OGT Social Studies PrepSession 5Cold War EraPost-Cold War Era

The Cold WarIt’s Important PointsAfter WWII, the United States played a vital

role in establishing the United Nations, but found itself in a Cold War with the Soviet Union & communism.

The Cold War as caused by several conflicting political and economic ideologies, which resulted in Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe, the division of Germany, the creation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, and the Communist Revolution in China.

The Cold WarIt’s Important PointsThe United States fought the Cold War with the

Truman Doctrine, containment, and the Marshall Plan – which helped rebuild war torn Allies after WWII.

Former colonies experienced a rise in dictatorships.The Korean War & Vietnam Wars were attempts by

the United States to contain communism.After the postwar (post-WWII) prosperity of the

1950s, changes prompted by social protest and civil rights movements altered American life in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Cold WarIt’s Important PointsThe causes and consequences of the fall of

the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War includeThe arms race (build up),Ethnic unrest,Independence movements in former Soviet

Union satellite nations, &Global decline of Communism.

The Cold War – Summary of What it WasThe tense face-off between the United States and the Soviet Union (and their respective allies) was known as the Cold War. It was unusual for 2 main reasons: it lasted for 40 years and Americans & Soviets never fired shots at each other. It was a contest between democracy and dictatorship. The Soviets hoped to dominate the world by converting governments to communism, a dictatorial political and economic system that denied freedom and opportunity to its citizens. The US committed to a policy of containment (stopping the spread of communism) and promoting the growth of democracy in other nations around the world.

Note about C/communismIt can be confusing to see the word

communism sometimes appear CAPITALIZED and sometimes uncapitalized.Lower-cased communism is the theory that

the people will be more equal if all property is shared.

Upper-cased Communism is a dictatorial political & economic system that denies freedom to its citizens.

Churchill & The Iron Curtain(Background info)WWII left many European colonial powers in

ruins. Even Britain and France, which had been on the winning side, had suffered physical and economic damage. These countries quickly realized that holding onto their colonies would be a difficult task while rebuilding at home and dealing with the threat of the Soviet Union.

Churchill & The Iron Curtain(Background info)After WWII, the Soviets took back Estonia,

Latvia, and Lithuania. The Soviet Union refused to remove its troops from portions of Eastern Europe that it had captured from the Germans. It took control of the governments of East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Governments sympathetic to the Communist system ruled Yugoslavia and Albania.

Churchill & The Iron CurtainBy 1946, Soviet Control of Eastern Europe was

strong enough to cause former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to say:“[A]n iron curtain has descended across the

[European] continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of central and eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere…”

This speech marks the beginning of the Cold War.

US Policy of Containment –The Truman DoctrineBegan when President Truman announced

the Truman Doctrine in March 1947.TD stated the US would help freedom-based

nations that were resisting Soviet domination.First applied in Greece (civil war) and Turkey

US gave economic aid Greek government defeated communists Turks resisted Soviet pressure

US Policy of Containment –The Marshall PlanGave billions of dollars to European countries

to repair factories & mines.Proposed by Sec of State – George MarshallWay US hoped to promote democracyNations receiving aid were required to spend

some of it with American companies

Arms RaceUs was the only country in the world with

nuclear weapons UNTIL 1949!Soviets developed their own atomic bomb.

Two nations (US & USSR) began building large stockpiles of nuclear weapons.Meant growing danger for the whole world

Cold War Military Alliances

Spread of Communism in AsiaThe Cold War soon spread from Europe to Asia. When China came under Communist control in 1949, many Americans began talking of an international Communist conspiracy -- pitting the combined muscle of China and the Soviets against the United States.

In such an atmosphere, almost any conflict anywhere in the world threatened to turn

the Cold War into a hot one.

HOT SPOT - BerlinAfter WWII, Germany was broken into 2 countries.

East Germany was dominated by Soviets.West Germany was supported by Western

Europe & the US.Berlin was divided into 4 zones (1 Great Britain, 1

France, 1 US, 1 USSR) but was located inside EAST Germany.1948 – Berlin Blockade - Soviets closed off Berlin Berlin Airlift – Fr, GB, US airlifted supplies –

Almost a year.Soviets realized that the blockade wasn’t going

to work, so they lifted the blockade.

Hot Spot - Berlin1949-1961 – Many East Germans fled their

country through Berlin.1961 – Berlin Wall was built – First wall built to

keep citizens IN rather than enemies out.The Berlin Wall was up until the fall of 1989.

Torn down as communism fell in Eastern Europe

Reagan’s Speech: “Mr. Gorbachev – Tear down this wall!”

