Early Cold War

1940s-1970s

Beginnings of the Cold War

1. End of WWII & the Yalta

Conference

2. Germany & Berlin

Divided

3. Soviets set-up

communist governments

4. The Iron Curtain

5. The Superpowers- US &

USSR

The Berlin Blockade- First Conflict o f the Cold War

1. Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan

2. Soviets fear of re-industrialized

Germany & West

3. Berlin Blockade (1948)

a. Soviets stop all land traffic to

Berlin

b. Hope to gain Berlin

4. Berlin Airlift

a. All supplies flown in

b. Last for a year, then Soviets

back down.

5. Berlin Wall Built

6. NATO v Warsaw Pact

Soviet dominate their Satellites

1. Soviet Iron Grip in Eastern Europe

2. Hungarian Revolt (1956) led by

Nagy

a. Pro-Democracy/Anti-Soviet

b. Soviets invade & crush revolt.

3. Czechoslovakia Revolt (1968) led

by Dubcek

a. Wanted Liberal Reforms

b. Soviets invade and restore

communist government

4. Soviets consolidate all power in

Eastern Europe

The Races

• Arms Race

1. Soviets & US build bigger

militaries

2. Big Race is in Nuclear

Weapons

a. 1949- Soviets Develop

atomic bomb

b. For rest of Cold War

both sides develop more &

stronger nuclear weapons

• Space Race

1. Off-shoot of the Arms Race-

Rockets = ICBMs

2. Later about honor & prestige

3. First was race to get first

satellite in space- Soviets 1st

4. Next was first astronaut in

space- Soviets won

5. Then first person on moon-

US won

Global Conflicts

1. Neither side fights

directly- too much at

stake if there is a global

war

2. Fight instead Proxy Wars &

use surrogates

a. Support different

sides in regional conflicts

b. Support can be direct

or indirect

East Asia1. Korean War (1950-1953)

a. North (Communist) invades

South- takes everyone by surprise

b. Early part of War a lot of

movement

c. Most of war a stalemate

2. Vietnam War (1954-1973)

a. First against French

b. North v South- North led by

Ho Chi Minh

- Aided by Soviet Union

c. Use of Guerilla Warfare

d. 1973 US Withdraws

e. 1975 South falls to North

Middle East1. Formation of Israel

2. Israel v Arab States

a. Many Wars

b. US backs Israel

c. Soviets back the Arab states

3. Iran & Iraq War (1980-1988)

a. Iran- US ally till Islamic

Revolution of 1979

b. Iraq- Soviet ally early on

c. War- over oil fields & views on

Islam, also traditional hatred

d. US & Soviets will back both

sides at various times

Africa1. African Decolonization 1950s-1970s

2. US & Soviets support different groups

3. Many Civil Wars

4. Congo- Belgian Colony- independence

in 1960

a. Asked for Soviet help to fight

rebels

b. US supports rebel leader Mobutu

who will become dictator in 1965

c. Country becomes Zaire

5. Angola- Portuguese colony till 1975.

a. Civil War till 1990s

b. US & Soviets back different sides

Latin America1. Cuba

a. Fidel Castro

b. Becomes Communist

c. US attempts to overthrow Castro

d. Soviets build missile sites in Cuba

2. Cuban Missile Crisis

a. US Blockades Cuba

b. Soviets sending ships

c. Threat of War- 14 days

d. Stand down/Negotiations

3. Other civil wars throughout Latin

America

The Non-Aligned

1. Many countries don’t

support either side

a. India & Yugoslavia

Leaders

b. Includes many

African nations.

2. United Nations- Dominated

by US & USSR

3. Constant Fear of Nuclear

Annihilation