Cold War

The Beginning of the Cold War

• The Soviet Union vs. U.S
• Germany is split into territories occupied by different forces
• Soviets take East Germany, U.S. and allies take West
• Berlin is divided in half
• Churchill: "iron curtain has divided East and West"
• 
• Bildunterschrift: Soviets take East, U.S. and allies take West

Containment

• Communism was spreading after WWII ended, Truman wanted to stop it
• Soviets wanted more territory, China became communist under Mao Zedong
• Greece and Turkey were nearly taken by communist forces
• Truman Doctrine stated "must be policy of the U.S. to support "free people" that are resisting communism".
• 
• Bildunterschrift: Stop Communism!

Marshall Plan

• Aid in the economic reconstruction of Europe
• Marshall's idea was to provide economic assistance to ALL that would join in drafting a program for recovery
• Soviets refused
• Allowed Western Europe to rebuild major centers and increase trade
• 
• Bildunterschrift: I think a few band-aids will do!

Berlin Airlift

• Occupation forces left West Germany
• Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak
• Stalin blocks off Western Berlin and cuts off supply lines
• American and British forces launch Berlin Airlift, sending West Berlin supplies for 11 months
• Soviets lift blockade in May, 1949
• 
• Bildunterschrift: Hoorah!

The Cold War Begins

• Diplomatic hostility between Soviet Union and U.S.
• U.S. wants to stop spread of communism through containment
• Soviets have an atomic weapon, and nuclear age begins
• 

NATO vs. Warsaw Pact

• Warsaw Pact
• Soviets, feeling threatened, begin the Warsaw Pact
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• - Defensive military alliance that promised to attack anyone that messes with a NATO country

Nuclear Threats

• Soviets get the H-Bomb in 1953
• Brinkmanship - the ability to go to the edge of war
• Mutually Assured Destruction - If a nuclear attack was launched, it was guaranteed the world would be destroyed!
• 
• Bildunterschrift: We knew the world would end!

First Signs of Decline

• Soviet Union dedicated massive spending to military
• Bankrupt economy
• Involved in long/expensive war with Afghanistan
• U.S. Response to Afghanistan
• Reagan elected because of anti-communist stance
• build up of nuclear arsenal
• Relationship with Margaret Thatcher
• British prime Minister
• Thatcher establishes military presence in Falkland Islands (Argentina)
• Free Trade
• Soviet Union needs reconstructing
• They choose a young leader by the name of...

Mikhail Gorbachev

• 
• East and west tensions eased with his appointment in 1985
• Goals to improve Communism
• Perestroika- economic restructuring because of inefficient central planning
• Glasnost- openness. People should discuss how to improve Soviet society
• Democratization- gradual opening of a political system

End of Cold War and the USSR

• Soviet Union dedicated massive spending to military
• bankrupt economy
• Involved in long, expensive war in Afghanistan
• Soviets need reconstruction so the choose a leader....
• U.S. Response to Afghanistan
• Reagan elected because of anti-communist stance
• Build up nuclear arsenal
• Stronger relationship with Margaret Thatcher
• She's British Prime Minister
• Establishes military presence in Falkland Islands (Argentina)
• Free Trade

... Mikhail Gorbachev