An overview of the Cold War How can a war be ‘cold’? What were the Hotspots of the Cold War?

Cold War? The tension and rivalry between the USA and the USSR was described as the Cold War ( ). There was never a real war between the two sides between 1945 and 1990, but they were often very close to war (Hotspots). Both sides got involved in other conflicts in the world to either stop the spread of communism (USA) or help the spread (USSR).

After World War 2 the Cold War began and caused tension throughout the world. The USA and the USSR were the two world Superpowers. The USA was a capitalist society with a democracy. The USSR was a communist country with a dictatorship. Both wanted to be the most powerful nation in the world.

The Cold War: Roots of the Conflict Soviet Expansion: · The Soviet Union occupied most of Eastern Europe by the end of World War II.

Post-War Germany

In 1946, Winston Churchill correctly warned that the Soviets were creating an “iron curtain” in Eastern Europe.“iron curtain” Winston Churchill giving the “Iron Curtain” address at Westminster College on March 5, 1946

Iron Curtain – A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the separating of Those communist lands of East Europe from the West.

The ‘Truman Doctrine’ Truman had been horrified at the pre- war Allied policy of appeasement and was determined to stand up to any Soviet intimidation. The Truman Doctrine in March 1947 promised that the USA “would support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”. Triggered by British inability to hold the line in Greece, it was followed by aid to Greece and Turkey, and also money to help capitalists to stop communists in Italy and France. It signalled the end of “isolationist” policies.

The Ideological Struggle Soviet & Eastern Bloc Nations [“Iron Curtain”] US & the Western Democracies GOAL  spread world- wide Communism GOAL  “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world. [George Kennan] METHODOLOGIES:  Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]  Arms Race [nuclear escalation]  Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy]  Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

The Arms Race: A “Missile Gap?” }The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb in }Now there were two nuclear superpowers!

Nuclear tensions The USA had shown its atomic power when it exploded the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War 2. The USSR was also developing atomic weapons/bombs. The USA and the USSR were in competition with each other to have the best, most powerful weapons in the world – this was called the Arms Race.

The domino effect The USSR had a lot of influence over many of the new communist countries (especially those in Europe). The USA was very worried that the USSR’s influence over these countries was making the USSR and communism more powerful. The USA did not want communism to spread any further – they were worried about the domino effect (one country becomes communist, then another, then another etc)

Fear of Communism at home At the height of WWII, about 80,000 Americans claimed membership in the Communist PartyAt the height of WWII, about 80,000 Americans claimed membership in the Communist Party Some feared that the first loyalty of these American Communists was to the Soviet UnionSome feared that the first loyalty of these American Communists was to the Soviet Union Overall, Americans feared communist ideology, a world revolution and Soviet expansionOverall, Americans feared communist ideology, a world revolution and Soviet expansion Anti-Soviet cartoon

Anti- Communist propaganda during McCarthy era

The Korean War

When/Where

Japanese Occupation, Forced mobilizationForced mobilization –Slave labor –Japanese language –Shinto worship –Comfort women –“Lost Names” This is the occupation that Koreans remember todayThis is the occupation that Koreans remember today

What Did the US do? General MacArthur led UN troops after Northern Communists invaded

Who Won? Outcome -neither sides wins -both stop fighting -remains divided on 38th parallel

BRINKMANSHIP By the time both countries had the H-bomb (1953), President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles made it clear they were willing to use all military force (including nuclear weapons) to stop aggressionBy the time both countries had the H-bomb (1953), President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles made it clear they were willing to use all military force (including nuclear weapons) to stop aggression The Soviets followed suitThe Soviets followed suit This willingness to go to the edge of all-out war became known as brinkmanshipThis willingness to go to the edge of all-out war became known as brinkmanship Some Americans created shelters in their backyards in case of nuclear attack