Vocabulary:

1. Eastern Bloc

2. Harry Truman

3. Iron Curtain

4. Marshall Plan

5. NATO

6. Warsaw Pact

7. Welfare state

8. Technocrat

9. European Union

10. Berlin Wall

11. Solidarity

12. Nikita Khrushchev

13. Third World

I. How the West Changes after World War II

A. European Colonization Changes

1. Most colonies were abandoned; Europeans found organized hostility when they returned after WWII

2. The use of force was necessary, but in most cases the Europeans decided it wasn’t worth the costs

3. Vietnam…French forced out in 1954 after major defeats

4. Algeria gained independence from France in 1962

5. Egypt nationalizes the Suez canal…leads Britain and France to attack…“The Suez Crisis” (1956-57)

a. U.S. and Russia force them to withdraw…control of the canal stays with the Egyptians

b. Showed the weakness of former colonial powers

Two Superpowersexisted after WWII:the U.S. & U.S.S.R.

Western Europesided with the U. S.

Democracyflourished along

with rapideconomic growth.

The Cold War & The Iron Curtain

“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the 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, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.”

Winston Churchill

B. The Cold War

1. Eastern bloc formed…Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany…these communist states were aligned with the U.S.S.R.

2. Truman Doctrine…The U. S. should support free peoples throughout the world who were resisting takeovers by armed minorities or outside pressure.We must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.

3. Marshall Plan, 1947…“European Recovery Program” promoted by Secretary of State, George Marshall

The U. S. should provide aid to all European nations that need it. This move is not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger,

poverty, desperation, and chaos. $12.5 billion of US aid to Western Europeextended to Eastern Europe & USSR, (but this was rejected).

4. Germany (and Berlin) was divided between the U. S., France, Britain and the U.S.S.R.

a. The allies begin to rebuild West Germany in 1946 by uniting their sectors and introducing a common

currency: the German Mark

b. The USSR responded by blockading all road, rail, and water links between Berlin and Allied occupied Germany

c. Using narrow air corridors, the West responded with an airlift to supply the city’s needs.

--For eleven months, US and British aircrews flew around-the-clock missions to Berlin delivering everything from food to coal.

--Russian planes tried to intimidate the Allies to no effect

--Frustrated by Allied resolve, the USSR called off its blockade

--In May 1949, the US, British, and French zones in western Germany were combined to produce the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)

--In the east, the Russian zone became the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

5. NATO, 1949

a. The escalation of tension between the West and the Communists resulted in the creation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1949.

b. It was designed to provide a common security against the military threat of the U.S.S.R. and its satellites.

c. The Communists created the Warsaw Pact in 1955 to counter the West and its rearming of Germany

European Nationsbecame comfortablewith the idea of the

U.S. protecting them!

II. The Resurgence of Western Europe

A. The Spread of Liberal Democracy

1. Moderate social reform became the norm in W. Europe…Christian Democrats

2. Federal Republic of Germany formed from allied sectors…Konrad Adenauer, a Christian Democrat, was its 1st Pres.

3. France established its Fifth Republic in1958…Charles de Gaulle takes over

a. Settled the Algerian Crisis.

b. Made France a nuclear power.

c. Sustained general prosperity…maintained a stable, democratic government.

d. Made France more politically independent.

4. Portugal and Spain finally moved to democratic, parliamentary systems in the 1970s

B. New Political Issues…Civil rights movement, feminism, environmentalism…Green Movement

C. European Economic Community, 1958…began the move to a Common Market in Europe

1. Most of Europe began using a single currency, the euro, in 2001

2. Was designed so that Europe could compete economically with other regions of the world, especially the U. S.

D. In the decades after the war Europe saw considerable economic growth…the best since the industrial revolution!!!

1. Both agricultural and industrial output saw gains

a. Europe had low levels of unemployment

2. By the 1970s the west faced its greatest economic recession since the war…governments turned more conservative as witnessed by the election and long-serving Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in Britain

