The Cold War & Contemporary Issues

The Cold War & Contemporary Issues Ch 28.4, Ch 29 - 33

Europe Divided • Division of Germany after WWII • Democratic West Germany, Soviet Union created a puppet government in East Germany • “Iron Curtain”- division between communism and democracy in Europe “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent” -Winston Churchill (1946)

B. Berlin Airlift • Berlin was divided but was inside East Germany • SU blockaded the city to gain control • US airlifted supplied until SU backed down C. Marshall Plan- US gave economic aid to Europe to speed recovery and to stop communism D. Two rival alliances: NATO (led by US) and Warsaw Pact (USSR and puppet countries)

II. Communism in Asia • Japan banned from having a military- became a democracy with a powerful economy • In 1949, Mao Zedong’s Communist Party took over China • Korean War (1950-1953) • China backed N. Korea invaded S. Korea • US-led troops pushed back but China got involved • Korea divided at the 38th parallel

D. Communism in China • Great Leap Forward- effort to collectivize and industrialize China, led to millions of deaths • Cultural Revolution- political purge to reaffirm power of communist party

E. Vietnam War • Causes • French left Vietnam in 1954 • Domino Theory- if one country falls to communism, surrounding countries will too

2. Effects • US leaves defeated by 1974 • Khmer Rouge- communist genocide in Cambodia that killed 1/5 of population F. US President Nixon visits China and helped normalize relations and expand trade

III. Conflicts in The Middle East • Creation of Israel • After WWII, Jews moved to Israel as a part of the Zionist movement • In 1949, the UN created the nation of Israel • Land was divided between Jewish Israelis and Muslim Palestinians

B. US support helped Israel defeat its neighbors in a series of wars, Palestine became occupied by Israel C. Arab Oil-rich countries (OPEC) put an embargo (stop exporting) on the US in the 1970s D. Iranian Revolution (1979)- created a Shi’a theocracy E. Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded Iran (1980-88)

IV. The Third World • India • After WWI, India struggled to gain independence • Gandhi led a non-violent movement that helped win independence in 1947 • Partition of India- Muslims were sent to Pakistan, Hindus to India- chaos and rivalry • India and other “third world” countries didn’t side with US or USSR

B. Africa independence challenges • Most African countries became independent in 1960s • Many African countries had civil wars and were ruled by dictators • Ruling white minority in South Africa had policy of apartheid (racial segregation) until 1994

C. Latin America • In Cuba, Fidel Castro created a communist government (1959) • Through the Cold War, most countries were ruled by dictators

V. Height of Cold War • US and SU competed by creating nuclear weapons and space ships • MAD theory- if either side attacks, both would be destroyed (deterrence) • Cuban Missile Crisis- US and SU nearly go to war over placement of SU nukes in Cuba • US and USSRdon’t go into direct conflict but rival each other throughout the world

VI. End of Cold War • Troubles in the Soviet Union • USSRcannot keep up with the US economy • USSRinvades Afghanistan (1980-88) but loses to US-backed Muslims • USSRreformed through policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (economic restructuring)

B. Fall of Berlin Wall united E. and W. Germany and marked an end of the Cold War (1989) C. The Soviet Union broke apart in 1991 D. Pro-democracy movement in China failed at the Tiananmen Square Massacre

VII. Post Cold War Era • Globalization • Increase in trade has led to global interdependence (rely on each other) • European Union- economic unity of most European countries • NAFTA- free trade b/w US, Canada, and Mexico

B. Challenges • Middle East • Wars, Terrorism • Israeli-Palestinian relations • In Africa: Desertification, struggling economies, and disease (like HIV) problems for development

3. Population • Green Revolution- agricultural innovations that dramatically increased food production • Major urbanization in developing countries

The Cold War & Contemporary Issues