Temperature project

Cold War Project

By:

Lily Moens, Tim Lee, Bradley Wong, and Cole Johnson

Prague Spring

Prague Spring of 1968 is used to define the period of time when the government of Czechoslovakia wanted to democratize the nation

By democratizing the nation, Alexander Dubcek thought that he could lessen the stranglehold Moscow had on Czechoslovakia’s affairs

The Prague Spring ended with the Soviets invading Czechoslovakia, the removal of Dubcek from power, and an end to reform within Czechoslovakia

73°

1968

Prague Spring Analysis

• Prague Spring is a relatively hot event, considering its extremely strong political roots. When Soviets intervened in Czechoslovakia, killing thousands and ending reform, it sent shockwaves throughout Europe. Although the event was localized, the impact it had on other regions justifies the high temperature rating.

Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950 when 75,000 North Korean soldiers poured across the 38th parallel

It was the first military action of the Cold War

The Americans rushed in to support the South Koreans, viewing it as a war against the forces of communism itself

Casualties mounted, and the American officials worked toward an armistice with the North Koreans, fearing that the alternative would be a wider war with China and Russia

The Korean War ended in July 1953

95°1950

Korean War Analysis

• The Korean War could be considered one of the hottest events during the Cold War. Nations joined the cause, backing one side or the other, and it became an ideological and intensely political war. With multiple powerful countries involved, people believed the world was on the brink of WWIII.

SALT

Jimmy Carter, the newly elected American President, attempted to renegotiate the original SALT treaty in the hopes of reducing the number of Soviet missiles

Carter and Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev signed the SALT II agreement in Vienna

The American Senate refused to ratify the treaty in 1980

15°

1977

SALT Analysis

• The SALT Treaty has a relatively low temperature because it was created with the intention of reducing potential violence. It is not completely cold, however, because although the treaty was signed by both the Soviets and the U.S. President, Congress refused to ratify it due to previously inspired suspicions and prejudices.

Helsinki Accords

All of the countries in Europe (except Albania), the U.S., and Canada signed this agreement

The accords were primarily an effort to reduce tension between the Soviet and Western blocs

The agreement recognized the inviolability of the post-WWII frontiers in Europe and pledged the 35 nations to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms

The Helsinki Accords are nonbinding and do not have treaty status

5°

1975

Helsinki Accords Analysis

• The Helsinki Accords are extremely cold, which can be attributed to the nature of the Accords. The accords’ entire purpose was to keep the peace in Europe, and when the majority of the European nations signed the document, it seemed as if some of the tension was alleviated.

Soviet-Afghan War

Uprisings from the middle class and peasantry weakened the newly established socialist government

In 1979, the Soviets invaded to defend the government

The war turned into a disaster– in 1988, the Soviets withdrew after losing 15,000 troops in ten years

80°

1979

Soviet-Afghan War Analysis

• The Soviet-Afghan war was extremely hot due to the various political contributing factors. The Soviets sent in troops to defend not only the Afghani socialist government, but socialism itself. The defeat humiliated the Soviets and increased tension in the Middle East.

Gorbachev’s glasnost &

perestroika "Perestroika"

(restructuring) and "glasnost" (openness) were Mikhail Gorbachev's watchwords for the renovation of the Soviet body politic and society that he pursued as general secretary of the Communist Party from 1985 until 1991.

10°

1985

Gorbachev’s glasnost & perestroika Analysis

• This event is relatively cold because it is just economic, political, and social change within Russia, nothing remarkable to make it stand out as an event in the Cold War.

Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was erected in the dead of night and for 28 years kept East Germans from fleeing to the West. Its destruction, which was nearly as instantaneous as its creation, was celebrated around the world.

82°

1961

Berlin Wall Analysis

• The Berlin Wall is considered a “hot” event because it was a physical division between East and West Germany. This boundary heated the tensions between East and West, which in turn caused heightened conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Vietnam War The Vietnam War was the

prolonged struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the United States (with the aid of the South Vietnamese) attempting to prevent the spread of communism. Engaged in a war that many viewed as having no way to win, U.S. leaders lost the American public's support for the war.

