1. The Cold War Unfolds
15.1 Notes

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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”

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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