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The Cold War: Global Tensions and the Arms Race

Explore how the Cold War escalated into an arms race, divided emerging countries, and sparked communist influence in Latin America. Learn about the Cuban Missile Crisis and its implications.

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The Cold War: Global Tensions and the Arms Race

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  1. Global Cold War Through 1962

  2. Objectives • Explain how the Cold War turned into an arms race. • Describe how the Cold War divided the emerging countries in Asia and Africa. • Explain how communism gained influence in Latin America. • Explain why Cuba became a crisis spot during the Cold War.

  3. Terms and People • superpower – a country whose military, economic, and political strength is so great that it can influence events worldwide • arms race – a contest in which nations compete to build more and more powerful weapons • stockpile – to collect—usually weapons and other military supplies • John F. Kennedy – U.S. President who established the Peace Corps and handled the Cuban missile crisis

  4. How did the Cold War increase tensions around the world? As the Cold War intensified, the United States and the Soviet Union competed for power around the world. Both nations built up supplies of nuclear weapons and worked to gain allies in emerging nations.

  5. Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union increased throughout the 1950s. Russia’s leader, Josef Stalin, died in 1953. Nikita Khrushchevbecame the new Soviet leader. Khrushchev declared that communism would destroy the Western democracies.

  6. The United States and the Soviets began an expensive and dangerous arms race. The United States exploded its first hydrogen bomb in 1952. Other nations soon followed. None of these countries wanted to start a nuclear war. Instead, they stockpiled their weapons.

  7. The superpowers also competed in space. In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, the first human-made satellite. Americans feared that the Soviets could now launch a nuclear attack on the United States Congress acted quickly to compete technologically with the Soviet Union.

  8. Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In 1962, John Glennbecame the first American to orbit Earth. Congress also passed the National Defense Education Act to fund more scientists and teachers.

  9. After World War II, the Soviet Union worked to win alliesamong newly independent nations. U.S. President John F. Kennedy responded by forming the Peace Corps. The Peace Corpssought to build friendships between the United States and other nations.

  10. After World War II, emerging nations affected Cold War tensions. These nations included: The Congo The Philippines Vietnam

  11. In 1960, the former Belgian Congobecame the independent nation of Congo. Opposing groups fought a violent war for control. The United States gave one side supplies and technical advice. The Soviet Union supported the opposing side.

  12. After gaining independence in 1946, the people of the Philippines continued to struggle for reform. Fighting broke out, led in part by Communist rebels. 1946 The government defeated the rebelsand made some reforms. 1954 Many groups continued to push for greater reforms. 1956

  13. In Vietnam, rebel Ho Chi Minhled the fight for independence from France. Ho was a Communist, backed by the Soviet Union. The United Statesgave support to the French. In 1954, Ho’s forces defeated the French. The fighting would last for almost 30 years. Soon, the United States would be drawn into the Vietnam War.

  14. In the 1950s, the Cold War moved to Latin America. Rebellions in some nations put anti-American groupsin power. The United States supported military dictatorsin these nations to protect American security. Latin American hostility toward the United Statesincreased.

  15. In 1959, Communist Fidel Castroled a successful revolution in Cuba. In 1961, Cuban exiles trained by the United States invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. Many Cubans became exilesafter Castro’s revolution. The invasion failed, making Castro more popular and embarrassing the United States.

  16. In 1962, American leaders discovered that theSoviets were building nuclear missile bases in Cuba. The location of missile bases in Cuba posed an immediate threat to several major American cities. Kennedy insisted that Khrushchev remove the missiles. When Khrushchev refused, the United States placed a naval blockade on Cuba.

  17. The standoff lasted for 13 daysand became known as the Cuban missile crisis. Soviet shipscarrying more missiles headed to Cuba. TheU.S. Navyprepared to stop them. At the last moment, the Soviet ships turned back. Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles. The United States agreed not to invade Cuba.

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