The Cold War

What was the Cold War?• 1945-1991• A political, economic

and ideological war between the United States and her allies and the USSR and her satellite states.

• The conflict included military coalitions, nuclear arms race, proxy wars, propaganda and a Space Race.

Axis and Allies• During WWII, the USSR, Great Britain and the United

States worked together to defeat Hitler and Nazi Germany.• What caused the break up of this friendship?

• After WWII, the USSR did not agree with the way GB and the US wanted to divide war-torn Europe.• The United States and the USSR became the most powerful military

forces• The USSR created the Soviet Bloc – a military alliance with many

Eastern European countries.• These countries eventually formed the Warsaw Pact (1955-

1991)• The United States and many Western European countries used the

idea of Containment of Communism as a defensive policy.• This resulted in the creation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty

Organization)

Economic Conflict

Capitalism• After WWII, Americans

were living a life of prosperity – the effects of the Great Depression were fading into the past.

• Americans feared a Communist take over which would ruin their lifestyles.

Communism• The USSR and nations

of the Warsaw Pact followed the policies of Communism.

• Stalin followed the policy of rapid industrialization, a centralized government and a collectivized system of agriculture.

Military Alliances

• NATO• North Atlantic Treaty Organization• Created for the purpose of collective security

• Warsaw Pact•Mutual defense Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.• Created by 8 Communist States in Eastern Europe

International Tensions• The Cold War had many Hot Wars and close calls:

• Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)•  The Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road,

and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under allied control.• Korean War (1950-1953)•  Fought between North Korea, aided by Communist China, & S

outh Korea, supported by the US and other members of the UN.

• Vietnam War (1959-1975)•  Between South Vietnam (later aided by the U.S. and South

Korea) and the Vietcong and North Vietnam.• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)•  A confrontation between the United States and the Soviet

Union over the presence of missile sites in Cuba.• Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

Space Race• An international competition of science and

technology resulting in the launching of space satellites, probes and eventually people into space.

• The goal is to demonstrate superiority of the victor’s political and economic systems.

Who Won?• Russia?• October 4, 1957• Soviet Union launches first

man made satellite into space – Sputnik 1• HUGE victory for Soviet

Union!• Sputnik 2 – November 3,

1957 – Soviet Union launches first crew into space:• 1 person crew – a dog

named Laika (FYI – he is still out there)

Who Won?• United States?•May 5, 1961 – Alan Shepard became first American in space.• June 3, 1965 – Edward White became first American to walk in space.• July 20, 1969 – Neil Armstrong became first person to set foot on another celestial body. Apollo 11.

The End of the Cold War• Mikhail Gorbachev – became General Secretary of

Soviet Union in 1985• Recognized problems in USSR, planned to fix them while

still maintaining Communist control.• Introduced two new terms to the USSR• Perestroika - restructuring of society, government and

economy• Glasnost – openness of discussions of the nation’s

problems, got rid of the lies and propaganda.

Collapse of USSR

• Gorbachev became the first and only president of the Soviet Union in March 1990.

• Berlin Wall came down November 9, 1989