June 1945, 50 nations formed the United Nations—international organization designed to resolve conflicts peacefully around the globe U.S. and Soviets.

June 1945, 50 nations formed the United Nations—international organization designed to resolve conflicts peacefully around the globe

U.S. and Soviets split sharply after WWII ends because Truman urged free elections in Eastern European nations, but Stalin did not allow it

Soviets controlled Eastern European countries (satellites) after World War II

Stalin installed Communist governments in several countries (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia)

In 1946, Stalin said capitalism and communism cannot co-exist

Iron Curtain—Winston Churchill’s name for the division of Europe

Containment—U.S. plan to stop the spread of communism

Truman Doctrine—U.S. supported countries that rejected communism

Congress approved Truman’s request for aid to Greece and Turkey

Much of Western Europe was in ruins after World War II Marshall Plan—U.S. program of assisting Western

European countries or any country that requested it

Berlin Blockade - Soviets trade into West Berlin and the city faced starvation

U.S. and Britain flew in supplies for 11 months until the blockade ended

Cold War—struggle between the U.S and the Soviet Union without two countries actually engaging in combat

In 1949, U.S., Canada, West European countries form NATO NATO—North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a defensive military

alliance In 1955, Soviets, Eastern European nations signed Warsaw Pact

alliance In 1961, Soviets built Berlin Wall to separate East and West Berlin

U.S. and Soviet Union both developed more powerful hydrogen bomb (nuclear proliferation – building more nuclear weapons)

Brinkmanship—policy of willingness to go to the edge of war In October 1957, Soviets launched Sputnik, first unmanned satellite Launching of Sputnik caused U.S. to spend more money on

education and technology and to develop more rigorous science and math programs

Soviets shoot down an American U2 spy plane which increases tensions

Mao Zedong—led Chinese Communists against Japanese invaders Long March (1934) - Difficult, year-long journey made by Mao Zedong and

his Communist followers in 1934 through China's mountains, marshes, and rivers to escape the Kuomintang (Chine Nationalists)

Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek)—leader of Kuomintang in World War II; lost support because he ignored the needs of the peasants

Nationalist and Communist Chinese resume civil war after WWII ends Mao’s troops took control of China’s major cities; Mao had peasants’

support and becomes Communist dictator In 1949, People’s Republic of China created; Nationalists migrated to

Taiwan

The Great Leap Forward (1958) established communes - large collective farms often supporting over 25,000 people; attempted to increase China’s agricultural and industrial production

Program is ended after inefficiency led to crop failures the Great Chinese Famine (30 million people died; largest famine in history)

Communists kill over 2 million people as result of the Leap’s failure Cultural Revolution (1966) - Mao took property from landowners

and divided it among peasants Government seized private companies and planned production

increase; industry grew in China

Deng Xiaoping—becomes leader of China by 1980 Four Modernizations—Deng’s plan for economic progress; called for

capitalist influence and progress in agriculture, industry, defense, and science and technology

Western political and economic ideas enter China, encouraging democracy In 1989, students protest in Tiananmen Square - public area in Beijing Deng orders army to surround square and attack protesters Attack leaves hundreds dead and thousands wounded

In 1950, North Koreans invaded South Korea with Soviet support South Korea requested UN assistance; 15 nations send troops Douglas MacArthur—led UN forces against North Koreans Half of the North’s army surrendered, the rest retreated Chinese sent 300,000 troops and captured Seoul MacArthur called for nuclear attack and is removed from command

by President Truman In 1953, cease fire signed and border established at 38th parallel 

Ho Chi Minh—North Vietnamese Communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem—South Vietnamese anti-Communist leader Domino theory—U.S. theory of Communist expansion in Southeast Asia;

one nation falls, the rest will follow; French tried to recolonize Indochina (Vietnam) after WWII, but left in 1954

International peace conference agreed on a divided Vietnam Vietcong—South Vietnamese Communist guerillas who fought against

Diem In 1964, U.S. sent troops to fight Vietcong and North Vietnamese U.S. fought guerilla war for over 10 years Last U.S. troops left in 1973; South Vietnam was overrun in 1975 and all of

Vietnam became Communist

Khmer Rouge—Communist rebels who took control of Cambodia in 1975; led by Pol Pot

Attempts at agricultural reform led to widespread famine Terror, executions and torture are carried out by

communists against perceived enemies They slaughtered 2 million people; Khmer Rouge is

overthrown by pro-Communist, but moderate Vietnamese invaders

U.S., Soviet Union, China competed for influence over Third World by backing revolutions and giving economic, military, technical aid

Third World—developing nations; often newly independent, nonaligned

Nonaligned nations (nonalignment)—independent countries not involved in Cold War

Many countries, like India, wanted to avoid involvement in Cold War

Fidel Castro—led a revolt in Cuba against dictator (Batista) who was supported by U.S. and became communist dictator in 1959

Cuban Missile Crisis - In 1962, U.S. demanded the removal of Soviet missiles in Cuba; Soviets withdrew missiles and U.S. promised not to invade Cuba

