1. World History Mr. Meester
Cold War Conflicts
World History
Mr. Meester

2. Vocabulary Korean War 38th Parallel Cuban Missile Crisis
John F. Kennedy
Fidel Castro

3. The Korean Conflict
After WWII, Korea was divided in 2 by the USSR and United States
The North was communist and the South was democratic
The countries were divided by the 38th Parallel
June 25th, 1950 Communist North Korean forces invaded South Korea
They wanted a unified Communist Korea

4. Korean War
The U.N. sent in troops to stop the invasion. (Most were from the US)
By fall, the U.S. had invaded the North wanting a unified democratic Korea
Chinese forces helped push the U.S. back
Truman refused to invade China
After 2 more years of fighting the war ended in 1953 where it began

5. Korean War

6. The Space Race
In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first man-made space satellite “Sputnik I”
America was frightened due to a perceived Soviet technological advantage
The U.S. believed the Soviets could deliver nuclear weapons to America
America is forced to develop a space program of its own

7. Sputnik I

8. Standoff in Berlin
In the late 50’s Khrushchev tried to take advantage of America’s fear
Tried again to take over West Berlin
He threatened to once again set up a blockage of West Berlin.
Eisenhower sent in more troops and the Soviets backed down
In response Khrushchev had the Berlin Wall built

9. The Berlin Wall

10. CIA vs. KGB CIA was the US foreign intelligence agency
KGB was the Soviet version of the CIA.
Espionage became highly important during the Cold War.
The Nations needed to know what the other one had and if it was better try to attain this superior technology.

11. Espionage and Distrust
The American U-2 Spy Plane had the ability to fly at high altitudes & take photos over the Soviet Union.
In 1960 the Soviets were able to shoot down a U-2 spy plane.
Francis Gary Powers, the pilot, was captured.
This made American-Soviet relations even worse

12. The U-2

13. Communists in Cuba
Fidel Castro lead a communist takeover of the island of Cuba.
CIA tried to train and equip exiled Cubans to retake their country.
These attempts failed miserably at the Bay of Pigs.
Tensions continued to increase.

14. Fidel Castro

15. The Cuban Missile Crisis
In October, 1962 the Soviet Union began installing nuclear missiles in Cuba
Would allow the Soviets to strike before we could counter-attack
President Kennedy debated 2 responses
1st was an air strike that could have escalated into WWIII

16. U.S. Blockade Kennedy eventually decided on a naval blockade of Cuba
This would stop more weapons entering Cuba
For several days Kennedy and the world waited as ships headed towards Cuba
At the last moment the ships turned around

17. Khrushchev Backs Down Khrushchev & Kennedy decide to negotiate
Khrushchev promised to remove the missiles from Cuba
Kennedy pledged not to invade Cuba
This ended the most dangerous crisis of the Cold War
Relations between the U.S. & Soviet Union were at an all time low