Presentation Transcript

1. Cold War Winding Down…

2. Détente

3. Communist Powers divide? Communist China and Russia split. Relations between Russia and China went downhill after Stalin’s death Although Stalin wasn’t a huge fan of Chinese communism either US “plays the China card” Essentially, playing China against Russia US starts to gain the friendship of China, which Russia fears could become a US-Chinese alliance against Russia…
4. SALT I Strategic Arms Limitation Talks I (1969-1972) Both Agree to Limit ABMs (antiballistic missiles, IE counter missiles) Freezes the Military balance between US and USSR – Balance of Power If we were to launch missiles, it would definitely guarantee our own suicide! An attempt to control and lessen the arms-race costs and reduce the risk of MAD
5. SALT I con’t Eliminate spheres of influence Not to exploit regional tensions
6. SALT I Perspectives The US used SALT to manage the rival USSR The USSR saw SALT as the United States acknowledging the Soviets as a rival Superpower.
7. Relationship Between the 2 Powers The US and Russia have a new working relationship, with continued talks relating to SALT. Tensions lessened! Trade would Increase USSR allowed credit Scholars exchange visits
8. MAD 1961 The Soviet launch the largest Atomic bomb—one bomb with the strength of all of the Bombs detonated in WWII Cold War Paradox: Spend vast amounts of resources on weapons that both sides never hoped to use. Nuclear Weapons were meant to deter the other side from acting, not necessarily to be used…
9. MAD Mutually Assured Destruction What does it sound like???
10. MAD meaning…? The US and USSR, through the arms race, build up a vast amount of nuclear weapons. If one of the Superpowers launched their stockpile of nuclear weapons, the other Superpower would respond similarly Ultimately, we would send out all of our missiles, destroying ourselves as sure as destroying our enemies—if not the Globe…
11. Actions and Reactions Because of MAD, political leaders had to tread lightly… Which is why in many instances leaders specifically try to avoid an aggressive plan. Such as the Berlin Blocked (Walk in with Guns blazing, or Air lift) The Cold War becomes a giant Chess Match, where checkmate may mean global devestation
12. Heightened Sense of Alert Constant alert When am I going to be attacked? 99 Red Balloons! Early warning/detection systems were needed As the bombs could land within minutes of detonation, more advanced detection systems were needed… Détente is to lesson this immense alert!