Both Jews and Palestinians make historic claims to Palestine UN votes for formation of separate Jewish and Palestinian states in

1947 Palestinians and nearby Arab nations reject creation of Israel Arab neighbors attack Israel the day after it becomes new nation Israel repels the attack, seizes additional territory

Arab-Israeli tension erupts into war again in 1956 Conflict begins after Egypt grabs control of British-held

Suez Canal Israeli troops seize back the canal with British, French

Israel defeats Arab countries in Six-Day War of 1967 Israel gains Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights,

West Bank Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat launches Arab attack on

Israel in 1973 Israeli leader Golda Meir orders Israeli counterattack

and recovers most territory

Ayatollah Khomeini—Iranian Muslim leader who was Islamic fundamentalist; overthrew Shah Reza Pahlavi who was allied with West due to oil trade

In 1978 - Muslim radicals took control in Iran

In 1979, Soviets invaded Afghanistan and fail to conquer In 1988, Soviets invaded Afghanistan again to help

Communist government against rebels Muslim rebels fought a guerilla war against Soviets with

U.S. weapons Rebels forces form Mujahideen—holy warriors—to fight

Communist rule; they defeated Soviet forces

Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961 to divide West Berlin (democratic) from East Berlin (communist)

East Germany closed its borders which sparked huge protests

In November 1989, new East German leader opened Berlin Wall; Communist government in East Germany falls

Reunification—merging of the two Germanys—achieved in October 1990

Mikhail Gorbachev wants to reform Soviet Union, but reforms lead to collapse

Perestroika – Gorbachev wanted to convert the Soviet economy to capitalism

Glasnost – Gorbachev allowed freedom of speech Non-Russian ethnic groups rebel in different republics Gorbachev, fearing similar actions in other republics, sent troops Reformer Boris Yeltsin rallied people against Communist old guard

In August 1991, hardliners tried to seize control of government again

Thousands of protesters and Yeltsin rallied against this move

Army refused to attack protesters and coup collapses Many republics declared independence; Gorbachev

could not stop them Republics formed a federation, CIS—Commonwealth of

Independent States

Yeltsin aimed to reform the Russian economy Tried “shock therapy”—quick transition to free market system New policies brought economic chaos and hardship as well as

political troubles In 1991, Chechnya declared independence from Russia Yeltsin attempted to crush rebellion which caused unrest at home As conflict continued in 1999, he resigns in favor of Vladimir Putin

Slobodan Milosevic, Serbian leader, tries to impose control on whole country

Slovenia and Croatia fight off Serbian army, win independence In 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina declares independence and war

breaks out Serb forces practice ethnic cleansing—getting rid of Bosnian

Muslims 1995 - U.S., UN establish peace setting up multiethnic government 1998 - Serbian army invades Kosovo to crush Albanian rebels In 1999, NATO bombs Serbia, forces Serbs to withdraw

Nationalist leader of India who fought for independence from Britain using non-violence (civil disobedience)

Salt March – he protested British taxes on salt by leading a peaceful march to the sea and making his own salt

He encouraged Indians to boycott British goods like clothing 1947 – India and Pakistan become 2 independent nations Jan. 30, 1948 – Hindi extremist who believed Gandhi was too

protective of Muslims assassinated him

In 1948, National Party enacts apartheid—separation of races Blacks form African National Congress (ANC) to protest Nelson Mandela—ANC leader imprisoned for 27 years Protests rise in 1970s and 1980s, sometimes resulting in violence In 1990, F. W. de Klerk legalizes ANC, frees Mandela from prison Parliament repeals apartheid laws, grants rights to blacks De Klerk agrees to elections open to all races to be held in 1994 In 1994, ANC wins majority of Parliament; Mandela elected president In 1996, new constitution adopted giving equal rights to all

Hutus and Tutsis – two main ethnic groups These groups fought and their racial hatred led

to human rights violations 1994 – Hutus massacred over 500,000 Tutsis

(genocide)

In 1990, Iraq invades Kuwait and seizes vast oil fields Fears mount that Iraq might control majority of world’s petroleum Persian Gulf War - In early 1991, many nations, led by the U.S.,

send armies and drive Saddam Hussein and Iraq out of Kuwait Iraq, under Hussein, expels UN inspectors searching for Weapons

of Mass Destruction UN threatens “severe consequences” if Iraq stops inspectors’ return Iraq War - In 2003, U.S. and Britain lead coalition to disarm Iraq by

force; U.S. troops are still present in Iraq

Terrorism—use of violence to force social or political change On September 11, 2001, Arab terrorists, led by Taliban leader, Osama Bin

Laden hijack four airliners Hijackers crash two jets into World Trade Center towers in New York One crashes into the Pentagon, one into a field in Pennsylvania 3,000 die in the attacks Department of Homeland Security—created in 2002 to fight terrorism U.S. detains Arabs, Muslims considered suspicious; many protest Government defends wartime suspension of civil liberties In 2001, Congress passes USA Patriot Act—antiterrorism measure