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Cold War. 1945-1991. Cold War Beginnings. Following WWII the US and USSR were the only two superpowers left Soon after WWII these two powers were in a Cold War (Icy Tensions) Why?- different economic systems, strategic interests, Stalin’s Speech, Iron Curtain Speech, Atomic Weapons.
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Cold War 1945-1991
Cold War Beginnings • Following WWII the US and USSR were the only two superpowers left • Soon after WWII these two powers were in a Cold War (Icy Tensions) • Why?- different economic systems, strategic interests, Stalin’s Speech, Iron Curtain Speech, Atomic Weapons
Pre Cold War distrust • US • Communism antithesis of Democracy/Freedom/Capitalism • Stalin’s Purges • Non-Aggression Pact • USSR emphasis on Worldwide communism • USSR • US attempted to undo Revolution • Delayed attack on Western Front during WWII • Believes peace will come from worldwide communism
Yalta Conference 1945 • Big 3 – Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin • Germany Split into 4 Occupied Zones • Soviet vs. Western Allies (Tension for Four Decades) • Agreement to create United Nations
Potsdam- 1945 • Big 3 – Truman, Churchill, Stalin • Meeting more tense (Truman’s style, plus knowledge of da bomb) • Presses Stalin for free elections in Eastern Europe • Stalin later gives speech saying Capitalism and Communism cannot exist in same world
United States 1946 • Churchill Warns of an “Iron Curtain” in Europe • Stalin calls speech an act of war, beginning of the Cold War
Truman Doctrine- 1946 • Turkey and Greece faced Communist revolutions • Truman asks for and recieves 400 million to aid fight against communism • Beginning of Containment Policy (not allow communism to spread) • Becomes guiding US policy into 1970’s
Western Europe 1947 • The Marshall Plan gives aid to European Nations • Rebuilt Western Europe, threatened Communism
Berlin, Germany • Stalin cuts off access to Berlin, US sends airplanes with supplies • Stalin backs off, Victory for West
Western Europe/ North America 1949 • NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organization • USSR creates Warsaw Pact in 1955
USSR/China- 1949 • USSR develops A-Bomb • Arms race develops between US and USSR • China falls to the Communists
Eisenhower • Eisenhower / Dulles policy of Massive Retaliation (Brinkmanship)
Korea • Communist North Korea Invades South Korea • UN and West aid South Korea while Soviet Union and China aid North Korea • 1950-1953
Vietnam 1954 • US actively aids against Ho Chi Minh and Communists • French defeat at Dien Bien Phu
Cuba 1959 • Fidel Castro and Communists take Cuba
Cuba 1960 • Bay of Pigs invasion, attempted overthrow of Fidel Castro’s Communism
Cuba 1962 • Soviet Missiles Discovered in Cuba • Beginning of 13 Day Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis • Closest ever coming to Nuclear War • Kennedy vs. Kruschev • President Kennedy Blocks Cuba with Ships (“eye to eye and the other guy blinked”)
Soviet Union 1953-1956 • Stalin Dies in 1953, Nikita Kruschev becomes new Soviet Leader • 1956 begins policy of De-Stalinization
Hungary 1956 • Hungarian Leader Imre Nage takes Hungary out of Warsaw Pact • Kruschev sends in Soviet Troops to regain order
USSR-1957 • Soviets Launch Sputnik • Beginning of Space Race between US and USSR
Berlin, Germany 1961 • East Germany builds wall, cuts off access for East Germany to West Berlin Berlin • Wall became a symbol of the Cold War
USSR / Czecholslovakia-1964-1968 • 1964 Leonid Brezhnez becomes leader of Soviet Union • Czechovakian leader Alexander Dubcek lessoned censorship “Prague Spring” • Free Expression clamped down with Brezhnez Doctrine (later used in Afghanistan)
Richard Nixon and Detente • Détente- Lessening Cold War Tensions • Real Politik- dealing with nations in a practical and flexible manner (anti-containment) • Nixon visits China (Sino-Soviet Split) • SALT Treaties • Policy continued with Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan • Fiercely Anti-Communist • Moved Away from Détente • Increased Military Spending • SDI, Strategic Defense Initiative or Star Wars
USSR 1985 • Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Premier • Begins a series of Reforms and Freedoms in Russia
Glasnost • Openness- Churches opened, Press allowed to criticize government, Banned authors allowed to publish books
Perestroika • “Economic Restructuring”, Managers make more decisions, small private businesses
Democratization • Gradual opening of the political system • Election of a new group of lawmakers • Communist Party no longer chose all candidates
USSR 1991 • Nationalities begin to call of Independence • August Coup, by Communist Hardliners • Boris Yeltsin Seen as Hero • Boris Yeltsin becomes President of Russia
Russia 1991-1999 • Boris Yeltsin President • Forms Commonwealth of Independent States of CIS • Shock Therapy for Economy
Russia 1999-2008 • Vladimir Putin appointed President in 1999 (won re-election twice) • Forcefully dealt with Chechnya • Tightened Grip of government on Economy • Restricted Voting Rights and Liberties
Central and Eastern EuropePoland • Lech Walesa leads workers Union Solidarity against Communist Government • Series of strikes and crackdowns. By 1989, Solidarity was legal in Poland, helped gain free elections
Berlin, Germany 1989 • Berlin Wall falls after Hungary opens its borders (Symbol of End of Cold War) • Start of the collapse of the Eastern Bloc • Process of Reunification