America and other developing countries. They live with the local people for 2 years, teaching or giving technical advice. • Organization of American States (OAS) – US supported this organization of Latin American countries which invested in transportation and industry.

6. Latin America and the Cold War, continued • Military Intervention • 1950-1990 – American troops sent to Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Panama, Grenada • US often supported military dictators there because they were anticommunist • US became unpopular in Latin America again. 1958 – VP Richard Nixon toured 8 Latin American countries and people through eggs and stones at his car. • Nicaragua • 1979 – Communist government took over and won an election in 1984 • Rebels were known as the Contras (Spanish?) • President Reagan supported the Contras but Congress passed a law making it illegal to give military aid to the Contras. • People on the President’s staff arranged illegal weapons sales to Iran and used the profits to give military aid to the Contras. Iran-Contra Scandal. Some members of the Reagan administration went to jail. • El Salvador • Pres. Reagan supported gov’t in a civil war even though it was brutal (why?) • Fighting lasted 12 years and cost more than 50,000 lives.