Cold War ( ) -WWII Allies = US, UK, France, & USSR *Political & economic differences? -US bombing of Japan (1945) -1949: Russia became the 2 nd country to enter the nuclear age

 The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. THE FATHER OF COMMUNISM

Soviet Influence: -USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) *took control of Eastern European countries after WWII *took control of Eastern European countries after WWII *behind the “Iron Curtain” of communism *behind the “Iron Curtain” of communism

 COLD WAR:  The struggle between the U.S. & USSR following WWII that was determined by their differing political systems (democracy vs. totalitarianism) & differing economic systems (free market capitalism vs. command economy)  Political conflict w/no open warfare betw. U.S. & USSR

 Marshall Plan ( ) (U.S. gave $13 billion)  U.S. financial plan to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to prevent spread of communism  COMECON = Council for Mutual Economic Assistance  Soviet program to rebuild Eastern Europe

It is clear that the main element of any U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies –US diplomat U.S.’ containment policy (1947): U.S. pledge to prevent communism from spreading

 Berlin Airlift (June 1948-May 1949)  First test of U.S. containment policy  Soviet blockade of West Berlin  Goal: to force W. Allies out of Berlin  Allies airlifted food/supplies into Berlin  Allies enforced their containment policy

NATO (1949): *North Atlantic Treaty Organization *mutual defense pact between Western allies Warsaw Pact (1955): *mutual defense pact of USSR countries *mutual defense pact of USSR countries *to protect against NATO

Who’s who…

Indirect Conflicts (“proxy wars”): 1) Korean War (1950 – 1953) *divided betw. Communist North & Democratic South North & Democratic South *border = 38 th parallel *US won 2) Vietnam War (1964 – 1975) *US lost 3) Afghanistan (1979 – 1989) *USSR lost—BIG TIME!

Events that stressed US/USSR diplomatic relations in 1960s  1960—Soviets shot down U2 spy plane  Francis Gary Powers  1961—Berlin Wall (to keep E. Germans in)  1962—Cuban Missile Crisis  Closest we came to nuclear war!

The Nuclear Arms Race *Nuclear arms race: *competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare betw. U.S. & USSR *1952- U.S. detonated H-bomb *1953- Russians produce H-bomb *MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) *deterrence for war? *Diplomacy: -when govts. negotiate & deal w/each other in peace deal w/each other in peace

The Space Race  Space Race:  competition betw. U.S. & USSR for supremacy in space exploration (mid-late 1900s)  Soviets launched Sputnik (Threat to the US?)  ICBMs: Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile  Yuri Gagarin (1961)—first man in space  Neil Armstrong (1969)—first man on the moon

Neil Armstrong: first man to step on the moon (July 1969)

Early 1980s: Reagan era in U.S. --Most tense times of Cold War since Cuba *Soviet downing of S. Korean airliner *U.S. invasion of Grenada *Boycotting of Olympics (US ‘80, USSR ‘84) *Soviet support of Sandinistas in Nicaragua 1981: US had 8,000 ICBMs & USSR had 7,000 *Defense spending (early 1980s) -U.S. = <10% of GDP -USSR = about 20% of GDP—SOCIAL EFFECTS?

The “Iron Curtain” falls! *Most $ went to military & space exploration -very little $ for consumer goods & services -aid decreased to satellite nations of E. Europe *Ronald Reagan’s speech at *Ronald Reagan’s speech at Brandenburg Gate, West Germany, Brandenburg Gate, West Germany, June 12, 1987 June 12, 1987

Mikhail Gorbechev (1985): Last Pres. USSR *sought reconciliation betw. U.S. & USSR *Perestroika: “restructuring” the economy & govt. *to introduce private enterprise *EX: McDonald’s in Moscow *Glasnost: “openness” w/ the West *discuss political/social issues *move towards democracy *freedom of speech & media

 Late 1980s & early 1990s: one by one, eastern Euro. countries were granted self-determination  collapse of Warsaw Pact  1989: Berlin Wall falls  1990: Germany is reunited  Dec. 25, 1991: USSR collapses Cold War is over!  USSR broke into 15 independent republics