Today we started out by talking about the Cold War. We then got the Cold War project. My group's project is Bay of Pigs.
https://mrbruns.ning.com/group/ushistory/forum/topics/the-cold-war-project
Cold War - A political, strategic and ideological struggle between the US and Soviet Union. Spread throughout the world-Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Democracy - The citizens vote for the leaders.
Communism - Military ruling with one leader.
Capitalism - People own the businesses. Free enterprise.
Socialism - Government controls the businesses.
Causes of the Cold War:
- Different political systems
- US is based on democracy, capitalism, and freedom
- USSR is based on dictatorship, communism, and control
- BOth thought their system was better and distrusted the others intentions
- Stalin despised capitalism
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 WW2/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 WW2/Cold War Goals for the USSR
- Wanted to create greater security for itself
- Lost tens of millions of people in WW2 and Stalin's purges
- Feared a strong Germany
- Established defensible borders
- Encourage friendly governments on its borders
- Spread communism around the world
Yalta Conference
- Before the end of the WW2, Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt met at Yalta to plan what should happen when the war ended. They agreed on many points
- The establishments of the United Nations
- Germany divided into four zones
- Free elections allowed in the states of eastern Europe
- Russia promised to join the war against Japan
Key Terms
- Iron Curtain Speech - Given by Winston Churchill (1946). Talking about the split between Europe (East and West). These were Communist and Free.
- Domino Theory - Something that affects one country will begin affecting other countries. (Like communism in Europe)
- Policy of Containment - US policy to prevent spread of communism without nuclear war. (George Keenan)
- Truman Doctrine - Truman said that the US would back (and help with money and military supplies) Greece and Turkey from falling into communism. 1947
- Marshall Plan - 1947. George C Marshall. Called for European Recovery Program. $13 billion was given to European countries to get their confidence back (so they didn't go to communism.
- Brinkmanship - Going to the brink of war without actually going to war.
- Massive Retaliation/Mutual Deterrence/Mutual Assured Destruction - MR - When a country massively retaliates with nuclear weapons. MD - Both sides mutually agree not to fight. MAD - When a country knows that both countries can destroy each other.
- NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) - NATO’s essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. There are currently 28 members. This was signed on April 4, 1949. Democratic countries. These are defensive alliances. US was in this to go against the communist countries. Prevented communism invasion.
- Warsaw Pact - Warsaw pact fell apart when the Soviet Union fell apart. These are defensive alliances.
- CIA - Central Intelligence Agency - Gathering information on other countries by spying.
- KGB - The CIA of the Soviet Union.
- Peaceful Coexistence - A policy of peace between countries that are enemies (don't like each other).
- De-Stalinization - Soviet wanted to get rid of the terrible things the Stalin did.
- Detente - French for "easing of tensions".
- Perestroika - McHale Gorbachev gets credit for ending cold war- he first said this which means being an open in economy
- Glasnost - increasing openness again but in government
- Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1963 - Banned nuclear testing above ground.
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968 - Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (Treaty) - US and Soviet Union to reduce the amount of nuclear weapons countries could have.
- Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty - Both countries agree not to make a weapon, that would destroy any nuclear weapon shot at them.
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