An overview of the Cold War

1. An overview of the Cold War How can a war be ‘cold?’ What were the hotspots of the Cold War?

2. Cold War

3. After WWII the Cold War began and caused tension throughout the world. • The USA and the USSR were the two world Superpowers. • The USA was a capitalist society with a democracy. • The USSR was a communist country with a dictatorship. • Both wanted to be the most powerful nation in the world.

5. Nuclear tensions • The USA had shown its atomic power when it exploded the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII. • The USSR was also developing atomic weapons/bombs. • The USA and the USSR were in competition with each other to have the best, most powerful weapons in the world – this was called the Arms Race.

6. After WWII the world changed • Many countries became communist after WWII including: • Czechoslovakia (1948) • Poland (1947) • Hungary (1947) • China (1949) • Cuba (1959) • North Korea (1945)

7. Germany - divided • Germany, which had been ruled by the Hitler and the Nazis until their defeat in 1945 was split in two. • The western side became West Germany and the eastern side became East Germany. • East Germany became another communist country.

8. Iron Curtain – A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the separating of Those communist lands of East Europe from the West. Divided Germany

9. Improve your knowledge Divided Berlin • The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.

10. The Domino Theory • The USSR had a lot of influence over many of the new communist countries (especially those in Europe). • The USA was very worried that the USSR’s influence over these countries was making the USSR and communism more powerful. • The USA did not want communism to spread any further – they were worried about the domino theory (one country becomes communist, then another, then another etc)

11. Cold War? • The tension and rivalry between the USA and the USSR was described as the Cold War (1945-1990). • There was never a real war between the two sides between 1945 and 1990, but they were often very close to war (Hotspots). Both sides got involved in other conflicts in the world to either stop the spread of communism (USA) or help the spread (USSR).

12. The Korean War 1950-1953

13. The Berlin Wall 1961

14. The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

15. The Vietnam War c.1963-1975

16. Miscellaneous • Truman Doctrine – “containment” of communism • Marshall Plan – aid to Europe after WWII • Berlin Airlift – US dropped supplies into Berlin • NATO vs. Warsaw Pact; later SEATO • Eisenhower Doctrine – containment in M. East • Sen. Joseph McCarthy – McCarthy hearings (Red Scare) • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • HUAC – House Un-American Activities Committee • Hollywood 10; blacklisted as communists