Europe and North America Superpower Rivalries Preview Main

Europe and North America Superpower Rivalries Preview • Main Idea / Reading Focus • The Arms Race Begins • Cold War Around the World • Map: Cold War Hot Spots • Attempts at Arms Control Section 2

Europe and North America Section 2 Superpower Rivalries Main Idea As the Cold War continued, the world’s two superpowers—the Soviet Union and the United States—competed for power and influence around the world. Reading Focus • How did the arms race begin in the 1950 s and early 1960 s? • How did the Cold War contribute to conflict around the world? • How did the superpowers attempt to achieve arms control during the Cold War?

Section 2 Europe and North America The Arms Race Begins During the 1950 s and early 1960 s nuclear war seemed to draw ever closer as the Soviet Union and the United States raced to develop powerful new weapons. This rivalry between the world’s two superpowers became increasingly tense—and dangerous. The Nuclear Arms Race Hydrogen Bomb • 1949, Soviets successfully tested atomic bomb • Atomic bombs used energy created by splitting atoms • Great military advantage of U. S. over Soviet Union gone • Nuclear fusion—larger explosion • U. S. sought to develop even more powerful weapons • 1952, U. S. tested first fusionpowered hydrogen bomb, vaporizing island on which tested The U. S. technological advantage was short-lived. Less than one year later the Soviets tested their own hydrogen bomb.

Europe and North America Section 2 Change in Tactics • • Both sides forced to change military tactics Could no longer rely on conventional forces, like troops, tanks U. S. , Soviets increased stockpiles of nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons central to deterrence Strategy of Deterrence • Deterrence, development of or maintenance of military power to prevent attack • Two superpowers locked in arms race to gain advantage in weapons • U. S. had more weapons, but nuclear attack by either side would lead to terrible destruction

Europe and North America Section 2 Soviet Union Launches Sputnik In October 1957 the arms race took another leap forward with the Soviet Union’s successful launch of Sputnik Public Fears • Sputnik, history’s first artificial satellite—object orbiting earth • Growing threat of nuclear war • Soviet military technology now feared to be in the lead • Built bomb shelters to help protect from nuclear explosion • U. S. government established National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA • Schools led air-raid drills to prepare for possible Soviet attack • Agency would eventually return United States to forefront of space research • Books, movies, comic books had plots centered on dangers of radiation, nuclear war • Significant impact on people

Europe and North America Section 2 Red Scare Cold War led to so-called Red Scare in U. S. • Many Americans feared possible Communist influence in U. S. government • U. S. Senator Joseph Mc. Carthy – Prompted congressional committee in effort to expose Communists in American film industry, government, late 1940 s, early 1950 s – Accused many innocent people of Communist activities

Europe and North America Section 2 Identify Supporting Details How did the arms race begin? Answer(s): development of atomic and hydrogen bombs

Europe and North America Section 2 Cold War Around the World The Korean War showed that Cold War rivalry could lead to conflict far from the United States or the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, this rivalry led to struggles for influence in countries around the world. War in Southeast Asia • End World War II, France tried to reestablish control over Southeast Asia • Communist rebels in Vietnam fought back, forcing French to give up control Vietnam Divided • Peace agreement temporarily divided Vietnam in half • Communists controlled North, anti. Communist regime ruled South American Support • U. S. supported South Vietnam, when revolution broke out sent military troops • Eventually North Vietnamese fought alongside rebels • War dragged on until mid– 1970 s

Europe and North America Section 2 Another Crisis in Berlin Crossing Over • After Communist East Germany, democratic West Germany formed in 1949, tens of thousands of East Germans crossed from East to West Berlin • Some wanted to live in free nation, other simply wanted to find work Berlin Wall • By 1961, up to 1, 000 per day made daily trip between homes in East Germany, jobs in West Berlin • To stop exodus, East Germany erected barrier between two halves of city Communist Brutality • Barrier, Berlin Wall, heavily guarded • Anyone attempting to cross risked being shot by East German guards • Succeeded in slowing flight of East Germans, became symbol of Communist system brutality

