Cold WarUnited States vs. USSR

• Diplomatic tension between nations with no actual combat. Usually refers to the state of tension between the US and Soviet Union from the late 1940's to late 1980's or early 1990s.

• The world was divided into two camps.

The Cold War1945-1960

Ideological differences • Communism versus

Capitalism • Each economic system

calls for the destruction of the other.

• Old Russian and Soviet paranoia about being attacked.

• Germany divided after WWII exemplified differences between USSR and US (plus allies) in their occupations.

Causes of the Cold WarThings the US did:Things the US did:

1. Failed to open up a second front in WWII until D-Day 1. Failed to open up a second front in WWII until D-Day (June 6, 1944).(June 6, 1944).

2. U.S. ended Lend Lease aid.2. U.S. ended Lend Lease aid.3. Dropped Atomic Bombs on Japan. 3. Dropped Atomic Bombs on Japan.

Things the USSR did:Things the USSR did:1.1. Stalin's refused to allow free elections in Eastern Stalin's refused to allow free elections in Eastern

Europe.Europe.3. Stalin was a cruel and tyrannical dictator who was no 3. Stalin was a cruel and tyrannical dictator who was no

better than Hitler in use of violent tactics. Over 10 better than Hitler in use of violent tactics. Over 10 million of his people were killed under his rule.million of his people were killed under his rule.

4. Took territory in eastern Europe early on in WWII and 4. Took territory in eastern Europe early on in WWII and would not relinquish control after the war.would not relinquish control after the war.

US US PoliciesPolicies

Actions of President Truman 1948-1952:– Truman Doctrine – Give financial aid to

nations fighting communism. (Greece & Turkey)

– Secretary of State Marshall developed Marshall Plan to give money to our allies so they don’t become communist.

– Development of NATO - military alliance based on Collective Security

– Berlin Airlift after blockade of West Berlin by Stalin & the USSR 1948-9

Containment - keep communism from spreading.

Korean War

• U.S. helped South Korea after it was invaded by Communist North Korea. War ended in a tie.– US afraid that

if one nation fell, others would fall - domino theory

US Policies

Actions of Eisenhower 1953-1960:– Eisenhower Doctrine -

massive retaliation. Willingness to use nuclear weapons

– Scared the Soviets– U.S. exploded first H

Bomb

Actions of Kennedy 1961-1963:

- Kennedy responded to Berlin Wall=Airlift

- Kennedy responded to Sputnik= NASA - space race

Kennedy & Cuba

• The Bay of Pigs (1961)– U.S. sent unsupported

ex-convicts to Cuba to oust Fidel Castro.

– The invasion was a disaster and the U.S. was thoroughly embarrassed.

Kennedy & Cuba•The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

•US had missiles pointed at USSR from bases in Turkey•USSR had missiles pointed at US from bases in Cuba•Brinkmanship was being practiced by Kennedy & Khrushchev•President Kennedy was given credit for calming the near crisis•Hotline (direct line to USSR premier) was put into the White House

What was the Vietnam War? 1. The US under Pres. Eisenhower and

Pres. Kennedy slowly sent advisors beginning to S. Vietnam to aid them in their war against the North Vietnamese Communists.

2. They were afraid of other nations falling to Communism - The Domino Effect! LBJ expanded the war until over 500,000 soldiers were in Vietnam in the late 1960s.

3. There was never a declaration of war. 4. The jungle war in Vietnam was

difficult to fight and the US withdrew in 1972 without having achieved her strategic objective.

How did LBJ expand US

involvement? • President Johnson used an attack

on a US ship in the Gulf of Tonkin as an excuse to send large amounts of troops. Congress then passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave President Johnson expanded powers to wage war.

• When it was proven that LBJ had lied, this power was withdrawn during the Nixon administration with the passage of the War Powers Act that only allows the President to commit troops for 90 days without Congressional approval. (NY Times v United States)

The Cold War 1960-1991

End of Cold War

11. After reforms were . After reforms were begun by Gorbachev, begun by Gorbachev, USSR started to USSR started to collapse.collapse.

2. Summits held between Gorbachev and Reagan.

3. USSR allowed satellite 3. USSR allowed satellite nations to break away nations to break away in 1989.in 1989.

4. Germany was reunited 4. Germany was reunited and the Berlin Wall fell and the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.in 1989.

5. 5. Coup in USSR - Gorbachev out, Yeltsin in, in 1992.

Gorbachev & Reagan