Cold War Flashcards
The Cold War
Democracy vs. Communism
Struggle to test both political ideology
1945 - 1991
It was a struggle to see if the political ideologies of capitalism/democracy or communism/totalitarianism would rule the world
Why was it cold?
No Direct Fighting
It was a struggle over political differences carried on by means of short military action or war.
There was no direct fighting.
Why did our alliance become shaky after WWII?
USA and USSR both Felt Betrayed
- The USA felt betrayed - Soviet/German non aggression pact
- The USSR felt betrayed - Allies delay in attacking Europe (D-day)
Yalta Conference
Allies Split Country and Promise Free Elections
Feb 1945 - Stalin/Churchill/Roosevelt
Create a post-war peace
1. Agree to divide Germany into four zones occupied by USA, French, British, and the USSR
2. Stalin promised to give Eastern European countries free elections after the war
San Francisco Conference
NATO Established
April 1945
The United Nations was established (International peace keeping organization - replaced the League of Nations) New York City
What were the postwar goals of the USA and USSR
USSR - Spread Comm. & Eastern Shield
USA - Stop Comm. & Spread Demo.
Soviet Union — Shield itself from another invasion from the west - Spread communism - Wanted to use Eastern Europe as a shield/buffer zone
USA — Stop the spread of communism - Spread democracy
Potsdam Conference
Stalin Said: No Free Elections, No Communism and Capitalism
Cold War Begins
July 1945
1. Stalin said he was not going to allow free elections in Eastern Europe
2. He declared that communism and capitalism could not exist in the same world!
Cold War begins
What happened in 1948
Germany given back by all but the USSR
The German zones were given back by the USA, France, and Britain but the Soviet Union Refused
Truman Doctrine
Gave support to non-communist countries
Gave military aid and support to any country in the world that resisted and rejected communism!
Turkey and Greece
Marshall Plan
Economic Assistance to non-communist countries
Economic assistance (aid) program to rebuild Western Europe after the war ($12.5 billion) the only requirement was to stay away from communism! (Named after Secretary of State George Marshall)
Offered to Soviets and they refused
Berlin Airlift
Soviets demand Berlin and build a Wall around it.
Berlin faced starvation but for the next 11 months, the USA and Britain airlifted food and supplies until the soviets eventually gave up
1948 - Soviets demanded Berlin
Berlin was in the Soviet sector and they set up a blockade around West Berlin (Island of Democracy)
Western Berlin faced starvation
Next 11 months the Americans and British airlifted food and supplies in to the people of West Berlin
Soviets gave up and lifted the blockade in 1949
This was the first major conflict in the Cold War
The Two Rival Alliances formed during the Cold War
NATO and Warsaw Pact
- NATO - (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) led by USA Canada and Western Europe
- Warsaw Pact - led by the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
What was always a threat in the Cold War
Nuclear War
H-Bombs (hydrogen bombs) developed that were thousands of times more powerful than A-Bombs (atomic bombs)
“Brinkmanship”
Willing to go to the brink of war
Arms Race for 40 years
Willingness to go to the brink, or edge of war created huge tension between the two superpowers
For the next 40 years there was an Arms Race (build up nuclear weapons)
Space Race
USSR - ICBM
USSR - Sputnik I
USSR - Dog into space
USA - Explorer I
USA - Spy Planes
USSR - Yuri Gagarin
USA - Allan Sheppard
USA - John Glenn in orbit
USA - Neil Armstrong
Race to get to space, Why?
Launch weapons from Space
1. Soviets created the first ICBM
2. Soviets launched Sputnik I
3. Soviets launch a dog into space
4. USA launches Explorer I - First Communication Satellite
5. USA launched the first spy planes (U-2s)
6. Soviets launched Yuri Gagarin
7. USA launches Allen Sheppard
8. USA John Glenn - First to orbit the Earth
9. USA - Neil Armstrong - First to step on the moon!
