APPEASEMENT

Neutral

December 7, 1941

THE COLD WAR

Thesis
The Allies were able to defeat Hitler and the Axis
powers winning World War II. With the war over
The United States and the Soviet Union emerged
as the leading world powers they were known as
superpowers. It was not long before the
different Ideologies between these powers
would create a conflict and eventually war.

Reasons for the Cold War

Allies fight with Soviet Union over reunification of Germany.

-Berlin Airlift: for almost a year allied planes were forced to
fly food, fuel, and medicine to the Germans trapped by the
Soviets.
Conflicting Political and Economic Systems.
-US: Democracy and Capitalism
-Soviet Union: Communist and Close markets
Disagreement over the future of Europe after WWII.
-Allies: Strong stable Democracies to prevent totalitarianism
and create markets for goods.
-Soviets: Protect Russia from the West.
*Satellite Nations: Communist nations controlled by
Soviet Union.

Reason for the Cold War Cont.

Containment: This is the US taking measures to

prevent any extension of communist rule to other
countries.
-Truman Doctrine: The US could send military and
economic aid to any country trying to prevent a
Communist takeover.
-Marshall Plan: The US would provide billions of
dollars to any nation that cooperated with US
economic goals.
-NATO: This was a defensive alliance between the
US and other European nations who pledged that
an attack on one was an attack on all.

Cuba

The Cuban Dilemma

Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro declares himself
communist
- seizes U.S. properties; Eisenhower cuts off
diplomatic relations
10% of Cuban population goes into exile; mostly to
U.S.

The Bay of Pigs

Cuban exiles, CIA plan invasion to topple Castro
Plans go wrong; exile forces killed, taken prisoner
JFK pays ransom in food, medicine; mission is
public embarrassment

Cuba Cont.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Nikita Khrushchev sends weapons to Cuba,
including nuclear missiles
- JFK warns Soviets that missile attack will
trigger war on U.S.S.R.
-The U.S. create a blockage off the coast of
Cuba
- Soviets avoid confrontation at sea; reach
agreement with U.S.

The Cold War Heats Up

Civil War in China: After WWII the US backs

Nationalist Army lead by Chiang Kai-shek.
- 1948 is defeated by Mao Zedong making China
a Communist Country.
The Korean War: Korea after WWII is divided at
the 38th parallel, the north is Communist and the
South a republic.
- In 1950 South Korea is invaded by North and
the UN decides to send help to the South.
- After three year of fighting neither side was
able to gain an advantage and it ends in a
stalemate.

The Cold War Heats Up Cont.

The Vietnam War: To stop the spread of
communism in Southeast Asia, the United States
uses its military to support South Vietnam.
-Domino theorycountries can fall to communism
like
row of dominoes
1954, Vietminh overrun French at Dien Bien Phu;
France surrenders
Geneva Accords divide Vietnam at 17th parallel;
Communists get north
Election to unify country called for in 1956
-The United States sends troops to fight in
Vietnam,
but the war quickly turns into a stalemate.

On the Brink of War:

By 1953 both the US and Soviets had developed both

the atomic and hydrogen bombs.
President Eisenhower proclaimed that the US would
use nuclear weapons against the Soviets if their was
ever a War.
-The Soviets responded by building more nuclear
bombs this starts an arms race between the two
Superpowers.
The US used the CIA to conduct covert operations and
interfere with foreign governments.
In response to the creation of NATO the Soviets formed
their own military alliances with Eastern European
satellites called the Warsaw Pact.

On the brink of War Cont.

In 1957 the Soviets shocked the world by

launching the first unmanned artificial satellite
Sputnik I into Space, starting the space race.
In 1960 the Soviets shot down a CIA spy plane
the U-2 and captured the US pilot Francis Gary
Powers.

The End of the Cold War

President Ronald Reagan (in office 19811989) deeply opposes USSR

The evil empire

Promotes massive military spending,

beyond Soviet economy to keep up
Forces Soviet Mikhail S. Gorbachev
(1931- ) to implement reforms, ultimately
brings down the USSR

Collapse of the Soviet

Union

Reforms under Gorbachev

Economic, social

Perestroika: restructuring
Glasnost: openness
Nationalist sentiments, long suppressed,
come to the surface
Several non-Russian republics secede,
August 1991
Attempted hardliner takeover in Moscow
fails; Soviet Union collapses by end of the
year