Cold War Around the World

Developing Nations First World: US & its allies Second World: Soviet Union & its allies Third World: developing nations who were not aligned with either superpower The US, Soviet Union, and China gained influence in the third world nations sponsored revolution, liberation or counterrevolution.

Latin America Fidel Castro was praised at first for his reforms to the economy, literacy, health care, and conditions for women. A trade embargo was placed on Cuba because Castro took over US owned sugar mills and refineries.

Latin America The Bay of Pigs was humiliating for the US because the anti-Castro Cuban exiles the US sent had no US backup to defend them. The Soviet Union sponsored the building of missiles in Cuba. When the USSR broke up in 1991 Cuba suffered a major economic blow that continues today.

Middle East The US and Soviet Union were interested in the Middle East because of its rich supplies of oil. The US helped keep Iran’s shah in power because he embraced Western government and wealthy Western oil companies. The shah began westernizing Iran until the ayatollah came to power.

Middle East 60 Americans were taken hostage in Iran because the US admitted Iran’s former leader (shah) for medical treatment. A Muslim revolt threatened to take over the Soviet Union’s communist regime in Afghanistan. The US boycotted the 1980 Olympics because the Soviet Union was threatening takeover in Afghanistan.