The Cold War Unfolds 15.1 Notes

I. Two Sides Face Off in Europe U.S. and NATO vs. Soviets and Warsaw Pact U.S. and Soviets became known as superpowers due to their vast influence, armies and nuclear arsenals Iron Curtain-dividing line between democratic western and communist eastern Europe

II. Eastern Europe Resists Berlin Wall- The democratic West Berlin was prosperous Workers fled Eastern Berlin Soviets put up a wall to stop them leaving Revolts in Eastern Europe 1950’s saw several oppositions to Soviet policy Countries that tried to leave the Warsaw Pact or economic reform or democracy were invaded

III. Nuclear Weapons Threaten the World 1949- Soviets had A-Bomb 1953- Both sides had Hydrogen Bomb (x1000 more powerful) Arms Race- U.S. and Soviets raced to get more and better weapons than each other MAD- the idea that if both sides launched both would be destroyed This prevented open warfare, hence the “Cold War”

IV. Limiting Nuclear Weapons During the Cold War both sides did meet to make progress toward reducing the threat of nuclear weapons 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation (NPT) Treaty 1972 SALT I (Strategic Arms LimitationTalks)- froze existing #of nukes, ABM treaty ABM- Anti-ballistic missile- missile that can shoot down other missiles

IV. Limiting Nuclear Weapons cont. 1979 SALT II- Set limits on # of nukes 1991 START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) Treaty- Reduced # of nukes 1993 START II- No multiple warheads on ICBM’s 2002 SORT or Moscow Treaty- Set limit on # of warheads 2010 New START- Reduces # of nukes

V. Cold War Goes Global U.S. and Soviets established other alliances around the world Local conflicts around the globe would turn into Cold War “hot spots” U.S. would support one side, Soviets the other

VI. The Cuban Missile Crisis 1950’s Fidel Castro overthrows previous dictator and takes over Cuba Cuba seeks Soviet Union’s help 1962 Soviets sent a nuke to Cuba Americans responded with a blockade U.S. President John F. Kennedy demanded the missile removed 13 days later Soviets agreed The world dodged a bullet and it might have come to nuclear war

VII. Soviet Leaders During the Cold War Stalin dies in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev 1953-1964 Closed prison camps Eased censorship Leonid Brezhnev until 1964-1982 Reversed Khrushchev’s changes

VIII. The United States in the Cold War Containment- U.S. policy of containing the Soviet Union Fear led people to build bunkers and fallout shelters Red Scare- fear of communists Sen. McKamara led a witch hunt for communists