HOT WAR – Korean War1950 (Summer) – North Korean (Communist) troops

invaded South Korean (Democratic)US (and UN forces) aided South Korea; China aided

North KoreaFought for 3 years (1950-53); Never a peace treaty.Ending boundaries of countries very close to what

they were at the beginning – Drawn near the 38th parallel.Demilitarized Zone on each side of the border

International tension with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program continues to present danger.

In the US – Another Red Scare – McCarthyism in the Early 1950sAmericans were worried about Soviet spies being

in the country.House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) –

Investigated disloyalty in the government, schools (universities), and Hollywood.

1950 – Joseph McCarthy – Rep. Senator from WI – claimed he had a list of 205 communists who worked for the State Department.Provoked huge sensation - “witch” hunts for

communists began all over America.McCarthy never produced any evidence to support

his claims.

In the US – Another Red Scare – McCarthyism in the Early 1950sMcCarthy kept making accusations for 4 years!

He claimed the was working to protect national security.

Many Americans’ careers were ruined as a result of McCarthy’s charges.

1954 - US Senate finally condemned McCarthy for “contemptuous” conduct (conduct unbecoming a member of Congress) and censured him.McCarthy lost popularity and McCarthyism died

out.Not long after that, McCarthy died.

Hot Spot - VietnamFrance wanted to keep Indochina (Present

day Vietnam, Cambodia, & Laos).USSR backed Communist independence

movement leader Ho Chi Minh.France divided region into Vietnam, Cambodia,

and Laos (to appease the Communists)French forces still occupied the area, but each

state had its own government.1954 - Communist rebels defeated French

forces; French left all together soon after.

Hot Spot - VietnamAfter the French left, Vietnam was divided in two.US began helping newly formed democratic South

Vietnam in its struggle against Communist North Vietnam.Result of containment policyAt first, the US was just sending money and military

advisors, giving military advice, to the South Vietnamese.

US did not want communism to spread any further.Afraid of domino effect.If one nation falls to communism, the one next to it will

fall and so on.

HOT Spot - Cuba1959 – Fidel Castro led revolution in Cuba that

turned it into a Communist dictatorship.1961 – US tried to overthrow Castro – Bay of Pigs

Invasion – Failed, miserably1962 – Soviets put nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90

miles from the tip of Florida.Resulted in an extremely tense stand-off between

the US and the USSR – AKA: Cuban Missile CrisisBoth realized that if one were to strike the other, it

could escalate into WWIII.Compromise drawn:

USSR would remove missiles and base from Cuba. US would stay out of Cuban affairs.

Many Cubans have fled Cuba for the US. Cuba is one of the few Communist states still in

existence.

HOT WAR - Vietnam1964 – North Vietnamese attacked American

ships off the coast of NV Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Allowed President

Lyndon Johnson to take stronger military action. Johnson sent in the first combat troops. This marks the beginning of direct US

involvement (TROOPS) in Vietnam.

HOT WAR - Vietnam1965-1973 – More than 8 million Americans

served in the military during the Vietnam War.

Draft was institutedPeople tried to dodge the draft by leaving the

country.As a whole, it affected the poor the worst,

including many minority groups in US. If you were in college, you could get out of going to

war, but most poor people could not afford college and, thus, were eligible for the draft.

HOT WAR - VietnamThe VW was the first to be seen on TV and viewed by

the American public.Split the country between “Hawks” (those who

supported US involvement in the war) and “Doves” (those who were against US involvement in the war).“Doves” were a HUGE part of the counterculture

movement in the US.Seemed to be a war that the US could not win.

Vietcong (South Vietnamese fighters, guerillas who supported NORT Vietnam) looked like everyday South Vietnamese citizens – Hard to recognize the enemy.

Vietnam was like a jungle; Different fighting tactics were needed and used – Guerilla warfare & booby traps.

HOT WAR - VietnamJanuary 1968 – Tet Offensive – Surprise attacks

launched on South Vietnam cities by Vietcong.Tet = Vietnamese New Year’s holiday.Vietcong managed to infiltrate all the way down to

Saigon (which is WAY south in South Vietnam)In the end, US and SV forces pushed the enemy back,

BUT the Vietcong had own a MAJOR political victoryTet Offensive showed that even with a half a million US

troops, no part of SV was safe from Vietcong attacks.Turning point in war; More Americans started to

protest it. Johnson did NOT seek reelection in 1968.

