The Cold War: 1945-1990
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Explore the Cold War era from 1945-1990, its key terms, the emergence of the Iron Curtain, and the motives behind the conflict. Dive into the arms race, espionage, propaganda, and flashpoints like Berlin and Cuba. (285 characters)
The Cold War: 1945-1990
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Presentation Transcript
What’s the term mean? • “Cold War” refers to the era, 1945-90, of extreme tension between the U.S. and its allies and the Soviet Union and its Allies.
Today’s Outcomes: • What was “The Iron Curtain” and why did it emerge after 1945? • What are some key Cold War terms? • HW: How did the Cold War begin?
Iron Curtain • In a speech in Missouri, Churchill first articulates the division of Europe
What did Churchill mean? • “Iron Curtain” is a metaphor—Churchill meant the invisible line that divided communist Europe and (mostly) democratic Europe
Vocab Term • Those nations behind the Iron Curtain—Poland, Hungary, East Germany, etc.—are called satellite nations • Why?
To U.S. President Truman and the West, this “Iron Curtain” represents a betrayal • At the Yalta conference in 1945, Stalin had implied he’d allow elections in nations occupied by his forces
Is Stalin pulling a Trotsky? • That is, is he attempting to spread Communism beyond Russia’s borders—that “Permanent Revolution” stuff?
Or was Stalin’s motive defensive? • Russia had always faced enemies from the West. Stalin may have been determined that next war be fought in Poland or Germany, and not in a U.S.S.R. that had just lost 22 million people
Containment • The policy first enunciated by President Truman: America will stop the spread of communism through diplomacy, military and economic aid to nations threatened by communism
“Client Wars” • Will be a hallmark of containment: The two sides fight indirectly in third countries: Against China in Korea; against China and the Soviet Union in Vietnam
And even South Asia • Where we supplied and funded Muslim fedayeen, like this one, fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan