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Post-WWII/Cold War

Post-WWII/Cold War. I. After WWII. Western Europe becomes less internationally dominant Infrastructure (housing, transportation) destroyed Colonies lost due to high cost, nationalist pressures World stuck between two superpowers: U.S. and Soviet Union Cold War

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Post-WWII/Cold War

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  1. Post-WWII/Cold War

  2. I. After WWII • Western Europe becomes less internationally dominant • Infrastructure (housing, transportation) destroyed • Colonies lost due to high cost, nationalist pressures • World stuck between two superpowers: U.S. and Soviet Union • Cold War • Ongoing tensions between U.S. and Soviets and their allies; characterized by nuclear arms buildup and threats • “An iron curtainhas descended” – Winston Churchill • World split in three First World – industrialized, capitalist; Second World – industrialized, communist; Third World – developing nations, not affiliated with U.S. or Soviet Union

  3. I. Continued… • Cold War (continued…) • U.S. emboldened by atomic bomb • Truman Doctrine (1947) - money into Iran, Turkey, Greece to avoid communist takeovers • Marshall Plan – loans designed to aid Western nations in rebuilding to combat spread of Communism • Sought to build up W. Germany as industrial power/political ally • Soviets upset, cut off Berlin from West • U.S. airlifts supplies in (Berlin Airlift), crisis ends in 1948 • Divisions continue/strengthen • Creation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) • U.S., most of W. Europe, Canada, eventually W. Germany • Goal = stop communism

  4. I. Continued… • Cold War (continued…) • Soviets respond with Warsaw Pact • Comprised of Eastern European satellite states • Develop nuclear bomb, 1949 • Key Events • Launch of Sputnik (1957) • Construction of Berlin Wall (1961) • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) • War in Vietnam (1960s-70s) • Iranian Revolution (1979) • Fall of Berlin Wall (1989) • Collapse of Soviet Union (1991)

  5. II. Asia After WWII • Japan • Recovered from WWII quickly (with plenty of aid from U.S.) • New government, run by Gen. Douglas MacArthur (until 1952) • New constitution – new parliamentary system, stripped emperor of power • Vote for women, abolished Shintoism as state religion • Reduced teaching of nationalism, intro of rigid education system • Economy • By 1983, only behind U.S. and Germany in terms of growth • Automobiles/electronics – high quality, mass quantity • Why so successful? • Active gov’t encouragement – limit imports, very small military budget • Education system = highly skilled middle class • Labor policies favored union/business cooperation

  6. II. Continued… • Korea • Korean War • 1950-1953 – Soviet-supported N. Korea invaded S. Korea (backed by U.N.) • China becomes directly involved, stalemate at 38th parallel • Two divergent paths since then • North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) • Power to one political party + military, essentially cut off from world • S. Korea (Republic of Korea) • U.S. economic aid + military bases • Strong economy, similar to Japan – large corporations aided by gov’t • Tensions continue between two nations with occasional border clashes

  7. II. Continued… • China • After fall of Qing Dynasty (1917), China became split between Nationalists and Communists • Worked together to oppose Japanese imperialism, but civil war ensued, ending with Communist victory (1949) • Nationalists fled to island of Taiwan (Republic of China) • Mao Zedong becomes leader of People’s Republic of China • Communism in China • Eliminated landlord class (3 million executed), became land of peasant farmers • 1964 – first nonindustrial nation to develop working nuclear device • 1960s, 70s – Cultural Revolution– initiative to force cultural unity • Formation of Red Guard – used to eliminate political opposition • 1980s, 90s, 2000s – relaxation of Communist policies, surge in economic growth • Often criticized for lack of political freedom, violation of human rights

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