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THE COLD WAR

THE COLD WAR. The Cold War 1945-1991. Downloaded from www.SchoolHistory.co.uk. After World War 2 the Cold War began and caused tension throughout the world. The USA and the USSR were the two world Superpowers. The USA was a capitalist society with a democracy.

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THE COLD WAR

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  1. THE COLD WAR

  2. The Cold War 1945-1991 Downloaded from www.SchoolHistory.co.uk

  3. After World War 2 the Cold War began and caused tension throughout the world. • The USA and the USSR were the two world Superpowers. • The USA was a capitalist society with a democracy. • The USSR was a communist country with a dictatorship. • Both wanted to be the most powerful nation in the world.

  4. Nuclear tensions • The USA had shown its atomic power when it exploded the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War 2. • The USSR was also developing atomic weapons/bombs. • The USA and the USSR were in competition with each other to have the best, most powerful weapons in the world – this was called the Arms Race.

  5. After World War 2, the world changed! • Many countries became communist after World War 2 including: • Czechoslovakia (1948) • Poland (1947) • Hungary (1947) • China (1949) • Cuba (1959) • North Korea (1945)

  6. POTSDAM (Germany) Date: July 1945 Present: Churchill, Truman and Stalin

  7. Improve your knowledge Divided Berlin • The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.

  8. SU installed communism in Albania, Bulgaria, Czech, Hungary, Romania, and Poland • Satellite Nations • Seized industrial assets of these countries to help rebuild SU • SU concentrated on producing weapons, not goods, US saw this as declaration of war • Containment: effort to block the Soviets’ attempts to spread their influence by creating alliances and supporting weaker countries • Iron Curtain: Churchill term; symbolizes the growing barrier between East and West

  9. The ‘Truman Doctrine’ • Truman had been horrified at the pre-war Allied policy of appeasement and was determined to stand up to any Soviet intimidation.The Truman Doctrinein March 1947 promised that the USA “would support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”. • Triggered by British inability to hold the line in Greece, it was followed by aid to Greece and Turkey, and also money to help capitalists to stop communists in Italy and France.It signalled the end of “isolationst”policies.

  10. The ‘Marshall Plan’ • The Marshall Planoffered huge sums to enable the economies of Europe to rebuild after World War II, and, by generating prosperity, to reject the appeal of Communism. • Money was to be spent on goods made in US • Congress in debate over approval until SU tanks took over Czech The Soviet Union (USSR) prevented Eastern European countries from receiving American money.

  11. The domino effect • The USSR had a lot of influence over many of the new communist countries (especially those in Europe). • The USA was very worried that the USSR’s influence over these countries was making the USSR and communism more powerful. • The USA did not want communism to spread any further – they were worried about the domino effect (one country becomes communist, then another, then another etc)

  12. Berlin • West Berlin, was an outpost of Western democracy and economic success deep within the communist zone – like a capitalist island within communist East Germany • The Berlin Blockadewas an attempt to starve West Berlin into submitting [giving up] to the communists • The Allied [western powers] airlift signalled the West’s determination to use all resources to defend Berlin.It was felt by both sides that Berlin could act as the trigger for general war between capitalist and communist countries

  13. Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49)

  14. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) • United States • Belgium • Britain • Canada • Denmark • France • Iceland • Italy • Luxemburg • Netherlands • Norway • Portugal • 1952: Greece & Turkey • 1955: West Germany • 1983: Spain

  15. Fall Of China Nationalist Leader: Chiang Kia Shek Communist Leader: Mao Zedong

  16. Korean War[1950-1953] Kim Il-Sung Dem. People’s Republic of Korea SU Occupied SyngmanRhee Rep. Of Korea US Occupied

  17. Korean War • June 25, 1950: Northern troops invaded South • June 27, 1950 UN Security Council adopted an American resolution calling on member nations to help the Rep of S. Korea • Under command of General Douglas MacArthur

  18. The Shifting Map of Korea[1950-1953]

  19. End Of Korea War • June 23, 1951 SU unexpectedly suggested a cease-fire • Agreed on 2 points • High cost of war lead Amer to reject Democratic party in 1952 • Increased commie aggression and prompted hunt for spies Republican Dwight Eisenhower

  20. Cold War at Home • Federal Employees Loyalty and Security Program • House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) • Hollywood Ten

  21. Spies Accused of giving govt documents to SU. Convicted of perjury SU proved guilt Found guilty of giving SU atomic bomb plans allowing them to build bomb sooner. 1st US citizens executed for espionage

  22. McCarthyism • Claimed commies were taken over govt • Always did “name calling” in Senate where he had legal immunity that protected him from being sued for slander • Made accusations against US Armey which resulted in nationally televised Senate investigation • Lost public support Wisconsin Senator

  23. The Arms Race:A “Missile Gap?” • The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb in 1949. • Now there were two nuclear superpowers! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kdpAGDu8s

  24. Race for H-Bomb • Hydrogen bomb in which atoms would be fused • Morality of creating bomb • Jan 31, 1950 Truman authorized work on H-Bomb • Nov 1, 1952 US exploded 1st thermonuclear device • Aug 1953 Soviet exploded their own thermonuclear weapon • Policy of Brinkmanship

  25. CIA • Began to carry out covert actions to weaken or overthrow govts unfriendly to US • 1951 Middle East: oil crisis • 1954 Guatemala: replaced dictator

  26. 1953: Stalin dies • West Germany allowed to re-arm and join NATO • Warsaw Pact: Soviet’s military alliance with Eastern European satellite nations • July 1955: Eisenhower travels to Geneva, Switzerland; 1st east-west conference since WWII

  27. Warsaw Pact (1955) • U. S. S. R. • Albania • Bulgaria • Czechoslovakia • East Germany • Hungary • Poland • Rumania

  28. Crisis in Middle East • 1955: GB & US agree to help Egypt finance dam @ Aswan • Head of Egypt (Gamal Abdel Nasser) began to strengthen ties w/ SU • US & GB w/drew offer • Nasser seized control of canal (owned by Fr & GB) • Oct 1956: GB, Fr, Israel invaded Egypt; SU threatened missiles • UN imposed cease fire • 1957: canal reopened under Egyptian control

  29. The Hungarian Uprising: 1956 Imre Nagy, HungarianPrime Minister • Promised free elections. • This could lead to the end of communist rule in Hungary.

  30. Eisenhower Doctrine • US would defend the Middle East against attack by any Commie country • Gave pres authority to use Amer forces at his discretion, against armed aggression in the Middle East by any nation controlled by international communism

  31. Sputnik I (1957) The Russians have beaten America in space—they have the technological edge!

  32. U-2 Spy Incident (1960) Col. Francis Gary Powers’ plane was shot down over Soviet airspace.

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