Cold War

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Cold WarUnited States vs. USSR

• Diplomatic tension between nations with no actual
  combat. Usually refers to the state of tension
  between the US and Soviet Union from the late
  1940's to late 1980's or early 1990s.
• The world was divided into two camps.

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The Cold War 1945-1960
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Ideological differences

• Communism versus Capitalism
• Each economic system calls for the destruction of
  the other.
• Old Russian and Soviet paranoia about being
  attacked.
• Germany divided after WWII exemplified
  differences between USSR and US (plus allies) in
  their occupations.

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Causes of the Cold War

• Things the US did
• 1. Failed to open up a second front in WWII until
  D-Day (June 6, 1944).
• 2. U.S. ended Lend Lease aid.
• 3. Dropped Atomic Bombs on Japan.
• Things the USSR did
• Stalin's refused to allow free elections in
  Eastern Europe.
• 3. Stalin was a cruel and tyrannical dictator who
  was no better than Hitler in use of violent
  tactics. Over 10 million of his people were
  killed under his rule.
• 4. Took territory in eastern Europe early on in
  WWII and would not relinquish control after the
  war.

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US Policies

• Actions of President Truman 1948-1952
• Truman Doctrine Give financial aid to nations
  fighting communism. (Greece Turkey)
• Secretary of State Marshall developed Marshall
  Plan to give money to our allies so they dont
  become communist.
• Development of NATO - military alliance based on
  Collective Security
• Berlin Airlift after blockade of West Berlin by
  Stalin the USSR 1948-9

Containment - keep communism from spreading.
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Korean War

• U.S. helped South Korea after it was invaded by
  Communist North Korea. War ended in a tie.
• US afraid that if one nation fell, others would
  fall - domino theory

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US Policies
Actions of Kennedy 1961-1963 - Kennedy
responded to Berlin WallAirlift - Kennedy
responded to Sputnik NASA - space race

• Actions of Eisenhower 1953-1960
• Eisenhower Doctrine - massive retaliation.
  Willingness to use nuclear weapons
• Scared the Soviets
• U.S. exploded first H Bomb

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Kennedy Cuba

• The Bay of Pigs (1961)
• U.S. sent unsupported ex-convicts to Cuba to oust
  Fidel Castro.
• The invasion was a disaster and the U.S. was
  thoroughly embarrassed.

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Kennedy Cuba

• The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
• US had missiles pointed at USSR from bases in
  Turkey
• USSR had missiles pointed at US from bases in
  Cuba
• Brinkmanship was being practiced by Kennedy
  Khrushchev
• President Kennedy was given credit for calming
  the near crisis
• Hotline (direct line to USSR premier) was put
  into the White House

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What was the Vietnam War?

1. The US under Pres. Eisenhower and Pres. Kennedy
   slowly sent advisors beginning to S. Vietnam to
   aid them in their war against the North
   Vietnamese Communists.
2. They were afraid of other nations falling to
   Communism - The Domino Effect! LBJ expanded the
   war until over 500,000 soldiers were in Vietnam
   in the late 1960s.
3. There was never a declaration of war.
4. The jungle war in Vietnam was difficult to fight
   and the US withdrew in 1972 without having
   achieved her strategic objective.

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How did LBJ expand US involvement?

• President Johnson used an attack on a US ship in
  the Gulf of Tonkin as an excuse to send large
  amounts of troops. Congress then passed the Gulf
  of Tonkin Resolution which gave President Johnson
  expanded powers to wage war.
• When it was proven that LBJ had lied, this power
  was withdrawn during the Nixon administration
  with the passage of the War Powers Act that only
  allows the President to commit troops for 90 days
  without Congressional approval. (NY Times v
  United States)

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The Cold War 1960-1991
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End of Cold War

• 1. After reforms were begun by Gorbachev, USSR
  started to collapse.
• 2. Summits held between Gorbachev and Reagan.
• 3. USSR allowed satellite nations to break away
  in 1989.
• 4. Germany was reunited and the Berlin Wall fell
  in 1989.
• 5. Coup in USSR - Gorbachev out, Yeltsin in, in
  1992.

Gorbachev Reagan
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