1. Beard World History

2. Growing out of post-World War II tensions between the two nations, the Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union resulted in mutual suspicions, heightened tensions and a series of international incidents that brought the world’s superpowers to the brink of disaster.

3. Once WWII was over, the Soviet Union wanted to spread its ideology of communism worldwide, which alarmed the Americans who followed democracy. America’s nuclear weapons caused fear in the Soviets; both feared mutual mass destruction US did not approve of Soviet’s actions in East Germany, Soviets feared US would use Europe as a base of attack

4.  Containment - the U.S. intended to push back attempts by any communist countries to take over any non-communist countries.  Mutually assured destruction (MAD) - Military theory of nuclear deterrence holding that neither side will attack the other if both sides are guaranteed to be totally destroyed in the conflict.  NATO – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an international organization composed of the US, Canada, Britain, and a number of European countries: established for purposes of collective security

5. 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 WWII ends Korean War US helps South Korea resist attacks by communist North Korea/China Cuban Missile Crisis 8/14/1945 1950-1953 10/14/19624/30/1975 Vietnam War – 1956 to 1975 Communist North Vietnam against South Vietnam. Part of a larger regional conflict US enters 1965 6/12/1987 Tear down this wall! 11/9/89 Berlin Wall torn down; end of USSR and collapse of communist rule in E. Europe

6. Video, click herehere

7.  Both the United States of America and the Soviet Union built up huge arsenals of atomic weapons and ballistic missiles.  NATO was formed; still exists today  It led to destructive conflicts like the Korean War and the Vietnam War.  The Soviet Union collapsed, communism collapsed in Eastern Europe  The Berlin Wall was demolished and the two German nations were unified.  Former Soviet Republics achieved independence.  America became an unchallenged super power

8. What would super powers want from the Middle East? Hint: what abundant natural resource does the Middle East have to offer industrialized power houses like the United States or the USSR? Eisenhower Doctrine 1957: a Middle Eastern country could request American economic assistance or aid from U.S. military forces if it was being threatened by armed aggression from another state. (remember the Containment policy – US wants to keep communism contained) Nixon Doctrine “We shall provide a shield if a nuclear power threatens the freedom of a nation allied with us... we shall furnish military and economic assistance when requested in accordance with our treaty commitments….” Ensure regional stability (especially in Saudi Arabia and Iran)