The Cold War 1945-1990

1. The Cold War 1945-1990

2. Main Ideas of the Cold War • The United States and the USSR became the two dominant superpowers after WWII. 2. A Rapid increase in the Production of Nuclear Weapons led to fear of total annihilation 3. A “Space Race” was underway to explore beyond the atmosphere 4. Economic Development in developing countries

3. Super Powers • US and the USSR are credited for defeating Germany and Japan • US promoted free market economies (Capitalism) in the world • USSR promoted Command Economies (Communism) in the world • As WWII ended, the US and USSR could not agree on how to move forward with international affairs because of their economic and political differences

6. Super Powers • Each country competed for international allies • This competition led to • NATO-an organization between western countries (US and Western Europe) to support economic trade and military defense • Warsaw Pact- an organization between eastern countries in response to NATO • Winston Churchill declared that “an iron curtain has descended across the continent” (of Europe) dividing East and West. • These new alliances led to several smaller conflicts in other areas of the world ie Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan

11. Nuclear Weapons • The A-bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki began a race to build up nuclear arsenals between the US and the USSR • USSR tested the first Atomic Bomb in 1949. • This nuclear race to the MAD idea: Mutually Assured Destruction • The Nuclear threat defines the stand off between the US and the USSR, if these two countries went to war, they both promised to use nuclear weapons.

16. The Space Race • There was an huge increase in the advancement of technology during the Cold War • The US and the USSR competed to be the first to explore outer space by • Launching satellites • Shuttle missions • Moon Landings • Defense Weapon Systems • The USSR launched the first satellite called Sputnik in 1957 • The US launched one is 1958 • It was militarily strategic to have control over the skies to identify and defend against a nuclear weapon attack

21. Global Economic Development • The US and USSR sent billions of dollars to developing countries in return for their allegiance • This made economic development is the remote parts of the world possible • The Middle East oil reserves were a source of fuel for both the US and the USSR which led to ethnic and religious tensions in the region • The US followed a Policy of Containment to stop the spread of Communism

26. Cold War Timeline • 1945- United Nations formed to replace the League of Nations and secure peace in the world. • 1947-the Jewish State of Israel Created • 1947- Pakistan separates from India because of Hindu Muslim tensions • 1949- China Becomes Communist under Mao Zedong • 1957-Soviets Launch first satellite, Sputnik • 1961- Berlin Wall Constructed • 1962- Cuban Missile Crisis • 1965 Vietnam War begins

27. Cold War Timeline • 1969- US lands man on the Moon • 1973- Yom Kippur War between Arabs and Israelis • 1975-Vietnam War Ends • 1979- Iran holds US civilians hostage in return for the Shah • 1979- USSR invaded Afghanistan • 1980- US boycotts Moscow Olympics • 1990-the USSR collapses