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The Cold War

The Cold War. -WWII? KABOOM! -Arms Race. Soviet Influence:. USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) took control of many Eastern European countries…behind the “Iron Curtain.”. Truman Doctrine (1947)—U.S. supported free peoples from Soviet takeover Marshall Plan (1947)

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The Cold War

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  1. The Cold War -WWII? KABOOM! -Arms Race

  2. Soviet Influence: USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) took control of many Eastern European countries…behind the “Iron Curtain.”

  3. Truman Doctrine (1947)—U.S. supported free peoples from Soviet takeover • Marshall Plan (1947) • U.S. gave $12 billion to rebuild Europe • COMECON = • Council for Mutual Economic Assistance

  4. U.S.’ containment policy: to prevent communism from spreading any further! COLD WAR: a struggle between two political systems (democracy vs. totalitarianism), & between two economic systems (capitalist system of free enterprise vs. communist system of govt.-owned & directed means of production)

  5. Berlin Airlift • Soviets tried to force W. Allies out of Berlin • Allies airlifted/dropped food/supplies into Berlin • Allies determined to oppose Soviet’s extension of control

  6. NATO (1949): North Atlantic Treaty Organization: mutual defense pact between Western allies. Warsaw Pact: mutual defense pact between USSR & nations of Eastern Europe.

  7. Indirect Conflicts (“proxy wars”): 1) Korean War (1950 – 1953) 2) Vietnam War (1965 – 1973) 3) Afghanistan (1979 – 1989)

  8. 1960—Soviets shot down U2 spy plane • 1961—Berlin Wall • 1962—Cuban Missile Crisis

  9. The Nuclear Arms & Space Race 1952- U.S. detonated H-bomb 1953- Russians produce H-bomb 1957- Soviets launched Sputnik *ICBMs: Inter-Continental Balistic Missile

  10. 1960s: *Atlas missile: travel 5,000 miles @ 16,000 mph. *Polaris submarine carrying nucs. *China exploded the H-bomb. *MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

  11. Just some stats… 1981: US had 8,000 ICBMs & USSR had 7,000 *US defense spending (1981) = $178 billion *(1986) = $367 billion

  12. Fall of the USSR • 1960s: USSR economy was struggling • Conflict in Middle East caused oil prices to soar • 1973-’74 Oil Embargo: oil prices rose • 1979 Oil Crisis • USSR imported more food, consumer goods, & developed oil/natural gas • DID NOT DEVELOP REAL INDUSTRY! • 1986: global oil prices fell 46%

  13. The “Iron Curtain” falls! *Development of military technology & space exploration left little $ consumer goods & human services for the USSR. --could not give aid to poorer satellite nations of E. Europe

  14. Mikhail Gorbechev: Pres. of Soviet Union *took NO action to oppose Communist collapse in E. Europe *perestroika: “restructuring” the economy & govt. *glasnost: “openness” discussion of political & social issues—move towards democracy

  15. 1991: Gorbechev was imprisoned *Communist party lost control of govt. *15 republics of the Soviet Union declared their independence *USSR was no more *Ronald Reagan’s Speech at Brandenburg Gate, West Germany—June 12, 1987

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