III. Cold War Allies: The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

A. The Former Dominions

1. Canada…continued its much broader welfare policies after the war

a. Sentiment rose in the French speaking area of Quebec for more autonomy from the English speaking areas…this is a debate that still arises occasionally today

2. Australia, New Zealand…after the war, these two moved away from their traditional alliances with Great Britain

a. Signed a defense pact with U.S. in 1951

b. Both nations take part in Korean War

c. Australia supports U.S. in Vietnam

d. From the 1970s, both nations moved to be more independent of the United States

B. The U. S. Becomes a Superpower

1. 1950s…policy of containment against Soviet Union

a. Immediately after WWII, communists attempted to seize power in numerous regions including Greece

b. Based on an article by a State Department official, George Kennan, and adopted by President Truman…continued under Dwight Eisenhower

c. Called for confronting and stopping communism in all world regions

President Eisenhower

2. Korean Conflict

a. June 1950 - communist North Korea attacked the south

b. The US convinced the UN to authorize force to stop North Korea

c. US forces pushed the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel and then to the Yalu River

--Communist China entered the war after the UN forces entered North Korea

d. The Allies were pushed back to the 38th parallel where both sides engaged in static warfare for another two years

e. A cease-fire was finally signed in July 1953

f. The Korean War convinced the US that the communists were intent on conquering the world

1. Communist North Korea attacks South Korea

2. America sends troops to help the South but they are pushed back to the southern tip of Korea

3. Meanwhile, the US asks the UN for help in Korea. The UN agrees and many nations send troops to help the US and South Koreans.

4. UN troops under Gen. MacArthur land at Inchon, behind the North Koreans, forcing their retreat north. North Koreans are pushed back to the Yalu River, the border with communist China

5. Communist China enters the war with a million soldiers and force the UN armies back to the middle of Korea- about where it all started

6. Stalemate occurs and both sides eventually agree to a cease-fire that is in effect to this day

The Russians (USSR) could have vetoed the decision but they had walked out earlier and were not present at the vote

Korean War[1950-1953]

Syngman Rhee

Kim Il-Sung

3. The “Domino Theory” expanded on the theory of Containment.

a. According to the Domino Theory, if one country came under communist control, neighboring states would collapse to communism in a like manner, much like a line of dominoes would all fall if one fell over

b. This theory became accepted by President Eisenhower and would form the basis for many US foreign policies including the US involvement in Vietnam.

4. SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)

a. The US created SEATO to provide collective security for their Asian friends…it was an Asian counterpart to NATO

b. Australia, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, & the United States were members

c. It was established under Western auspices after the French withdrawal from Indochina to oppose further Communist gains in Southeast Asia

5. Vietnam…1965 - 1973

a. Attempt to prevent the spread of communism into South Vietnam

b. War escalated to the point that over 550,000 American troops were there.

c. The war never showed success in preventing communism’s spread.

d. A cease fire was reached in 1973

e. U.S. withdraws in 1975 leaving all of Vietnam in communist hands

6. Other American Cold War Acts

a. House Un-American Activities Commission

--Senator McCarthy used the threat of communism to gain great power in the US Senate.

--Public officials and celebrities were called to testify before the commission about their real or supposed involvement in communist activities.

b. 1969 – SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks)

--Signed by Nixon and Brezhnev in 1972

--Limited numbers of submarine and silo launched missiles

Nixon and Brezhnev

IV. Western Culture and Society

A. Social Structure

1. White-collar sector expands due to more education

2. Crime rates increase after the 1940s in Europe & U.S.

3. Racism (in the U.S.), and anti-immigration (Europe) conflicts arose in the West

B. Changes in the role of Women

1. 1950s…more education led to more job opportunities

2. Access to divorce, abortion and birth control changed women’s lives…marriage and children came later…family goals often fell behind personal ones

C. Center of Culture shifts to U.S.

1. "Brain drain" to U.S. Technological development was more advanced in the United States.

a. Genetics, nuclear, space research

2. Pop art grew…mixed art with commerciality (business)

V. After World War II: A Soviet Empire

A. The Other Superpower

1. Expands in Pacific

--Pacific Islands, North Korea

B. Influenced others with aid

1. Chinese, Vietnamese communism

2. Nationalists in Africa, ME, Asia

The Soviet Union sought independence from the

world economy and territorial expansion

continued. The USSR developed atomic

weapons and vied with the U.S. for interest around the world!

