1. The Cold War

2. The Cold War 1945-1991 Refers to the political, economic, and military tensions between the United States and Soviet Union (USSR) (The US and USSR never fought directly during the Cold War but they came close.)

3. Causes of the Cold War 1.Conflict of ideas: Communism vs. Capitalism 2.USSR - prevent invasions of borders 3.(USSR wanted more respect) 4.Disagreed about free elections 5.Military alliances: NATO vs. Warsaw Pact

4. Post-WWII Conflicts Yalta Conference (1945) Agreed to divide Germany into four zones ran by Allies and USSR. (Germany would have to compensate the USSR for its loss of life & property) (US and Great Britain wanted self-determination/free elections for eastern Europe.) Big Three: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin

6. Post-WWII Conflicts Potsdam Conference (August,1945) How to administer punishment to defeated Nazi Germany and its Nazi war criminals: Nuremberg Trials

7. The Iron Curtain (“An iron curtain has descended across the continent of Europe.” – Churchill) Europe divided into Capitalist (west) and Communist (USSR) (east)

8. The Iron Curtain Satellite Nations: Countries that were “behind” the Iron Curtain and under Soviet influence. (USSR exploited the natural resources of these countries and used them as a buffer zone of protection.) (Achieved independence in late 1980s/early 1990s.)

10. Policy of Containment US and western Europe wanted to stop the spread of communism. (Money, weapons, and military support were given to countries at risk of Communist takeover.)

12. The Truman Doctrine – March 12,1947 Main goal was to strengthen Europe’s ability to resist communism by using the policy of “containment.” President Truman promised to give money to ANY country fighting Communist expansion. (Soviets viewed this as an interference in their right to create a sphere of influence.) (Many historians mark this date as the start of the Cold War.)

13. The Marshall Plan – June 1947 Named for US Secretary of State George Marshall US offered Europe and USSR $13 billion to help them rebuild and modernize after WWII. Supported the US foreign policy of Containment. (US hoped that a stable Europe would resist Communist influence) (USSR and its allies refused the money)

14. The Domino Theory 1946-1949 Chinese Civil War US economic aid to help nationalists fight communists 1950-1953 Korean War US troops help South Korea fight communist North Korea 1957-1975 Vietnam War US troops and economic aid help South Vietnam fight communist North Vietnam

15. Resistance to Communist Control (Any eastern bloc country that tried to rebel was crushed / leaders executed.) (Hungary (1956), Czechoslovakia (1968), and Poland (1980) tried to rebel against Communist control)

16. Bay of Pigs In 1950’s, Fidel Castro led a revolution that overthrew the Cuban govt. (Castro himself was a harsh dictator.) Castro nationalized the economy (and took over the U.S. owned sugar mills & refineries.) Eisenhower stops trade with Cuba Castro turns to the USSR for aid. (1960, CIA trains anti-Castro Cuban exiles) 1961, Trained exiles invade Cuba landing at the Bay of Pigs. (U.S. does not provide air support.) Castro’s forces defeat invaders. (U.S. embarrassed)

17. Cuban Missile Crisis In 1962, US learned that USSR sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. (Their range could destroy most of the U.S.) President Kennedy threatened to go to war with the USSR if the missiles were not removed. (This was the closest that the US and USSR came to actual nuclear war.) Example of brinkmanship: willingness to push to the edge of war.

18. Khrushchev vs. Kennedy USSR vs. USA

20. Collapse of the Soviet Union (1960’s & 1970’s: economic problems, expensive military budget, resistance in communist states.) In the1980’s, Soviet leader Gorbachev began: perestroika: economic restructuring and glasnost: openness to new ideas. (1991: USSR breaks into 11 separate republics.)

22. International Organizations ALLIANCEFOUNDING MEMBERSPURPOSE(S) United Nations (1945) 51 memberspromote world peace; solve international problems Organization of American States (OAS) (1948) 20 Central and South American countries and US promote peace, economic development, democracy North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1949) 10 Western Europe countries, US, Canada mutual defense against Soviet aggression Warsaw Pact (1955) 7 Eastern European nations and USSR mutual defense; response to NATO Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) (1955) Australia, France, Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, US prevent spread of communism in Southeast Asia

23. In 1947, the United Nations divides Palestine into a Jewish state - Israel.