WITH A SIDE OF DECOLONIZATION

The Cold War

Definition of the Cold War

A political struggle between the Democratic & Communist nations of the world following World War II

USA leads the Democratic nations

USSR leads the Communist nations

The Beginnings

The Yalta Conference USA, Britain, USSR Met to discuss post-war

worldThe United Nations

Created to help solve future problems

Avoid WarProblems

USA wants Democratic nations

USSR wants Communist nations

Post War USSRStalin Refuses to Grant Free Elections

RussiaAlbaniaBulgariaHungaryCzechoslovakiaRomaniaPolandYugoslaviaEast Germany

Decolonization

European nations are in no condition to maintain their colonies

Many of them win their independence by the 1950’s India & Mohandas

Gandhi Indochina Africa Indonesia

Causes of Decolonization

Tough Sell after Nazis & Imperial Japan

Many colonies fought for the mother country

World War II was about freedom in many respects

Colonies were determined to liberate themselves

Post War Germany

Germany is split in two Berlin is split as well

The East is Communist Aided by USSR

The West is Democratic Aided by US & Britain

The Iron Curtain

The imaginary line that split Germany in two

This line divided the democratic west from the communist east

This line divided Europe into two separate states

The US in the Late 1940’s

The Truman Doctrine Help weaker nations

fend of communismContainment

Stop communism from spreading

The Marshall Plan Aid war torn countries

Berlin Airlift Aid West Berlin from

Soviet blockade

China Goes Communist

The United States felt confident with their containment policy in Europe

China is the first of three Asian nations to go communist

This opens up serious problems for the security of Asia

Major Events of the Cold War

Treaty Organizations

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Protect Democracy

from CommunismWarsaw Pact

Protect Communism from Democracy

Bombs! Bombs! Bombs!

USA vs. USSRWho can have the

most Nuclear BombsBombs scared both

countries and served as a deterrent to war

Brinkmanship The willingness to go

to the brink or edge

Other ConflictsUSA in Iran

Shah vs. AyatollahUSSR in Afghanistan

Soviets vs. Mujahideen USSR vs. USA

Nicaragua Anastasio Somoza vs.

Daniel Ortega Sandinistas vs. Contras USA vs. USSR

Cuba Fulgencio Batista vs. Fidel

Castro USA vs. USSR

Cuban Missile Crisis

USSR stores missiles in Cuba 90 miles from the USA

USA is afraidUSSR removes the

missiles

Conflicts Over Communism

The Korean War 1950-1953 Multi-national force South Korea is saved

The Vietnam War 1955-1975 Mostly USA North Vietnam takes

over South Vietnam

U-2 Incident

US pilot Francis Gary Powers is shot down over the USSR

He was in a spy plane (U2)

He served 19 months in a Soviet prison

Soviets created the ICBM That scared us

The Space Race

USA vs. USSRSoviets send Sputnik

into space, 1957Soviets first in space,

first to VenusSoviets create first

space stationUSA first on the

moon, first to Mars

Other Cold War Events

1972 Olympics Basketball

1980 Olympics Hockey

Bomb SheltersH.U.A.C.

House Un-American Activities Committee

Black ListedThe Red Scare

Joseph McCarthy

The End of the Cold War

In the 1970’s, movements are made to ease the tension between the two super powers

By the late 80’s, America was prospering and the USSR collapsed

USA wins???

Moment of Zen