Section 2 Europe and North America Communism in Cuba • • • 1959, rebels led by Fidel Castro overthrew Cuba’s dictator Installed Communist government Centrally planned economy, close ties with Soviets Actions worried United States; Cuba near Florida coast Cuba’s alliance with Soviet Union brought Cold War close to American territory Bay of Pigs • U. S. government secretly trained invasion force to overthrow Castro • April 1961, force came ashore at Cuba’s Bay of Pigs • American officials believed invasion would start uprising against Castro • Instead invaders quickly defeated Cuban Missile Crisis • 1962, Cuban missile crisis, two week confrontation between U. S. , Soviet Union over installation of nuclear missiles in Cuba • After standoff missiles removed; U. S. agreed to remove missiles from Turkey, not attack Cuba

Europe and North America Section 2 Other Cold War Conflicts Suez Canal • 1956, Egypt angered West by taking over Suez Canal • Britain, France, Israel attacked Egypt; Soviet Union would take Egypt’s side • U. S. demanded Western allies halt attack; conflict came to end The Congo • Ending of European colonial rule in Africa brought superpower involvement • 1960 Belgium ended control of Congo; U. S. , other western countries supported military dictator Joseph Mobutu as good ally against Soviet Union Angola • 1975, Angola won independence from Portugal • U. S. , Soviet Union supported opposing sides in ensuing civil war which lasted until 1991

Section 2 Europe and North America The Americas Central and South America • U. S. supported efforts to overthrow regimes allied with Soviet Union in Central, South America • 1970 s, U. S. secretly supported opposition to Chile’s socialist leader Salvador Allende, who was overthrown in 1973 • 1983, U. S. forces ousted Communist regime on island of Grenada Nonaligned Nations • Many countries sought to avoid being caught up in worldwide rivalry between superpowers • Beginning in 1950 s, number of nations refused to support either side • So-called nonaligned nations sought to use combined strength to promote interests of poorer countries

Europe and North America Section 2

Europe and North America Section 2 Find the Main Idea How did the Cold War play out around the world? Answer(s): Communism was spreading to many other countries, and the United States became involved in an attempt to stop its spread around the world.

Europe and North America Section 2 Attempts at Arms Control While relations between East and West were largely hostile throughout the Cold War, some attempts at cooperation were made. Early Arms Control Test Ban Treaty • Eisenhower proposed open skies treaty with Soviet Union • Soviet leaders proposed total nuclear disarmament • Each side could fly over other’s territory, gather accurate weapons information • United States rejected idea • With accurate information, neither side would have to imagine worst about enemy • Cuban missile crisis convinced both sides important to make arms control progress • Soviets rejected proposal • 1963 U. S. , Soviets agreed on Test Ban Treaty • President Kennedy favored limited nuclear weapons tests

Europe and North America Section 2 SALT I and SALT II SALT I • U. S. President Richard Nixon sought détente, reduced tension between superpowers; started negotiations called Strategic Arms Limitations Talks • SALT I talks led to agreements limiting nuclear weapons held by each side ABM Treaty • Also led to Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, preventing development of weapons designed to shoot down nuclear missiles • Meant to ensure each side remained vulnerable to other’s nuclear weapons SALT II • Vulnerability important element of principle of deterrence • Two sides began new round of talks called SALT II • Talks resulted in arms control treaty in 1979: never ratified by U. S. Senate

Section 2 Europe and North America The 1980 s Reagan Presidency Arms Reduction Talks • Reagan took aggressive position against Soviet Union • Idea of system seemed to violate spirit of ABM Treaty • Wanted to develop missile defense system • Began arms reduction talks with Soviet leader Gorbachev INF Treaty • 1988, two countries ratified Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty • Called for elimination of certain types of missiles Improving Relations • After many years of conflict, relationship between U. S. , Soviet Union began to improve

Europe and North America Section 2 Sequence What were the major arms control agreements negotiated by the Soviet Union and the United States? Answer(s): Test Ban Treaty, SALT I, reducing the number of nuclear weapons each side held, ABM Treaty that prevented the development of weapons that shoot down nuclear missiles