HOT WAR - VietnamWhen Nixon came into office, he widened the war effort (at

first), hoping to weaken the enemy.NV had used trails in Cambodia to send supplies to their

soldiers and Vietcong in SV.1969 – Nixon ordered bombing on communist bases in

Cambodia, then US & SV troops invaded by land.Plunged Cambodia into civil war In 1975 – Khmer Rouge won civil war1979 – Vietnam invaded Cambodia; Set up new communist

gov’t.Nixon under pressure at home – began to turn war over to

SV and withdraw US troops.Peace talks in Paris

In January 1973 – Cease fire agreement reached1974 – Last of US Troops left.Result (by April 1975)– NV & SV became one, Communist,

Vietnam

Space Race1957 – Soviets launch Sputnik I into space – 1st

satellite1961 – USSR sent first human into space to

circle the EarthUS formed NASA and began their own space

program to keep up with (or surpass) the SovietsCongress approved funds for NASAUS strove to become the leader in space travel

July 20, 1969 – Neil Armstrong – 1st human to walk on the moon

Cold War – Winds DownUS had refused to recognize Mao Zedong’s

communist government in China (since 1949)US recognized the Chinese Nationalists – now on

island Taiwan.US gave arms and aid to the Nationalists &

supported their claim to being the legitimate government in China.

1972 – Nixon visited mainland China1979 – US and China finally established

diplomatic relations (tension had eased to allow this)

Cold War – Détente Détente – Lessening of tensions (specifically

between the superpowers – US & USSR)May 1972 – Nixon visits the USSR (1st

President to do so since start of Cold War) – Détente in play

Détente led superpowers to sign SALT Agreement – Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

Cold War – Détente Challenged1979 – Soviets invaded Afghanistan – sent

there to set up a pro-Soviet government that had just seized power.

US condemned the invasionPresident Carter withdrew SALT II Treaty

from Senate approval hearings and the US boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow.

Eventually, Soviets couldn’t afford to stay in Afghanistan and withdrew troops in 1989.

Cold War (Spend that money! See who wins this thing!)In 1970s – US started cutting back military

budgetSome believed we needed less weapons due to

détenteOthers believed US was still at risk – spending

should continueRonald Reagan (1981) – Pushed for higher levels

of military spending.Caused USSR to spend more money (Arms Race

continued)1987 – US & USSR signed Intermediate-Range

Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty – limit medium-range nuclear arms.

Cold War (Spend that money! See who wins this thing!)

Reagan’s tough stand against Communism and the Soviets – spending extraordinary amounts of money on defense – led the Soviets into so much debt that they couldn’t provide for Soviet citizens.People within the Soviet Union started to

revolt.Mikhail Gorbachev (came to power in 1985) –

Glasnost policy – allowed people to talk openly without attack by the government.

Soviet Union Breaks ApartUSSR broke apart in 1991

Commonwealth of Independent States (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine) formed

15 New Republics formed: Germany (unified), Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia

US emerged as the leading nation of power in the world.Has led to struggles – Should US use power to

help others gain independence? US became a target to “take down” by nationalist groups (like al-Qaeda)

Also During the Cold War Throughout the WorldIndependence Movements were happening

all around the world – primarily on the Asian & African continent.

US & USSR would try to ally with those newly forming countries.Some accepted the help of one or the other,

allying with one or the other.Some accepted help from both, but would not

ally with either.This allowed the US & USSR to increase their

pull & influence worldwide.

During the Cold War in USCivil Rights Movement

1954 – Brown v. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas Supreme Court decision ends segregation in schools. (Over-turns Plessy v. Ferguson)

1955 – Montgomery, AL bus boycott begins1957 – President Eisenhower sends in National

Guard soldiers to Little Rock, Arkansas to help 9 black students enroll in a white school.

1961 – “Freedom Rides” and other peaceful protests happen throughout the South.

1964 – Civil Rights Act is passed; MLK, Jr wins Nobel Peace Prize

1968 – MLK, Jr is assassinated in Memphis, TN.

During the Cold War in USWhile in the early 1960s, the Civil Rights

Movement focused on voting rights, winning economic rights became the focus in the late 1960s.

Women’s Rights Movement – 1960s & 70sBetty Friedan – Feminine Mystique – Described

how society pressured women to remain in the home and reject a career.

Women’s Liberation MovementWomen examined personal lives Led to a movement for social and political change

in workplace, education, and in politics.Argued for rights like equal pay for equal work, less

governmental interference in private lives, and fairness of women seeking political office or high achievement in academics.

During the Cold War in USCounterculture Movement

Children of postwar “Baby Boom” – young adultsFollowers pushed for equal rights for African-

Americans, women and other minorities.Followers were against the Vietnam War (Doves)450,000 young people from all over US went to

Woodstock Music & Art Fair (1969)Peace, Love, & Rock-n-Roll – Hippies & Flower

Children.Counterculture politics tended to be very liberal –

Libertarian – hardly any rules.

