Modern Era Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, Hippies, Modern Day
Why so “Cold”? • Capitalism vs. Communism • End of WWII into 1990’s • United States vs. Soviet Union= Superpowers • Cold because 2 countries never engaged in open fire warfare • War of ideas (political & economic) rather than a battle of weapons
Long Term Causes • Atomic bombs of Hiroshima & Nagasaki unleashed use of super-weapons • Every world power wanted access to nuclear weapons technology • Arms race between US & Soviet Union http://youtu.be/paG4kZZfNXY
Immediate Causes • Stalin= no free elections in Russia • Communism imposed throughout USSR • Stalin = untrustworthy, sinister, evil as Hitler • Winston Churchill “iron curtain has descended across the continent”
US Plans • Containment- also known as Truman Doctrine • Spread of Communism must stop w/ Russia • Marshall Plan-economic aid package sent to European nations suffering after WWII • Rebuilt Germany Stalin views these both as threats
Duck & Cover • http://youtu.be/N_1jkLxhh20
Berlin • Berlin, Germany= divided into East & West • Separated by Berlin Wall (1960s) • Kept Germans under Soviet control • East = Communist West= Capitalist • Berlin Airlift: US planes w/ aid & supplies flew in to help Germans over a year
Alliances • NATO= North Atlantic Treaty Organization • US, Canada, & Western Europe • Warsaw Pact= Soviet Union & “buffer zone” nations btwn USSR & Europe • Arms race continues to strengthen- both had enough to destroy the world
Major World Events • Stalin dies= Nikita Khrushchev takes over • Invades Hungary & Czechoslovakia • Cuban Missile Crisis • Fidel Castro + Soviet Union • Soviet missiles stored in Cuba aimed at US • Bay of Pigs • Failed American invasion of Cuba http://youtu.be/H5ZzL9KsyPY
Korea • Korean War (1950-1953) • N. Korea(Communist) vs. S. Korea (Democracy) • Mao Zedong= Chinese leader, takes over N. Korea • 38th parallel divides Korea • UN sent forces, armistice signed, nations split • War for nothing
Vietnam • Vietnam Conflict (1960s) • Northern Vietnam vs. Southern Vietnam • N. Vietnam= Ho Chi Minh (Communist leader) • US military invasions turned Americans against US Govt • Hippies & War protestors of 1960s • President Nixon= leave Vietnam 1970s http://youtu.be/IPPaZU18rUg
HIPPIES! • Counter-Culture • Rebelled against rigid traditional values of 1950s • “hip” vs. “square” • Embraced diverse cultures (Eastern Asian religions, African music, communal living) • Psychedelic music • Sexual revolution • Drugs used for “exploring the mind” and “altered states of consciousness” • Marijuana, LSD, mushrooms • Haight-Ashbury & Woodstock http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8735&xtid=44098
Détente • Détente- easing of Cold War tensions in 1970s • Soviets invade Afghanistan (1979) • Soviets beaten repeatedly by Afghan & US forces • Soviet economy depleted, people demand end of war
Collapse of Communism • USSR allies began to break away • Mikhail Gorbachev in power (USSR) • Perestroika: complete overhaul of govt & economy of Russia • Glasnost: creation of open atmosphere for change (national & international) • Soviets still unable to fully recover http://youtu.be/zmRPP2WXX0U
The End • Berlin Wall torn down (1989) • Germany reunited • Russian Revolution of 1991 • Gorbachev tries reverting back to Communism, Boris Yeltsin= new President of independent Russia • Military coup d’etat
Oil Conflicts • Middle East nations: Oil control= political, economic, social power • OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc.) • Set price & quantity available • US supported Israel (Jewish) • OPEC nations withdrew oil supply from US= shortage
War for Oil • Iraq attacked Iran(1980s) & Kuwait (1990) • Led by Saddam Hussein • Persian Gulf War • US forces sent in to stop Hussein • Iraq lost, but destroyed oil pipelines, environmental disaster • Hussein in control until captured & killed in 2006
Globalization • Trade & Industrialization • NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement • Canada, US, Mexico • Industrialized nations depend on oil • Still a source of conflict today • Advanced communications & technology • Trade = Cultural diffusion & diversity worldwide
Third World • Developing nations in Africa, Asia, & Latin America • Not as industrialized • Unstable government • Economic struggles (Communism vs. Capitalism)
Terrorism • Deliberate use of unpredictable violence, especially against civilians, to gain revenge or achieve political goals. • Used by groups or individuals that do not have a military of their own • Activities include bombings, kidnappings, assassinations, and hijackings • Areas of widespread terrorism Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and any area with American citizens, who have become a target of terrorist activities • Ex: Osama bin Laden. 9/11 attacks • Efforts to stop terrorism have seen limited success due to the random nature of its activities
http://youtu.be/1V1SCWOXJbc
