The Cold War Defining the World for 50 Years. Key Terms Superpowers Bipolar U.N. – United Nations MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction Duck and Cover

The Cold WarThe Cold War

Defining the World for 50 Years

Key TermsKey Terms Superpowers Bipolar U.N. – United Nations MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction

“Duck and

Cover”

Key Events in the Cold Key Events in the Cold WarWar

Yalta Conference

Truman Doctrine

Berlin Airlift

Formation of NATO

Eisenhower Doctrine

Bay of Pigs

Cuban Missile Crisis

Korean War

Vietnam War

Détente

Renewed Tensions

Fall of the Berlin Wall

Yalta Conference (1945)Yalta Conference (1945) COLD

Key Players:

What Happened? Trying to plan for final peace settlement Soviets get major land concessions in Eastern Europe &

agree to support nationalist Chiang Kai-shek in China (over the communists)

Conference tinged by fear of communism spreading Shortly after, Churchill gives “Iron Curtain” speech

AND THE OUTCOME OF THIS WAS…AND THE OUTCOME OF THIS WAS…

Yalta Conference (1945)Yalta Conference (1945) OUTCOMES

Europe divided into “spheres of influence” (Communists & non-communist)

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Truman Doctrine (1947)Truman Doctrine (1947) COLD

Key Players:

What Happened? Basically, says that the

US will oppose communist rebels anywhere in the world

1st real discussion of “containment”


Truman Doctrine (1947) Truman Doctrine (1947) OUTCOMES

Commits US to a position of world guard dog (even though does not yet promise military resources)

Marshall Plan – rebuild Europe & Japan, ultimately help US economy


Berlin Airlift (1949)Berlin Airlift (1949) COLD

Key Players:

What Happened? Berlin and Germany have been divided into 4 sections US, France, & UK are going to reunite sections into West

Germany and West Berlin Soviets build Berlin Wall, cut off all land routes to Berlin US & UK send cargo plans day & night for 10 months


Berlin Airlift (1949)Berlin Airlift (1949) OUTCOMES

Soviets relent and lift blockade, create East Germany, East Berlin

1st test of willingness of the west to resist expansion of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe


Formation of NATO (1949)Formation of NATO (1949) COLD

Key Players:

What Happened?

Mutual defense pact of west European countries (“collective security”)

Greece, Turkey, & W. Germany join later


Formation of NATO (1949)Formation of NATO (1949) OUTCOMES

Soviets and satellites sign Warsaw Pact in 1955 Same idea in Eastern Europe Basically set up who would be on which side of the

Cold War


Korean War (1950-53)Korean War (1950-53) HOT

Key Players:

What Happened? Japanese had conquered Korea during WWII When Japan surrendered, Soviets occupied Korean Pen.

North of the 38th parallel, set up communist government In south UN sponsored elections set up South Korean gov’t

in 1948 North Korean troops invade 1950 UN troops go to defend; fighting goes back and forth, ends

at same place they started at


Korean War (1950-53)Korean War (1950-53) OUTCOMES

Truman fires MacArthur Seen as a tie Helps Eisenhower get

elected Many neutral nations pull

closer to US and start to increase arms and military


Eisenhower Doctrine (1957-Eisenhower Doctrine (1957-58)58)

COLD

Key Players:

What Happened?

U.S. would help any country (with military force) that was fighting “international communism”

U-2 incident in 1959 (Gary Powers)


Eisenhower Doctrine (1957-Eisenhower Doctrine (1957-58)58)

OUTCOMES US goes from guard to policeman Puts US military and economic resources on an

international stage, not just to fight for immediate US interests


Bay of Pigs (1961)Bay of Pigs (1961) HOT

Key Players:

What Happened? 1959, Castro gets control of Cuba U.S. helps train rebel forces, indicates that if they

overthrow Castro, U.S. would give support Coup falls apart, rebels ask for assistance U.S. sends absolutely no help, all rebels

slaughtered


Bay of Pigs (1961)Bay of Pigs (1961) OUTCOMES

Castro’s position solidified U.S. for. policy disaster Makes Kennedy look weak & inexperienced


Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) HOT

Key Players:

What Happened? Soviets place nuclear warheads on Cuba, 90 miles off the

Florida coast (capable of hitting anything on the Eastern seaboard)

U.S. demands that they be removed, sets up a full blockade of Cuba for 5 days

Tensions very high, some military leaders in both countries advocate using nuclear weapons

Secret “win-win” solution – Soviets will pull out missiles, US pledges never to invade Cuba or start a rebellion again


Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) OUTCOMES

Brinkmanship Closest we get to launching a nuclear war Scares lots of people “hotline” set up


Vietnam War (1950-75)Vietnam War (1950-75) HOT

Key Players:

What Happened? French colony, reclaimed after WWII, split in 1954 Northern half adopts nationalist government, which is led by communist

Ho Chi Minh US sends military advisors to advise and help, French pull out and leaves

US holding the bag—pull out means all Vietnam will be Communist Military build-up begins under Kennedy, escalation and gradualism Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964) Major build up during Johnson Peace negotiations begin in 1968; slow & halting Saigon falls in 1975


Vietnam War (1950-75)Vietnam War (1950-75) OUTCOMES

Vietnam reunites under Communist leadership US begins to see distinction between types of

communists Seen as only US military loss Incredible domestic dissent TV coverage shows body counts and full coverage

on evening news Changes how US views war


Détente (1970s)Détente (1970s) COLD

Key Players:

What Happened?

SALT Treaty 1972 Nixon opens door to China “vietnamization” – back off from unconditional

containment “shuttle diplomacy”


Détente (1970s)Détente (1970s) OUTCOMES

Some tensions ease Both sides concentrate on domestic difficulties Military build up continues


Renewed Tensions (1980s)Renewed Tensions (1980s) COLD

Key Players:

What Happened? Hostage Crisis – 1979 Election of Ronald Reagan—Reaganomics, deficit

spending Iran-Contra Affair Reykjavik Summit 1986—glasnost and perestroika


Renewed Tensions (1980s)Renewed Tensions (1980s) OUTCOMES

Active efforts to destroy communism Huge military build up on both sides Some fears of military buildup increase


Fall of the Berlin Wall Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)(1989)

SURPRISINGLY COLD

Key Players:

What Happened? Wall was built in 1961 – symbolic of split between

East and West – of Cold War itself Soviet economy collapses, taking satellite

countries with it By 1989, Soviets unwilling to squash rebellion in

satellites, wall comes down


Fall of the Berlin Wall Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)(1989)

OUTCOMES End of Cold War Coup in Russia, 1991 End to Soviet Union


Documents

The Cold War Defining the World for 50 Years. Key Terms Superpowers Bipolar U.N. – United Nations MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction Duck and Cover