Superpower Smackdown?!?

Trying to plan for final peace settlement Soviets get major land concessions in Eastern

Europe & agree to support nationalist Chiang Kai-shek in China (over the communists)

Conference tinged by fear of communism spreading

Shortly after, Churchill gives “Iron Curtain” speech

Outcomes: Europe divided into “spheres of influence”

(Communists & non-communist)

Berlin and Germany have been divided into 4 sections

US, France, & UK are going to reunite sections into West Germany and West Berlin

Soviets build Berlin Wall, cut off all land routes to Berlin

US & UK send cargo plans day & night for 10 months

Outcomes: Soviets relent and lift blockade, create East Germany,

East Berlin 1st test of willingness of the west to resist expansion of

Soviet influence in Eastern Europe

Basically, says that the US will oppose communist rebels anywhere in the world

1st real discussion of “containment”

Outcomes: Commits US to a position of world guard dog

(even though does not yet promise military resources)

Marshall Plan – rebuild Europe & Japan, ultimately help US economy

Mutual defense pact of west European countries (“collective security”)

Greece, Turkey, & W. Germany join later

Outcomes: Soviets and satellites sign Warsaw Pact in

1955 Same idea in Eastern Europe Basically set up who would be on which side

of the Cold War

U.S. would help any country (with military force) that was fighting “international communism”

U-2 incident in 1959 (Gary Powers)

Outcomes: US goes from guard to policeman Puts US military and economic resources on

an international stage, not just to fight for immediate US interests

1959, Castro gets control of Cuba U.S. helps train rebel forces, indicates that if they

overthrow Castro, U.S. would give support Coup falls apart, rebels ask for assistance U.S. sends absolutely no help, all rebels

slaughtered

Outcomes: Castro’s position solidified U.S. for. policy disaster Makes Kennedy look weak & inexperienced

Soviets place nuclear warheads on Cuba, 90 miles off the Florida coast (capable of hitting anything on the Eastern seaboard)

U.S. demands that they be removed, sets up a full blockade of Cuba for 5 days

Tensions very high, some military leaders in both countries advocate using nuclear weapons

Secret “win-win” solution – Soviets will pull out missiles, US pledges never to invade Cuba or start a rebellion again

Outcomes: Brinkmanship Closest we get to launching a nuclear war Scares lots of people “hotline” set up

Japanese had conquered Korea during WWII When Japan surrendered, Soviets occupied Korean Pen.

North of the 38th parallel, set up communist government In south UN sponsored elections set up South Korean

gov’t in 1948 North Korean troops invade 1950 UN troops go to defend; fighting goes back and forth,

ends at same place they started at

Outcomes: Truman fires MacArthur Seen as a tie Helps Eisenhower get elected Many neutral nations pull closer to US and start to increase

arms and military

French colony, reclaimed after WWII, split in 1954 Northern half adopts nationalist government, which is led by communist

Ho Chi Minh US sends military advisors to advise and help, French pull out and leaves

US holding the bag—pull out means all Vietnam will be Communist Military build-up begins under Kennedy, escalation and gradualism Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964) Major build up during Johnson Peace negotiations begin in 1968; slow & halting Saigon falls in 1975

Outcomes: Vietnam reunites under Communist leadership US begins to see distinction between types of communists Seen as only US military loss Incredible domestic dissent TV coverage shows body counts and full coverage on evening news Changes how US views war

SALT Treaty 1972 Nixon opens door to China “vietnamization” – back off from

unconditional containment “shuttle diplomacy”

Outcomes: Some tensions ease Both sides concentrate on domestic

difficulties Military build up continues

Hostage Crisis – 1979 Election of Ronald Reagan—Reaganomics,

deficit spending Iran-Contra Affair Reykjavik Summit 1986—glasnost and

perestroika

Outcomes: Active efforts to destroy communism Huge military build up on both sides Some fears of military buildup increase

Wall was built in 1961 – symbolic of split between East and West – of Cold War itself

Soviet economy collapses, taking satellite countries with it

By 1989, Soviets unwilling to squash rebellion in satellites, wall comes down

Outcomes: End of Cold War Coup in Russia, 1991 End to Soviet Union