13. Within the Soviet Bloc

14. Hungary Challenges Russia (1956) Civilians and Students were sympathetic to Polish Plight ( IE: Russian army marching in to regain Russian Control) Russian troops were sent into Budapest to stop the student and worker demonstrators after they pulled down a statue of Stalin (who were shot previously by the secret police) Fighting between the troops and the Workers and students in the Capital city
15. Hungary Pushes Back Turmoil throughout Hungary Open elections within towns Public buildings were taken over, Revolutionary councils formed Hungarian Soldiers defected to Hungary’s side, taking their weapons with them
16. West and Hungary Western “Radio Free Europe” (CIA backed) supported the “Freedom Fighters of Hungary”
17. Hungary’s New Leader Imre Nagy (Previously Prime Minister, but purged in 1955) Declares that he will abolish the one-party system, forming a new coalition gov’t Previous parties begin to reform and reappear Revolutionary Council of military and police
18. Soviet’s Response Proclamation stating the relationship between the Soviets and its Satellites saying: the Hungarian workers were justified in being upset about the “serious mistakes” in previous regimes, The bloodshed was regrettable Soviet soldiers would be removed from Hungarian Soil
19. Pushing Russia too Far…. Nagy protests the continued movement of Soviet troops within its borders Declares Neutrality Renounces the Warsaw Pact Goes to UN to have the neutrality officially accepted throughout the globe
20. Russian Assault Russia attacks with 15 divisions and 4000 tanks (one division holds b/w 10-20,000 soldiers) Surrounds capital city, attacking as soon as they entered Nagy tells his people that the Russians attacks and say that he has no intention of surrendering
21. Hungary Falls Hungary sends out an SOS, then falls silent Expecting Western Aid. None comes…. US issues protest to Russia US will not interfere behind the Iron Curtain 2 weeks Hungary fights within Budapest 200,000 flee
22. Prague Spring Eastern bloc could not keep up with the Western progress Ex: In Poland, Agricultural output decreased yearly Food shortages throughout Poland Czechoslovakia 1966 - To keep national income from falling further, the gov’t started to decentralize the economy “Market Socialism” (profits rather than quotas)
23. Prague Spring, Czech Alexander Dubček Party Chairman, 1968 Started talks of reform Censorship eased Writers/Intellectuals called for democratic reforms within Socialism Maintains loyalty to Warsaw Pact and commitment to the one-party system Tito (Yugoslavia) is given a wildly enthusiastic reception in Czech
24. Soviet Control over Czech? Many Eastern Bloc leaders saw the economic reforms as a challenge to the control that the USSR had. Potentially undermine its power Fear of the contagiousness of reforms Despite his proclaimed loyalty, other Warsaw Pact countries were displeased
25. Nuclear Weapons and Czech? Russia did not have a large amount of troops garrisoned in Czechoslovakia While distributing Nuclear weapons to other Eastern European countries, there was fear of delivering the Nuclear weapons to the Czech What would happen if the Czech people over took the smaller garrison of Russian troops and took control over the nuclear weapons?
26. Russia Reasserts Control Russia meet with other Eastern Bloc leaders, discussing their concerns Russia met with Dubček, demanding a tightening of censorship and control over the media August 20th, 1968- Soviet Paratroopers land in Czech Airport, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops cross into Czech
27. Russia on the Offensive Soviets attack Czech civilians (unarmed) Showed the unwillingness to change (or allow change)
28. West & Prague Spring Although some in the West spoke out against the Russian attacks, there was absolutely no western intervention It wasn’t worth the risk of war
29. Blurred Lines US – Freedom’s Champion? Race riots, Attacking peaceful anti-war protestors USSR Failed to feed people without US grain, mercilessly crushing Prague Spring
30. Space and the Cold War! October 5, 1957 Sputnik Set of satellites intentioned on exploring space Life out there??? 90 minutes after launch, radio beeps could be heard around the world
31. Sputnik II – Nov 3 First living creature into Space, a dog, Laika Survived 10 days in Space
32. US and the Launch US totally surprised, Despite Russia telling of the intention to explore space and launch the rockets, the US thought it was purely propaganda US was supposed to be more technologically advanced! Implications towards flaws in edu system and lack of interest in science US becoming Second Class Power!
33. US and space Had tried to launch before Russia, and failed
34. Missile gap Technological Gap and Educational Gap National Defense Education Act (1958) Federal involvement in education Loans issued to students majoring in science, engineering and math $2 billion a year to prevent russia from winning the Educational Gap Eisenhower was aware there was no Missile Gap, and refused to increase defense spendign
35. Space Race For curiosity, or race of conquest? Gain control of Space= control of earth National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1958 Scientific, not military
36. Détente Freeze Since Spring of 1976, Détente was put on hold.
37. Afghanistan Mohammed Daoud Khan 1973 takes power US offers aid, to bring Afghanistan into the Western Sphere of Influence Communist Party Banned from Afghanistan 1978 – Daoud Khan murdered by Soviet-Trained Afghan Coup without direct Soviet involvement
38. Afghanistan New Regime Nur Mohammad Taraki Pro-Soviet gov’t Nationalistic + Marxism Factional Powers fighting Based on tribe and party Land reform, Women encouraged for Literacy Islamic factions horrified Taraki asks for Soviet help 1979
39. Afghanistan Fear of revolution in Afghanistan would lead to unrest in Islamic regions of Russia
40. Afghanistan and The SuperPowers Russia - Fear of Aiding in Afghanistan Accomplish nothing- Russia’s Vietnam Russian Army taking over (fighting instead of Afghan army) Western Countries fight against Russia US- no Direct Involvement CIA Helping to Supply Islamic rebels (through Pakistan)
41. New Regime in Afghanistan Taraki murdered when plans leaked to slow reforms HafizullahAmin takes control Pro-western US opposed to Amin Russia feared Afghanistan alliance with West (Détente failing) and/or Pakistan and China
42. Russia Attacks December 25, 1979 Russia Invades Afghanistan, placing Numerous troops on the border Within 2 days USSR controls media Amin killed BarbrakKarmil given power
43. US responds US sees Afghanistan as a plot to take over Persian Gulf, a place of vital interest to US US would respond with force should the Soviets continue US increases military supplies to Pakistan, who sends them to Afghanistan Refuses to Attend Russian Olympics
44. Continued Efforts of Russia 1980-125,000 Red troops
45. US Trade US dramatically decreases trade to the Soviet Bloc by just over half European Countries picked up the dropped trade deals Poland, dependent on West for trade Food shortages, 100% increase in prices Gdansk, Poland- 17,000 workers strike Strike spread (with 1 week 250 factories down)
46. Poland and Solidarity Workers realize importance of Unity, forming Solidarity Workers party Trade Union Economic demands and political demands End of censorship and higher pay
47. Internationally Poland US supported, but did not try anything overt, to avoid war Russia—tied up in Afghanistan—did not want risk war
48. Russia and Poland Martial Law declared in Poland by Defense Minister (Soviet supported) Censorship Telephones closed, press Solidarity Banned Right to free association ended Leaders arrested Tanks in the streets BUT avoided direct Russian Intervention
49. Reagan (1981-’84) Anti-Communist, Optimistic for America Right and Wrong, Black and White, Evil, Opposed SALT II Negotiations with USSR weak Build Military and Economy to beat Russians Increases Military Spending (by $32.6 bill) US could afford escalation Arms Race, USSR could not Outspend and out Perform
50. Reagan and Afghanistan Pakistan was front lines for defeating evil Pakistan leader demands more and more aid Pakistan NOT US controlled distribution of weapons to the Afghanistan fighters Weapons distribution factionalized Soviet resistance fighters in Afghanistan
51. Russians and Afghanistan 1981-1982 fighting intensifies Yet, despite clearing a town, rebels would eventually return to the area after the Soviets had left Soviet’s had high casualties Peace talks started But Pakistan and US wanted Soviets tied up in Afghanistan
52. Cold War in Russia Policies were reactive rather than initiative Soviet economy falling severely behind West’s Afghanistan, Cuba, Vietnam Couldn’t keep up with new technologies
53. Star Wars Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Anti Missile system in space Defense shield Could have nullified Soviet nuclear threat Leaves Europe Behind
54. Gorbachev Perestroika Reconstruction/restructuring Glasnost Openness/ Transperency Satellites choose own paths Dramatic military reductions
55. Glasnost Used to make the gov’t activities “open” Free elections Discussion of Gov’t/policies Could criticize gov’t Encourages new forms of expression
56. Perestroika Economic Reform Enterprises for profit Private ownership and control of agriculture and industry Foreign investments Consumer goods
57. End of the Cold War! Under Gorbachev’s freedoms, Satellite countries began declaring independence from Russia Georgia, Lithuania, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Latvia, Estonia and more….. Attempted Coup against Gorbachev US – “wait and see” He was destroyed by the failed coup Communist allies (gov’t) supported Coup!
58. End of the USSR December 25, 1991 USSR dissolved Created Commonwealth of Independent States Boris Yeltsin new leader of Russia Abided by arm decreases (and nuclear weapons decreases)