Cold War era. Essential Understanding

7-5.1 Compare the political and economic ideologies of the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The United States and the Soviet Union

The United States had a limited government in the form of a representative democracy or constitutional government. The Soviet Union had an unlimited government in the form of a communist state.

The United States practiced capitalism, while the Soviet Union practiced socialism.

They wanted to these countries to have self-rule, constitutional governments, and capitalist systems.

Stalin wanted these lands to be communist with socialist systems.

Germany was split into four occupation zones by the Soviets, Americans, British, and French.

The democratic zones merged together to form West Germany.

East Germany had a communist government.

Even though it was in East Germany, the capital was split into a democratic West Berlin and a communist East Berlin.

7-5.2 Summarize the impact of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations, and the Warsaw Pact on the course of the Cold War.
What was “containment”?

This was a policy of the United States to stop the spread of communism and promote democracy.

This United States’ policy gave money to Eastern European countries so they could enjoy democracy and individual freedom.

This plan gave money to Western European countries to help with reconstruction after WWII and prevent the spread of communism.

The League of Nations failed to prevent World War II.

The UN could use military force and the United States joined the UN.

There was constant worry that any conflict between the superpowers would result in a war with the use of nuclear weapons, capable of world-wide destruction.

The Soviets tried to block access to West Berlin by cutting off all land routes. For nearly a year, the Western Allies airlifted supplies to West Berlin by plane, forcing the Soviets to lift the blockade.

This was military alliance of democratic nations formed to protect themselves against communist aggression. This included the United States, Canada, and ten western European countries including France and Great Britain.

This was a military alliance of communist countries that included the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania.

7-5.3 Explain the spread of communism in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, including the ideas of the satellite state (i.e., a country dominated politically and economically by another nation), containment, and the domino theory (i.e., the theory that if one country in a region comes under the influence of communism, the surrounding countries will follow in a domino effect).
What is meant by the term “satellite” countries?

These countries were freed from German control by the Soviets but they came under the influence and control of the Soviet Union.

They were communist and located near the Soviet Union.

Many revolutions were taking place in these areas and the rebels needed money and support in exchange for establishing a communist government.

The United States thought that if one nation fell to communism, then the next nation would fall, as well.

Before and during part of World War II, China was involved in a civil war between the Communists, led by Mao Zedong, and the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek. After the war, Chairman Mao and the Communists took control.

After World War II, Japan had to give up its territory of Korea. To avoid civil war, Korea was divided at the 38^th parallel. North Korea became communist and South Korea was democratic.

The French colony was seeking independence. The Soviet supported the rebels while the U.S. supported democratic leaders. Eventually, North Vietnam united the country into a communist nation.

As African countries tried to get independence from imperial powers, the Soviets offered money and military support if the country became communist. The U.S. and other democratic countries of Europe also offered money and support if the countries became democratic.

Cuba became communist and with support of the Soviet Union, tried to spread communism in Central and South America.

7-5.4 Analyze the political and technological competition between the Soviet Union and the United States for global influence, including the Korean Conflict, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall, the Vietnam War, the Cuban missile crisis, the “space race,” and the threat of nuclear annihilation.
What was the Korean War?

North Korea invaded South Korea. The U.N. responded by sending troops. After three years of fighting, the division remained at the 38^th parallel and a cease-fire was signed.

The Soviet Union controlled Eastern European countries which were communist. Western European nations were democratic. Winston Churchill described the communist countries as being “behind the iron curtain”.

There was a big difference between the prosperous democratic nations and the poorer communist countries. Therefore, many communists wanted to get to democratic nations. These differences were very obvious in Berlin and many from East Berlin wanted to go to West Berlin, so the wall was built to keep this from happening.

Vietnam wanted its independence from France. The North Vietnamese defeated France and became communist. Vietnam was divided at the 17^th parallel. In the south, the government was democratic but corrupt. The U.S. sent troops and fought for 15 years. Finally, the U.S. withdrew and the entire country became communist.

U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba and demanded that the missiles be removed. The Soviets demanded that the U.S. remove missiles in Turkey. Both nations complied and nuclear annihilation was avoided.

Both the U.S. and Soviet Union built up their militaries, increased their armaments, and developed hydrogen bombs.

The Soviets launched Sputnik which spurred the U.S. into forming NASA and launching its own satellite and later, being the first to land on the moon.

7-5.5 Analyze the events that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union and other communist governments in Europe, including the growth of resistance movements in Eastern Europe, the policies of Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan, and the failures of communist economic systems.

The people protested because they wanted political rights and a higher standard of living.

East and West Germany were united under democratic rule.

The Soviets faced economic difficulty and citizens wanted more political rights.

He called it “the evil empire”.

This was a program of ground and space systems to protect the U.S. against possible nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. This was commonly called “Star Wars”.

(perestroika) He allowed for more decision-making and private ownership of businesses.

(glasnost) He allowed more public participation and greater individual rights.

The U.S. and Soviet Union had a relaxing of tension. A treaty was signed calling for a reduction in nuclear weapons and ending the arms race.

Gorbachev called for elections, giving greater freedom in the Soviet Union.

Nationalist groups wanted independence which led to ethnic tension in the Soviet Union.