The Cold War Brrrrr….it’s getting cold in here!!!

Beginning of the Cold War The Yalta Conference and Soviet control of Eastern Europe – Leaders of United States, Britain and Soviet Union met in Yalta and agreed to divide Germany into zones. – Germany would pay reparations to Soviet Union – USSR would join war against Japan – Promised free elections to Eastern Europeans Rivalry between the US and USSR

US Aims- Democracy and free enterprise Encourage democracy in other countries to help prevent the rise of Communist governments Gain access to raw materials and markets to fuel booming industries Rebuild European governments to promote stability and create new market for US goods Reunite Germany to stabilize it and increase the security of Europe

USSR Aims- dictatorship and communism Encourage communism in other countries as part of a worldwide workers’ revolution Rebuild its war-ravaged economy using Eastern Europe’s industrial equipment and raw materials Control Eastern Europe to protect Soviet borders and balance the US influence in Western Europe Keep Germany divided to prevent its waging war again

Iron Curtain Nazi troops occupied a strip of countries along the Soviet Union’s western border Soviets wanted a buffer- installed Communist governments in Soviet Satellite nations – Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland and Yugoslavia Europe’s division into mostly democratic Western Europe and Communist Eastern Europe- Iron Curtain

Containment A policy directed at blocking Soviet influence and stopping the expansion of communism (President Truman) – Included forming alliances and helping to weak countries resist Soviet advances

Cold War Characteristics North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) & Warsaw Pact Korean War Vietnam War Berlin and significance of Berlin Wall Cuban Missile Crisis Nuclear weapons and the theory of deterrence

Korean War Korea was divided at end of WWII at 38 th parallel – North = Communist – South = Democratic North Korean troops attacked South Korean troops – South Korea asked UN forces for help – UN forces fought for S. Korea After 2 years line set near 38 th parallel – Demilitarized zone separates the two countries

Berlin Wall Germany and Berlin were divided in 4 – US and allies withdrew troops and combined West Germany and West Berlin into one nation Soviet Union cut off highway, water and rail traffic to Berlin’s western zones (causing near starvation) US and British officials flew food and supplies into West Berlin for almost 11 months Soviets admit defeat and lift blockade Soviets built wall to “protect” people who wanted a socialist state

Brandenburg Gate

Cuban Missile Crisis January Fidel Castro led a revolution to overthrow unpopular Cuban dictator Castro started to make improvements but became a harsh dictator – Took over US sugar mills and refineries – US ordered an embargo on all trade Castro asked Soviets for economic and military aid

Bay of Pigs US backed an unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion – Anti-Castro Cuban exiles tried to invade Cuba – US did not provide air support so mission was unsuccessful – Gave USSR confidence that US would not resist Soviet expansion in Latin America

Cuban Missile Crisis Soviet Union started building missile sites close to the US mainland – US demanded removal of missiles and announced a naval blockade – Soviets removed missiles and left Cuba completely dependent on Soviet support

Deterrence The effort by one nation to persuade another nation to refrain from an action – Must convince the opponent that the cost will exceed the rewards – Nation must be capable and willing to carry out threat (use nuclear weapons) – Must effectively communicate this to the nation that is to be deterred