The Cold War
Dec 19, 2015
The Cold War
The Iron Curtain
Truman Doctrine
• U.S. President was concerned about Soviet expansion into eastern Europe
– Truman Doctrine• US will provide aid
to countries threatened by Communist expansion.
Marshall Plan• Marshall Plan
– U.S. plan to rebuild war-torn Europe.
• George C. Marshall = US Secretary of State
– Soviet Union and its satellite states do not participate
• See it as America “buying support”
Growing Hatreds and the Arms Race
• By 1947, the U.S. and the Soviet Union had grown apart.
– U.S. develops policy of containment
• Keep communism within its existing boundaries
New alliances form• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
– Several Western European powers ally with the U.S.
• Warsaw Pact– Several Eastern European powers ally with the Soviet
Union
Development of the Arms Race• Arms Race
– Both countries build up nuclear weapons• Both believed that an arsenal of weapons would prevent war.
– Deterrence
Hot Spot - Berlin• 1948 – USA, GB, FR
sectors of Germany become West Germany. – West/East Berlin also
divided
• 1948 – 1949 = Berlin Airlift• 1961 – Berlin Wall
– Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev builds a wall between East and West Berlin.
– Becomes massive fortified barrier to prevent refugees from heading to West Berlin
Hot spot - Korea
Japan
Hawaii
Iwo Jima
Leyte Gulf
Okinawa
Guadalcanal
Coral Sea
Midway
Hot spot - Korea• Korean War
– Communist North Korea attempts takeover of South Korea.
• NK is supported by China and Soviet Union
– Because of containment, U.S. sends troops to stop spread of communism.
• Lasts 1950-1953• Ends in stalemate• U.S. (30,000 dead,
100,000 wounded)
Hot spot - Cuba
Hot Spot - Cuba• In 1959 Cuba becomes
Communist under Fidel Castro
• 1961 –Bay of Pigs Invasion– U.S. attempts to provoke a
revolt against Castro• It fails miserably!
• After Bay of Pigs, Khrushchev sends advisors (and missiles) to Cuba.– October 1962 – U.S. finds out
about missiles.– Tense standoff – closest the
world would ever come to nuclear war
– Cuban Missile Crisis
Hot spot - Vietnam
Hot spot - Vietnam• Vietnam War
– 1964 – U.S. concerned that Communist North Vietnam may invade South Vietnam
• Believe in domino theory – if South Vietnam fell, other countries in Asia would fall.
– Long story short…• U.S. does not want to provoke
larger conflict with Soviets or China.
– Limits military action
• War drags on too long and is too costly for United States
• Withdraw in 1973• 1975 – North Vietnam invades
South Vietnam, reunites country.– Domino Theory does not prove
true
End of the Cold War• Decline of Soviet Union
– By 1980, the USSR was in very poor economic and social condition.
• US President Reagan ramps up defense spending – USSR can’t compete…
– Invasion of Afghanistan• “USSR’s Vietnam”
– Drains Soviet military spending.
– 1987 – Perestroika• Under Mikhail Gorbachev,
USSR begins “restructuring” economically
– 1990 – Berlin Wall falls– 1991 – USSR falls apart