99°

1959

Vietnam War Analysis

• The Vietnam War would be considered extremely hot because it was real warfare. There was real bloodshed and death, as well as political and social unrest.

Berlin Blockade (airlift)

Blockade of the US, UK and French zones of Berlin by the Soviet Union, intended to force negotiations over the division and future of Germany. It failed because the blockaded powers were able to airlift in huge amounts of supplies.

85°1948

Berlin Blockade Analysis

• This event was somewhat hot because it increased tensions between the US and the Soviet Union greatly. This move by the US completely went against the Soviet Union, and allowed the US to aid the Germans.

Iron Curtain In this speech, Churchill gave

the very descriptive phrase that surprised the United States and Britain, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent." Before this speech, the U.S. and Britain had been concerned with their own post-war economies and had remained extremely grateful for the Soviet Union's proactive role in ending World War II. It was Churchill's speech that changed the way the democratic West viewed the Communist East.

70°1946

Iron Curtain Analysis• This event would be

considered warm because, while it was not a real, physical conflict, it was a very bold announcement. The “Iron Curtain” Speech was very powerful since it was spoken by the British Prime Minister, who was accompanied by President Harry Truman. It effectively changed the view of an entire nation in order to truly divide Europe mentally.

NATO NATO stands for The North

American Treaty Organization which is an alliance made up of 11 nations in Europe and North America to stop the spread of communism.

It was signed in 1949 for the protection of the freedom and security of the member countries through political and economic means.

The formation of NATO triggered the formation of the Warsaw Pact, an alliance between communist nations.

55°1949

NATO Analysis

• I believe the formation of NATO was a fairly warm event due to the increased tension between the anti communist nations and the communist nations.

• The tension is created as alliances vow to protect those who they are alliances with. The communism nations were pressured to create their own alliance as NATO could overpower.

Sputnik Russian for “Fellow Traveler on

Earth” The United States and the

Soviet Union entered a space race for the exploration of space.

The Soviet Launched the first artificial satellite in space, The Sputnik 1 into space.

The launching caused an uproar by the United States in fear of being bombed.

63°

1957

Sputnik Analysis

• I believe the launching of sputnik was warm as the launch caused great uproar in the United States. The United states were afraid of missiles and bombs dropped by Russians.

• Tension grew as the Soviet Union defeated the United States in the Space Race with their first satellite, the Sputnik.

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Star Wars

This is also called the “Strategic Defense Initiative.”

The Strategic Defense Initiative was proposed by Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 as a mean for protection against strategic nuclear missiles.

The SDI is a ground and space based system used to shoot lasers at incoming missiles.

67°

1983

Star Wars Analysis

• I believe this event was hot because the idea of the SDI lead to the Soviet Union seeing this as a threat. The Soviet Union saw this as a physical threat and a threat to neutralize Soviet Defense. Tension grew between the United states and the Soviet Union as the SDI could be possibly used as a weapon against the Soviet Union.


1980/1984 Olympics

In response to the Soviet war in Afghanistan, The US demanded that the Soviet Union withdraw troops from Afghanistan in One month or the United States would boycott the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow Russia.

The Soviet Union did not withdraw and the boycott took place.

In response to the 1980 Olympic Boycott. The Soviet Union and other nations decided to Boycott the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles, California, United States

52°

1980/1984

1980/1984 Olympics Analysis

• I believe this was a fairly warm event as the boycotting of the Olympics created a tension between the United States and the Soviet Union as the united States disconnected themselves from Soviet Union causing the Soviet Union to follow back with their boycott the following Olympics.

U2 Incident (Gary Powers)

On May 1, 1960, A US U-2 Plane was shot down over the airspace of the Soviet Union .

The US refused to inform the Soviet of the plane’s purpose and mission until the plane and the surviving pilot, Gary Powers, was brought up by the Soviet Union. The mission was to spy on the Soviet Union and their military bases.

This event was an embarrassment to the United States and deteriorated the relation with the Soviet Union.

