The Cold War
(Chapter 31, Sections 1-4)
What you need to know:
- The United Nations was created at the end of World War II, as a replacement for the League of Nations, which had failed to solve the problems after WWI.
- There were several problems with the United Nations.
- China and Russia were on the Security Council, giving them power to veto new laws and prepositions.
- Great Britain declined as a world power.
- The Western Allies saw the role of occupying Europe as temporary.
- The Soviets had fears of invasion.
- Stalin was determined to establish a buffer zone of friendly governments in Eastern Europe to prevent further attacks.
- Soviet and Western interests came into conflict in Europe.
- Some countries became satellites, controlled by the Soviet Union.
- Stalin contained information about Soviet affairs.
- President Truman wanted to “contain communism.”
- The Truman Doctrine was written to win support for the West:
“I believe that it must be the
policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted
subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures…[We] must assist free
peoples who work out their own destinies in their own way.”
- The Marshall Plan was written next to prevent the spread of communism in Western Europe by offering economic aid as a form of bribe.
- Russia responded with COMECON, a similar rival plan to compete with the United States.
- The Iron Curtain was now created: an artificial line that separated Soviet-dominated countries from Western countries in Europe.
- After World War II, Germany was divided into West (controlled by the Allies,) and East (controlled by the Soviets.)
- The West was economically dominant and the East impoverished, so Russia created a wall in the city of Berlin to prevent workers from fleeing to West Germany (the Berlin Wall.)
- The West launched a massive Berlin Airlift to provide supplies for those trapped in Berlin.
- Shortly before the Berlin Conflict, N.A.T.O. was created (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) as an alliance between the Western Countries.
- The Warsaw Pact was formed between the Soviet satellites.
- Stalin dies in 1953.
- Nikita Khrushchev takes power, and condemns Stalin’s actions.
- Soviet citizens are promised higher wages and better consumer goods.
- Khrushchev begins a policy of de-Stalinization (self-explanatory.)
- 1950’s – peaceful coexistence – peace policy.
- 1960: The U2 Incident: an American spy plane is sent over Russian airspace for intelligence and is shot down; the pilot is taken into custody.
- 1961: Khrushchev threatens Kennedy by ordering the allies out of West Berlin. Kennedy refuses, and the Berlin Wall is built.
- 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis – Khrushchev installs missiles in Cuba pointed at the United States. (The United States had missiles in Turkey and Italy.) Kennedy blockades Cuba, and they reach a bargain, although on the brink of war.
- Took power after Khrushchev was exiled.
- Believed in a strong military for world diplomacy.
- The economy of the Soviet Union sank even more.
- Wanted to secure the Soviet satellites.
- Brezhnev Doctrine: Russia has the power to wage war to stop anti-communism.
- Powerful leader named Tito who resisted Soviet domination.
- Communist.
- The Soviets expelled them from the Communist affairs.
- Tito started a campaign of propaganda called Titoism.
- Thousands of peasants were leaving East Berlin for West Berlin.
- Khrushchev ordered construction of the Berlin Wall.
- People had to escape many obstacles in order to enter into West Berlin from East Berlin.
- Poland became industrialized.
- Restless under Soviet controls.
- Riots occurred in the streets.
- The Soviets jailed Stalin supporters and released anti-Stalin activists from jail for government positions.
- Like Poland, a revolution occurred.
- A liberal communist government wanted to be excluded from the Soviet Union.
- The Soviets feared a breakup of Europe, invading the country.
- N.A.T.O. and the U.N. did not intervene, fearing World War III.
- A more loyal communist government was installed.
- Highly loyal to communism after 1948.
- Alexander Dubcek took power, instituting secret liberal reforms.
- The Soviets invaded, ousting him and his government.
- Great Britain declined as a world power. Prime Minister Clement Attlee took power, creating a welfare state.
- France was troubled with internal problems. There was no order in the National Assembly, and Charles de Gaulle took power. He formed a working majority in the National Assembly. He also worked to strengthen ties to the rest of the world.
- West Germany became the leading industrial nation and resisted communism. They received support from N.A.T.O.
- The common market united Europe.
- Domestic unrest caused fear and panic.
- The “Red Scare” caused people to act in a frantic way.
- The Cuban Missile Crisis strengthened support of Kennedy.
Review (Study before you
answer these.)
Page written by Tom.