Post-Cold War EraIt’s Important PointsConflict in the Middle East has continued

despite international peacemaking efforts.Europe, Asia, and Africa have all experienced

ethnic strife.

Israel & PalestiniansBackground Info1948 – Israel’s declares independence;

Recognized by US1967 – Six Day War – Israel tried to break an

Egyptian blockade of an important water route; Result: Tripled Israel’s territory Captured Gaza Strip and the West Bank AND

Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.Placed 1 million Palestinian Arabs under Israeli

control

Israel & PalestiniansBackground Info (Continued)

October 1973 – Yom Kippur War between Israel and Egypt & Syria – settled after about 3 weeks by UN – cease-fire agreement before either side had won a clear victory.

1979 – Camp David Accords – President Carter invited leaders of Israel & Egypt to Camp David (Presidential retreat location in Maryland) March 1979 – Peace treaty signed; ended 30 year state of

war between Egypt & Israel; US agreed to provide economic & military assistance to both; US pledged to help negotiate an end to the dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians; This peace treaty angered other Arab states (They lost Egypt as an ally against Israel)

Israel & PalestiniansDayton Accords – Peace talks between

Israelis and other Arabs/PalestiniansThroughout the 1990sLed to Israel’s withdraw from the Gaza Strip

and removal of some troops from the West Bank.Suicide bombings by Islamic militants AND

Israeli occupation and retaliation continue to terrorize the people who live there.

Israel & Palestinians2002 – US , the European Union, Russia, and

United Nations jointly propose the “road map for peace”.

Goal: Independent Palestinian state2005 – Israel removed troops and a number

of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip permanently.

Persian Gulf War1990 – Iraq invaded Kuwait

President George H. W. Bush (Senior) sent US military forces to Persian Gulf

Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein ignored warnings to back down and leave Kuwait.

January 1991 – US began airstrikes against strategic targets in Kuwait

US forces drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait Persian Gulf war came to an end

9/11 and AfterSeptember 11, 2001 – al-Qaeda attacks Twin

Towers in NYC.“War on Terror” (George W. Bush – Junior)

beginsAny nation harboring or supporting terrorists

will be regarded by US as hostile

9/11 and After1998 – Kosovo (province in Yugoslavia) – most

people are Albanian – sought independence from Yugoslavia or a union with Albania Intervention by UN stopped fighting Bosnia continues to be ethnically divided

February 2003 – Serbia & Montenegro (remaining Yugoslav republics) voted to dissolve Yugoslavia and form a loose union called Serbia and Montenegro.

Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide(Some examples, but not all shown)

1992 – Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina (with help of Serb-dominated Yugoslav government) began expelling/killing Muslims in attempt to keep Bosnia from becoming independent.

Conflict in Rwanda – Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groupsTutsi only 9% of population1993 – Major-General Juvenal Habyarimana

(Rwanda President) and Hutu signed an agreement that would protect human rights of the Tutsi and attempt to solve refugee problem.His plane was shot down (April 1994) – Mass murder

of Tutsi began (Nearly 800,000 murdered)

Globalization & InterdependenceInternet has connected the worldTrade became interdependentIssues of trade have made nations (like the

US) get involved in others’ affairs to protect their own countries’ interests.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (Affirmative Action Challenged)1973 & 1974 Allan Bakke repeatedly applied for

admission to medical school and was rejected.School had a separate program for minorities

with a lower acceptance score.Not all of the minority spots were filledBakke still denied acceptance.Bakke sued – claimed he had been rejected based

on his race and that the rejection violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

University sued Bakke – wanted the court to say that its affirmative-action program was legal.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (Affirmative Action Challenged)Trial court ruled that race could not be used in

admissions decisions; did not grant Bakke admission.

California Supreme Court ruled that the university could not use race against Bakke and that it must admit Bakke.

US Supreme Court ruling (1976) – 2 part rulingUpheld CASC ruling – Bakke’s rights had been

violatedOverturned CASC part about race not being apart of

admissions – USSC said it could be used as PART of the plan to make the student body more diverse.

Compelling Government InterestUSA PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening

America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept & Obstruct Terrorism) Act – Passed by Congress in 2001

Result of 9/11 attacksOpponents: Law is dangerous – weakens rights

guaranteed by Bill of Rights – unlawful search & seizure and guarantee of due process

Supporters: Protecting American interests as a whole – protecting against terrorist acts – is a compelling government interest.

Compelling Government InterestLegal term that allows the government to

restrict individual rights in order to protect & serve the common good.

This argument has been used in situations from affirmative action disputes to George W Bush’s signing of an order to allow special military tribunals to try foreigners accused of terrorist activities.