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Explore the Cold War era from 1945-1990, its key terms, the emergence of the Iron Curtain, and the motives behind the conflict. Dive into the arms race, espionage, propaganda, and flashpoints like Berlin and Cuba. (285 characters)
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What’s the term mean? • “Cold War” refers to the era, 1945-90, of extreme tension between the U.S. and its allies and the Soviet Union and its Allies.
Today’s Outcomes: • What was “The Iron Curtain” and why did it emerge after 1945? • What are some key Cold War terms? • HW: How did the Cold War begin?
Iron Curtain • In a speech in Missouri, Churchill first articulates the division of Europe
What did Churchill mean? • “Iron Curtain” is a metaphor—Churchill meant the invisible line that divided communist Europe and (mostly) democratic Europe
Vocab Term • Those nations behind the Iron Curtain—Poland, Hungary, East Germany, etc.—are called satellite nations • Why?
To U.S. President Truman and the West, this “Iron Curtain” represents a betrayal • At the Yalta conference in 1945, Stalin had implied he’d allow elections in nations occupied by his forces
Is Stalin pulling a Trotsky? • That is, is he attempting to spread Communism beyond Russia’s borders—that “Permanent Revolution” stuff?
Or was Stalin’s motive defensive? • Russia had always faced enemies from the West. Stalin may have been determined that next war be fought in Poland or Germany, and not in a U.S.S.R. that had just lost 22 million people
Containment • The policy first enunciated by President Truman: America will stop the spread of communism through diplomacy, military and economic aid to nations threatened by communism
“Client Wars” • Will be a hallmark of containment: The two sides fight indirectly in third countries: Against China in Korea; against China and the Soviet Union in Vietnam
And even South Asia • Where we supplied and funded Muslim fedayeen, like this one, fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan