The Cold War
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The Cold War. -WWII? KABOOM! -Arms Race. Soviet Influence:. USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) took control of many Eastern European countries…behind the “Iron Curtain.”. Truman Doctrine (1947)—U.S. supported free peoples from Soviet takeover Marshall Plan (1947)
The Cold War
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The Cold War -WWII? KABOOM! -Arms Race
Soviet Influence: USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) took control of many Eastern European countries…behind the “Iron Curtain.”
Truman Doctrine (1947)—U.S. supported free peoples from Soviet takeover • Marshall Plan (1947) • U.S. gave $12 billion to rebuild Europe • COMECON = • Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
U.S.’ containment policy: to prevent communism from spreading any further! COLD WAR: a struggle between two political systems (democracy vs. totalitarianism), & between two economic systems (capitalist system of free enterprise vs. communist system of govt.-owned & directed means of production)
Berlin Airlift • Soviets tried to force W. Allies out of Berlin • Allies airlifted/dropped food/supplies into Berlin • Allies determined to oppose Soviet’s extension of control
NATO (1949): North Atlantic Treaty Organization: mutual defense pact between Western allies. Warsaw Pact: mutual defense pact between USSR & nations of Eastern Europe.
Indirect Conflicts (“proxy wars”): 1) Korean War (1950 – 1953) 2) Vietnam War (1965 – 1973) 3) Afghanistan (1979 – 1989)
1960—Soviets shot down U2 spy plane • 1961—Berlin Wall • 1962—Cuban Missile Crisis
The Nuclear Arms & Space Race 1952- U.S. detonated H-bomb 1953- Russians produce H-bomb 1957- Soviets launched Sputnik *ICBMs: Inter-Continental Balistic Missile
1960s: *Atlas missile: travel 5,000 miles @ 16,000 mph. *Polaris submarine carrying nucs. *China exploded the H-bomb. *MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)
Just some stats… 1981: US had 8,000 ICBMs & USSR had 7,000 *US defense spending (1981) = $178 billion *(1986) = $367 billion
Fall of the USSR • 1960s: USSR economy was struggling • Conflict in Middle East caused oil prices to soar • 1973-’74 Oil Embargo: oil prices rose • 1979 Oil Crisis • USSR imported more food, consumer goods, & developed oil/natural gas • DID NOT DEVELOP REAL INDUSTRY! • 1986: global oil prices fell 46%
The “Iron Curtain” falls! *Development of military technology & space exploration left little $ consumer goods & human services for the USSR. --could not give aid to poorer satellite nations of E. Europe
Mikhail Gorbechev: Pres. of Soviet Union *took NO action to oppose Communist collapse in E. Europe *perestroika: “restructuring” the economy & govt. *glasnost: “openness” discussion of political & social issues—move towards democracy
1991: Gorbechev was imprisoned *Communist party lost control of govt. *15 republics of the Soviet Union declared their independence *USSR was no more *Ronald Reagan’s Speech at Brandenburg Gate, West Germany—June 12, 1987