The Cold War Divides the World Chapter 17.4

U.S./Soviet Leaders Truman Nixon Eisenhower Johnson Kennedy Malenkov Kosygin Bulganin Khruschev

Conflicts in Cuba

Fidel Castro & The Cuban Revolution 1959, Castro led the Cuban Revolution—overthrowing Fulgencio Batista. Improved and reformed Cuba, but was a harsh dictator U.S. would not support him, so he received support from the Soviet Union

Discussion Question Is it better to have a harsh ruler who improves the country or a kind ruler who makes no changes? Explain your thoughts.

Bay of Pigs To prevent the spread of Communism, the CIA began training anti-Castro Cuban Exiles. In April 1961, they invaded Cuba (in the Bay of Pigs) in an attempt to overthrow Castro. The U.S. failed to provide air support to the Cuban Exiles and Castro’s forces easily defeated them.

Discussion Question Why do you think the US didn’t want to back Castro?

Cuban Missile Crisis 1962- Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev began to build missile sites in Cuba. U.S. discovered sites while spying via plane. President Kennedy saw them as a threat and demanded their removal. He also sent up a naval blockade of Cuba to stop Soviet ships from bringing more missiles. After several tense days of waiting and the world fearing nuclear war, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles if the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Conflicts in Nicaragua

Civil War in Nicaragua U.S. supported Anastasio Somoza and his family, even though they were ruthless dictators.

Civil War in Nicaragua Communist Sandinista rebels overthrew Somoza’s son. The new leader of Nicaragua and the Sandinista Communist, Daniel Ortega, received aid from the U.S. and the Soviets.

Civil War in Nicaragua Ortega began supporting Marxist (Communist) rebels in El Salvador, so the U.S. stopped supporting him and began to support Nicaraguan anti-Communists called Contras. This began a huge civil war in Nicaragua that lasted over a decade.

Conflicts in Iran

Religious and Secular Clashes in Iran Oil industry creates conflict between Islamic values and Western materialism After WWII Iran’s Shah (Leader) embraces Western ideas. Iranian nationalists resent foreign ways. Force the Shah to flee in 1953. Fearing they would ask USSR for support the US helped restore the Shah to power.

Discussion Question If Iran did not want the Shah in charge should the US have helped put him back in power?

US Supports Secular Rule US Supports Shah in westernizing his country. Shah tries to weaken political influence of Muslim leaders called ayatollahs who opposed the west. Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini recorded messages that started riots in Iran in 1978. Shah flees Iran in 1979 and is replaced by Khomeini who establishes an Islamic state.

Khomeini’s Anti-US Policies Khomeini hates US because of their support for the Shah. Convinces young Iranians to take control of the US embassy in Tehran. They hold 60 Americans hostage for 444 days until 1981. Tried to get US to return the Shah to them for trial.

Khomeini’s Anti-US Policies Khomeini encourages Muslims everywhere to overthrow their secular governments. Creates tension with neighboring Iraq who had a secular government. War breaks out between Iran and Iraq in 1980. US sends aid to both sides to keep balance of power. Soviet Union supported Iraq. UN negotiates a ceasefire in 1988.

Conflicts in Afghanistan

Superpowers Face Off in Afghanistan In 1950’s Soviet Union influence increases in Afghanistan. In late 1970’s a Muslim revolt threatens the communist government. USSR invades in 1979 to prop up communist government there. US arms the Muslim rebels because they saw the soviet invasion as a threat to Middle Eastern Oil. 1989 USSR removes all troops from Afghanistan.

Exit Ticket Explain how one of the conflicts discussed today represents the conflict between the US and the USSR during the Cold War.