1. Chapter 17 Restructuring the Postwar World
Honors World History
C. Simmons

2. Allies Become Enemies
Relationships b/t West and Soviet Union were faltering b/f wars end
Yalta Conference – agreed to split Germany into controlled zones
United Nations – created to promote peaceful resolutions to problems
Differences b/t Soviets and US (deaths – 1:4, economy, factories)

3. The Iron Curtain
Soviets have come to fear invasion from the west, so Stalin wants a buffer zone
So he uses bloc states as buffer area
Potsdam conference b/t western leaders on Stalin’s reluctance to allow free elections
Churchill coins the term “iron curtain” as it stretches across Eastern Europe separating democracy and Communism

4. US wants to contain Soviets
Truman developed foreign policy of “containment” – forming alliances and helping weaker countries financially
Truman Doctrine – support for countries who rejected Communism
Marshall plan was approved to provide assistance to needy Western European countries
The Berlin Airlift – providing assistance to Soviet controlled areas of Germany, building of the Berlin Wall

5. Cold War divides the World
Cold War – US and Soviets faced off using tactics short of military action: spying, diplomacy, propaganda, and covert ops
NATO – Response to Soviet aggression in East
Soviets formed own military alliance called the Warsaw Pact – not every communist country joined (China)
Brinksmanship – threat of nuclear war, race to develop thermonuclear weapon (H-Bomb) 1952 first device was exploded in New Mexico
Space Race Starts– also science war going on who could develop rocket technology

7. Communist China Civil War resumes in China after War
Mao Zedong – leader of Communist forces
Jiang Jieshi – leader of Chinese nationalists, backed by financial support from US
Chinas economy collapses during fighting and deserters flock toward Communists
Communist gained total control of China in 1950, US feared Communist takeover of China

8. Two Chinas affect Cold War
Taiwan becomes new Home for nationalists
US continues to support spread of Communism (Korea)
China expands control over Tibet, Mongolia, parts of India, threatened power of the Dalai Lama
Chinese resentment grew in region

9. Communist transform China
Mao brings Marxist socialism to China – took control of land and distributed it evenly among farmers, brought industry under gov control
“Great Leap Forward” – created communes, collectives farms consisted of 25,000 families, no private ownership, led to famine were 20 million died
External problems also affected Mao’s plans, he created the Red Guard to provide order
Cultural Revolution – establish society of peasants and workers were everyone was equal, promoted hard labor

11. Korean War
After war Korea was spilt at the 38th parallel, Soviets in north, US in the South
Soviets supplied N Korea with an arsenal to invade the South
Truman reacted by supporting containment and sending troops into support S Korea, UN supported idea
MacArthur led UN troops into S Korea
Suprise attack pushed N Koreans back across the 38th

12. Korean War (cont)
Chinese felt threatened by US troops off coast and so close to their border, sent 300,000 troops into N Korea
MacArthur stated, “We’re in an entirely new war”, Truman and MacArthur clashed on policy decisions and Truman fired him
1953 a cease-fire was signed and temporary border set at 38th
North Korea remains the most isolated country in the world

13. Vietnam War
Ho Chi Minh turned to Communist for help after years of control from the French
Ho joins nationalists and forms the Vietminh and fight the French
After Dien Bien Phu defeat the French surrendered, the US had supported France in war with covert ops
President Eisenhower was threatened by what he called the domino theory – every country would begin to all to communism

14. Vietnam War (cont)
Geneva Meetings split Vietnam at 17th parallel, Ho’s North and Ngo Dinh Diem leader of US supported South
VietCong – communists guerillas in south began rebellion, Diem was assassinated
Gulf of Tonkin incident – led to US involvement (conspiracy)
By 1968 more than 500,000 troops on ground
Two problems: guerilla warfare and unpopular gov they were defending
Massive bombing campaigns hurt relations
Protest and public outrage - US started withdrawing troops in 1969, all in 1973, shortly after N Vietnam conquered the South
58,000 Americans lost their lives

15. Post War SE Asia Cambodia in turmoil as Communist gain control
Khmer Rouge set up brutal tactics under order of Pol Pot, 2,000,000 killed in protest
Vietnamese set up less repressive gov and pulled out in 1989, UN set up democracy in 1993
Vietnam struggled after war with millions fleeing tyranny under Communist control

18. Fighting for Third World
After WWII world split into three groups: 1st capitalist nations, 2nd communist nations, 3rd developing nations
Third world nations located in S America, Africa, and Asia
Cold War strategies – CIA & KGB covert ops: spying, assassinations, school building, combat poverty
Some nations stayed out of confrontation (India, Indonesia)

19. Confrontation in Latin America
Many countries needed assistance
Cuban Revolution – Fidel Castro was supported by populous at first, then became brutal dictator
Eisenhower ordered Embargo after sugar refineries were taken over
Castro takes Soviet assistance
Cuban Missile Crisis – Khrushchev built 42 missile sites in Cuba, Bay of Pigs invasion failed, brought world to brink of nuclear war
US removed missiles in Turkey, Soviets removed missiles in Cuba
Castro was know completely reliable on Soviet support

20. Confrontation in the Middle East
Religious and Secular values clash in Iran – oil wealth fueled tensions of materialist West
US supported role of the Shah and built up Tehran as capital city
Ayatollahs resisted western influence while millions lived in poverty, started riots and forced Shah to leave
US and soviets face off in Afghanistan – 1979 Soviets invade due to Communist Regime being overrun
US arms rebels (mujahideen) to protect Mid-East oil supply
Soviets pullout in 1989, as Union was collapsing

22. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe and China
Stalin dies in 1953, Nikita Khruschev takes power and begins deStalinization - purging memory of Stalin and starting“peaceful competition”
Satellite states didn’t gain much independence and begin to revolt
After Cuban Missile Crisis, Khruschev removed and Brezhnev brings back strict control
Soviet-Czech revolt – attack on the Czechs after demanding independence
1960 Soviet/Chinese spilt over fear of each other

23. Brinkmanship to Detente
Korean War, U-2 incident, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War all very closely brought world into nuclear war
Détente – was favored by Nixon, by lessening confrontation with Soviets
“Realpolitik” – real politics
Nixon and Soviets talk (Helsinki Accords)

24. The Collapse of Detente
Détente was successful until 1979 when President Carter was worried about Soviet treatment of protestors and invasion of Afghanistan
President Reagan takes on anti-communists stand: (SDI) – Strategic Defense Initiative built, 1985 Gorbachev was elected and Cold War begins to thaw