The Cold War
By Georgi Kuelbs
About the Cold War
The Cold War was the time after WWII ended when the United States and the Soviet Union went from being allies to countries that were conflicted on how Europe would be rebuilt. This conflict lasted .
around 45 years. The Cold War was between 1947-1991
Both Countries were considered super powers at the time and both waned to be the most powerful. Other countries were also effected that were members of NATO like Germany and Afghanistan.
During the cold war each side wanted to show their “muscles” through weaponry and military strength, however their was never an actual direct war and this was the height of when nuclear weapons became important lucky no one ended up actually using a nuclear weapon.
Other countries that were effected were Germany, Japan, Panama, Cuba, Mexico
Containment
At the beginning of the cold war, containment of the Soviet Union became the United States foreign policy.
The concern was that the Soviet Union would take over other foreign policies and views on the government.
The US wanted to keep democracy instead in those countries. This strategy known as “containment” could include military force if needed to stop them from spreading communism.
“Iron Curtain”
The “Iron Curtain” was a phrase used during the Cold War.
While there was no actual wall there wasn’t an imaginary one that separated Europe into two during the Cold War.
The East Side of the “iron curtain” was the Soviet Union and the Countries they tried to influence
Truman Doctrine
Truman Doctrine /March 12, 1947
Named after Harry Truman.
It stated The US would support Greece and Turkey to keep them from falling into the hands of the Soviet Union.
Support would come with military and economic aid.
Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
“Officially the European Recovery Program, ERP”
Also called Foreign assistance act of 1948
Date started April 3rd 1948
The plan by the US to help western Europe.
The US gave about 13 billion dollars in support to help the Economy in Western Europe.
Berlin Airlift
Berlin Airlift
1948 was when the US and their allies used airplanes to get supplies like food and other goods that the people in West Berlin would need.
“It lasted more then a year and they delivered more then 2.3 million tons of cargo into West Berlin” www.history.com/topics/cold-war”
Soviet union would close off all access to the west side hoping to get rid of the US and their allies but the Berlin airlift helped out West Berlin
NATO
NATO
NATO is the North Atlantic treaty organization
April 4th 1949
Also called the Washington treaty. Was mainly a military alliance that was made to defend against the Soviet Union and Communism. Original members included
UK Belgium Canada Denmark France Iceland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Portugal, and others also later joined.
Korean War
Korean War
June 1950- July 27 1953
War between North Korea and South Korea. The US helped South Korea fight against North Korea and its communistic policies who had the Soviets and China.
McCarthyism
McCarthyism
Named after Joseph McCarthy
During the 40s and 50s people at home were scared of communism and it coming into the US. Some people called this the “Red Scare”. Views held by Senator McCarthy were to keep an eye out or anyone in the US who could be pro Communism.
U-2 Incident
U-2 Incident
May 1st 1960 CIA piolet Francis Gary powers was shot down by Soviet Union with a surfaced Air missile. He had been sent on a secret mission into Russia by President Eisenhower. It was considered to be an embarrassment when he was to admit that he was on a mission to get information.
Eisenhower Doctrine
Eisenhower Doctrine
Speech Given by President Eisenhower on January 5th 1957. This gave a Middle Eastern Country the Right to ask for US assistance if it felt endanger or threatened from another state. He highlighted the Soviet Union as one of the main threats. This was to help against communism.
Brinkmanship
Brinkmanship
“The practice, especially international politics, of seeking advantage by creating the impression that one is willing and able to push a highly dangerous situation to the limit rather than concede” www.sites.google.com/salkcoldwar
Eisenhower used this policy to help win his presidency
This was one of the reasons both the US and Soviet Union would back down from actually going into war.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Fidel Castro became the leader of Cuba in 1959. The U.S. was worried since Castro didn't want to keep the same relationship between Cuba and U.S. and they were close with the Soviet Union. A secret plan was made by U.S. to train Cuban exiles to fight and overthrow Castro. President Kennedy thought this would help to "win" the Cold War. In 1961 the secret mission began but when the Cuban group landed on the island called The Bay of Pigs, Castro and its army were ready and the invasion failed within 24 hours.
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
During Kennedy’s presidency, During the 60s the US found out the Soviet Union has nuclear missiles Once Kennedy found out he and the Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev met over 13 days. There was a very big threat that war could happen and millions of Americans and Russians would be killed. At the last minute the Soviets backed down and accepted the US offer that they would not invade Cuba if the Soviets took away the missiles from Cuba.