Cold War 1945 1989 COLD WAR Post WWII

Cold War 1945 -1989

COLD WAR Post – WWII tensions between USA and the USSR Components: Arms Race Space Race Espionage Propaganda

COLD WAR • The Cold War lasted from the end of WWII until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989

COLD WAR • After WWII, Japan was occupied by American forces. It adopted a democratic form of government and became an ally of the US

COLD WAR • After WWII, Germany was partitioned into East and West Germany was democratic and selfgoverned by US, GB and France East Germany was under USSR rule and did not follow democratic principles

COLD WAR • Berlin is also divided into East and West

COLD WAR • A competition of two very different ways of organizing government, society and economy American-led western ideas Soviet ideas • Democracy (government) • Free market (economic) • Totalitarianism (government) • Communist (economic)

Democratic East vs. Communist West

COLD WAR • Churchill referred to the division in Europe as the “Iron Curtain” an "iron curtain" has descended across the Continent. . . all are subject to control from Moscow

COLD WAR • The U. N. replaced League of Nations to prevent global wars US, Great Britain, France, China, USSR General Assembly: makes suggestions Security Council: enforces sanctions

COLD WAR • Truman Doctrine – Made it official US policy to contain communism “ Any nations threatened by communist aggression, internally or externally, can expect US assistance. ” – Led to American involvement in Korea, Vietnam, Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis

COLD WAR • Mar hall Plan – Much of Europe was destroyed from WWII – U. S. lends millions of dollars to Western European countries to rebuild (as long as they didn’t go communist!)

Berlin Blockade • Soviets fed up with having free democratic section in the middle of their communist part of Germany • Stalin blockaded west Berlin (thought he would get control) • People in W. Berlin freeze and starve • America to the rescue!

Berlin Airlift

COLD WAR North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Warsaw Pact – Defensive alliance between US and Western European countries to prevent a Soviet invasion – Defensive alliance between USSR and Eastern European nations For 50 years both sides maintained large military forces facing each other in Europe

• China was taken over by communist leader, Mao Zedong • Increased American fears of communists dominating the world Zedong created communist “People’s Republic of China”

• The Soviet Union tests their first successful nuclear bomb • The threat of nuclear war existed throughout the Cold War How did the Soviets learn to build a nuclear bomb? ? ?

COLD WAR • Fear of communism and nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War • RED SCARE- fear of Communism • House Un-American Activities Committee(HUAC) hunted for communists Alger Hiss – convicted of spying for the Soviet Union

RED SCARE COLD WAR The Rosenbergs • accused of selling atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union • found guilty and sentenced to death (electric chair)

RED SCARE COLD WAR • Joseph Mc. Carthy-accuses government officials of being communist with no evidence “Mc. Carthyism” making false accusations based on little or no evidence Wisconsin Senator Mc. Carthy with his “list”

Korean War • Korea split after WWII at the 38 th parallel • 1950 -North Korea attacked South Korea • UN went into S. Korea, pushed N. Korea back over the 38 th • Douglas Mac. Arthur US pushed farther to get rid of communists in the north-China came to help N. Korea and pushed back US forces • Truman didn’t want to start WWIII • War ended in a stalemate - still divided today