The USSR also sought to expand into Eastern Europe to have a buffer zone around them.

The two previous German invasions had brought a desire for protection.

C. Alliance with Cuba

1. In 1959, the government of Cuba headed by Batista was overthrown by Fidel Castro

a. Castro nationalized foreign industries (mostly US), reneged on a promise of elections, and killed and/or exiled political opponents

2. Castro, a Marxist, readily accepted help from the USSR

a. 1961…President Kennedy approved an invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro forces…Bay of Pigs Invasion

b. The plan failed on the beaches when the force was met by the communist army and the US withheld air support

Castro and Khrushchev embrace

D. Soviet Dominance in Eastern Europe…Control of all but Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia

1. During the early 1950s, East Germans protested the increasingly tough Soviet controls…these actions were vigorously suppressed by the USSR

2. These actions caused many people, especially the well-educated, to leave East Germany for the west. To stop the flight, the Soviets built the Berlin Wall in 1961.

3. After 1956, the death of Stalin allowed some loosening of Soviet domination, but attempts to rebel against Soviet domination were crushed in East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Checkpoint Charlie

E. The Evolution of Soviet Domestic Policies

1. Within the Soviet Union the government continued with restriction of travel, media censorship, and isolation from the outside world. Communist Party membership was restricted to a few select dedicated associates.

VI. Soviet Culture: Promoting New Beliefs and InstitutionsA. Freedom of Religion restricted: the Orthodox Church is

under state control…Jews restricted…Russia was traditionally anti-Semitic…most loyalty to the Orthodox church was found in the older classes1. Party ideals dictate art…eventually Western styles begin to move in.

B. Economy and Society

1. Full Industrialization by the 1950s…almost all economic sectors were totally under state control

a. Industries focused on producing heavy industrial goods…almost no consumer goods (cars, simple household items, etc.) were produced.

2. Soviet population growth evened out…almost matching the Western rate.

3. Nikita Khrushchev takes over in 1956…De-Stalinization

a. Attacks Stalinism…backs off his strict policies of one man rule…forms a ruling committee

b. Into the 1980s, the Soviet economy remained stable, almost stagnant

4. Women in industrialized Russia played major roles in the workforce…some industries, such as medicine, they dominated

C. Space, arms race1. The Arms Race between US and USSR to

produce superior numbers of warheads--MAD – Mutual Assured Destruction

2. Sputnik launched…set off fear in America; had fallen horribly behind in technology

D. Cuban missile crisis, 1962

1. October 26, 1962 - the US learned that the Russians were preparing medium-range nuclear missile sites in Cuba

2. Kennedy publicly demanded the removal of the missiles and implemented a quarantine of Cuba by air and sea

3. For two weeks the world was on the brink of nuclear war

4. Finally, the USSR gave in and removed the missiles in return for US promise not to invade Cuba

5. It was a major Cold War victory for the US but also revealed dangers of nuclear brinkmanship President Kennedy

E. 1979-1988 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

1. Was designed to put a regime friendly to the USSR in place

2. 100,000 Russian troops invade

3. U.S. backs anti-Russian Muslim guerillas

4. Osama bin Laden’s first military conflict

Afghan guerillas

F. Gorbachev takes power in USSR…1985

1. Perestroika…restructuring of the economy

2. Demokratizatsia…democratic reforms

3. Glasnost…openness of Soviet society

4. 1987 Reagan and Gorbachev sign treaty mandating the removal of

intermediate nuclear weapons from Europe

1983 Star Wars*Reagan advocates space-based anti missile shield *Russia fears US technological superiority*Accuses US of violating 1972 antimissile treaty*Accelerates decline of USSR

Mikhail Gorbachev President Reagan in Moscow