Today we discussed the Cold war. We also discussed types of countries I guess. Communism vs. Democracy and Socialism vs. Capitalism.
We talked about the Causes of the Cold war.
Stalin breaking his promise to allow free elections at the Yalta Conference
American fear of a communist attack (Red Scare) and USSR's fear of a US attack
USSR's fear of the atomic bomb
USSR's actions in their German zone
USSR's goal to spread communism around the world
This feeling of suspicion lead to mutual distrust and this did a great deal to deepen the Cold War.
Post WWII/Cold War Goals for US
Wanted to promote open markets for US goods to prevent another depression
Promote democracy throughout the world, especially in Asia and Africa
Stop the spread of communism
Post WWII/Cold War Goals for the USSR
Wanted to create greater security for itself
lost tens of millions of people in WWII and Stalin's purges
Feared a strong Germany
Establish defensible borders
Encourage friendly governments on its borders
Spread communism around the world
Yalta Conference
February 1945
Before the end of WWII, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met at Yalta to plan what should happen when the war ended. They agreed on many points:
The establishment of the United Nations
Germany to be divided into four zones.
Free elections allowed in the states of eastern Europe.
Russia promised to join the war against Japan.
Key Terms
Perestroika - was a political movement for reformation within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the 1980s.
Iron curtain Speech - Speech given by Churchill in 1946 about how Europe was split between communism and democratic.
Domino theory - If something bad like communism happens to one country it will happen to others.
Policy of containment - U.S. trying to stop the spread of communism. George Kennan
Truman Doctrine - Truman saying that the U.S. would back up Greece and Turkey financially and military
Marshall Plan - Secretary of State - Spent millions of dollars on European recovery plans.
Brinkmanship - Pushing the military to the brink of war without going to war.
Massive Retaliation- retaliating with nuclear force
Mutual Deterrence- trying to prevent something from happening
Assured Destruction- everyone dies due to nuclear war.
NATO- Alliance against communist countries during the cold war.
Warsaw Pact- Soviets wanted to control all military forces
CIA- Central intelligence agency, spying
KGB- Soviet secret police, like the soviet CIA and FBI
Peaceful coexistence- Completion without war, you don't like have to like each other but you have to get along
De-Stalinization- Political reform after Stalin died
Detente-Easing of tentions
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1963-
Nuclear Non proliferation treaty 1968- stop the spread of nuclear weapons
SALT-
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty-
Glasnost- Soviet policy of open discussion of social and political issues
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