83°

1960

U2 Incident Analysis

• I believe this event was HOT as this was an action taken by the Soviet Union against The United States. Tension was very high as evidence of the United States spying on the Soviet Union was present. This was an action that included the interaction of one’s properties.


Khrushchev's Secret Speech

Khrushchev makes a speech in the 20th Party Congress belittling and criticizing Stalin’s methods of leadership. The speech was distributed, and led to unrest in Poland and revolution in Hungary

65°

1961

Khrushchev's Secret Speech Analysis

• This event is cool on the temperature scale because it did not have an overwhelming effect on military actions. Even though it was part of unrest and rebellion, it was merely a small factor in these events and was not the sole cause of either. It is not cold because there was a great deal of political disagreements over who should rule Russia because of this speech.


Cuban Missile Crisis

Cubans and the Soviets built missile bases in Cuba with the capability to strike the US. This was in response to the US building nuclear weapons in Turkey, Italy, and the UK that had the ability to reach Moscow. Tensions built while each side wanted the other to withdraw their missiles. The countries finally agreed to dismantle and remove all missile bases and nuclear weapons they had near each other.

100°

1962

Cuban Missile Crisis Analysis

• This event was very hot on the temperature scale. It almost turned the Cold War into a full scale nuclear war. Panic had spread among citizens of the US who believed they would be hit by a nuclear warhead. Khrushchev even mentioned that this could be a nuclear war between them. It was only by a treaty that this near catastrophic event ended.


Truman Doctrine The Truman Doctrine is a

policy brought about by President Truman in a speech. It was stated then that the US would provide financial and military aid to Turkey and Greece in order to keep them from being taken over by Communist forces. This was the point at which the US became involved in containing the spread of Communism, making this the true beginning of the Cold War.

60°1947

Truman Doctrine Analysis

• This event was listed as cool on the temperature scale. Even though it marked the true start of the Cold War, it was not the source of violence or threat to any nation. While the US promised it would provide military support if needed, the chance never arose, and they provided only financial support to Turkey and Greece. The Truman Doctrine didn’t cause any serious or violent reactions.


United Nations

The United Nations was set up after WWII to maintain the peace. It serves as a place for the representatives of each country to speak and negotiate on entirely peaceful terms. The UN was an attempt at fixing the flaws with the League of Nations, which failed to prevent WWII.

30°1945

United Nations Analysis

• This event was “cold”, and was not at all threatening. The establishment of this organization was intended to keep peace, and was met with very little conflict. It may even be the reason the Cold War remained peaceful. It provided a place for nations to speak on equal, peaceful terms, and was seen favorably by its participants. It was a step towards peace, not war.


Fall of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall separated East and West Germany. It was a physical barrier with guards and other means of preventing people from crossing and migrating to the other side of Germany. Due to the efforts of protesters and the cooperation of other European governments, the gates in the wall were opened and people were allowed through. This was followed by much fanfare, and was a step toward more peace in Europe.

35°

1989

Fall of the Berlin Wall Analysis

• This event was cold because it was gained by peaceful protests and governmental agreements. When the wall fell, it was a sign of peace and agreement between East and West Germany, and symbolized the heightened unity of Europe, Germany in particular. The people were overjoyed at the news, and Germany was more unified than it had been ever since the construction of the wall.


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Events & Their Temperatures In Chronological Order

Temperature

Final AnalysisThrough our research and analysis, we found that the

Helsinki Accords was the coldest event based on the content expressed in the treaty. Because the sole purpose of the accords was to maintain peace in the post WWII society, there was no evidence of tension or violence. Therefore, we concluded that this event deserved to be named the coldest. In regards to the hottest, we decided that the Cuban Missile Crisis was the hottest due to the tremendous amount of tension between the Soviets and the U.S. The threat of nuclear missiles and the multiple advances the USSR made during the Cuban Missile Crisis sent American officials scrambling, the public panicking, and the world bracing itself for a full-scale nuclear war. The consequences and reactions to this event made the Cuban Missile Crisis the hottest event of the Cold War.

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