The Cold WarA Complete Overview

Over to you…

What was the Cold War?Think about…

1) Who was it between?2) Why was it a ‘Cold’ War?

3) Who were the main protagonists?4) What was the aim of both sides?

5) What major events can you name (and/or explain)?

Introduction

• A clash of civilizations• Socialism wanted to take over the world – many Soviets

in a conflict with bourgeois capitalism itself.• USSR saw US rebuilding in Europe/Japan as US trying to

expand markets• US feared USSR wanted to destroy democratic/capitalist

institutions.• USSR feared US wanted to use money and power to

dominate Europe and destroy Soviet system.• BOTH RIGHT TO BE WORRIED!

One massive difference…

• War meant possible extinction of the HUMAN RACE!

The Cold War – the origins

• After WWII Soviets created sphere of influence in E. Europe• Particularly in countries the Red Army had pushed back

Nazis. • Led to Churchill saying…

The Cold War – The Origins

• Dates of Cold War given from 1945-1990• However, many historians argue it started DURING

WWII.1) Stalin’s distrust of Allies’ refusal to open 2nd front in

the West.2) Some argue dropping of atom bomb was to intimidate

Soviets.• Only worked in motivating Soviets to develop their own

bomb which was testsed in 1949

The Cold War – The Origins

• From the beginning the USA had the advantage:1) More economic power.2) Could provide Europe protection with its army/nuclear

weapons while it rebuilt.• USSR had major disadvantages:1) Had to rebuild itself2) Controlled by J. Stalin (probably responsible for the

death of over 20 million of his own people)

Why did the west ‘win’ the Cold War?

Silly putty!• Just the kind of USELESS consumer good never

produced in the USSR• …because we had so much consumer spending that the

west won the Cold WAR!

Cold War Overview – The Main Events

•Europe was 1st battle ground of the Cold War, especially Germany.

1)1948 Berlin Blockade and subsequent US/GB airlift.

2)1961 more successful Soviet blockade ended in building of wall around West Berlin.

Cold War Overview – The Main Events

•US response:• Policy called ‘containment’: • Basically stopping the spread of communism by standing up to Soviets wherever they wanted to expand.• In Europe meant spending A LOT of money:• The Marshall Plan (began 1948) gave $13 billion dollars to re-build Western Europe with grants(credits, which were spent on US consumer goods and construction

Containment policy (cont.)

• US also tried to stop spread of communism by forming NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1949.• The USSR responded by forming the Warsaw Pact

(1955).• The US also allowed CIA interventions in elections

where communists had a chance. (eg Italy)• Despite all the spy novels and shaken martinis, the Cold

War never did heat up in Europe.• Most important part of the Cold War was…

The Nuclear Arms Race

• Both sides built up nuclear arsenals, Soviets initially helped by spies who stole US secrets.• But eventually nuclear arsenals were so big that the US and USSR agreed on the (appropriately named) policy of M.A.D.•Mainly because nuclear weapons (and still today) have the capability of destroying humanity many times over.

MUTUALLY ASSURRED DESTRUCTION

The Nuclear Arms Race

• Only twice came close to nuclear annihilation1) Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)2) In 1983 when the USA’S ABLE ARCHER 83 (a realistic

nuclear strike drill that simulated steps to a US nuclear strike) was misunderstood by the Soviets as a REAL strike.

• However, plenty of ‘hot’ war in the Cold War despite threat of M.A.D.