The Cold War 1945-1990
US vs Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Definition-A political, strategic and ideological struggle between the US and the Soviet Union
Spread throughout the world-Europe, Asia Africa and Latin America
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
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' 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
Churchill FDR Stalin-big three
Yalta Conference
Feb 1945
The big three agree to- 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
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
Established defensible borders
Encourage friendly governments on it's borders
Spread communism around the world
The Berlin Crisis
In 1948, the three western controlled zones of Germany (US, France, UK) were united
The west wanted the east to rejoin but Stalin feared that it would hurt soviet security
In June 1948 Stalin decided to try to gain control of West Berlin which was deep inside the eastern sector
He cut road rail and canal links with West Berlin hoping to starve it into submission, the west responded by airlifting the necessary supplies to allow west Berlin to survive
In may 1949 S.U. admitted defeat and lifted the blockade
USSR First Atomic Test
US Test Hydrogen Bomb-1000 times more times than atom bomb
Stalin Dies-1953
Nikita Khrushchev Takes over
Talks of peaceful co-existence and destalinization
USSR launches Sputnik
Space Race
USSR was the first to put a satellite/ space ship into space
US was first to land on the moon on 1969
USSR would also put animals into space
Conspiracies?
Fidel Castro overthrows Batista
Berlin Wall-1961
Wall
Put up to divide Berlin Germany
East side was communistic
West side was non-communistic
Bay of Pigs
B.O.P
It was the US secret attempt to overthrow Castro
JFK was the President at the time
Failed miserably
Arguably lead to the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
Crisis
USSR put missiles into Cuba
They said it was for defensive purposes so that the US wouldn't invade communistic Cuba
Most intense time of the Cold War
The US wanted missiles out of Cuba
The resolution: Take US Secret missiles out of Turkey secretly in exchange for the missile in Cuba
Berlin Wall comes down 1989
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