Transcript The Cold War

The Cold War
1945-1989
What is the Cold War?
 The
Cold War was a strategic and
political struggle between the United
States and the Soviet Union.
 The Cold War was a “war with no
bullets”.
Beginning and End
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The Cold War began in
1945 at the end of WWII
Started as a battle for
power over war-torn
Europe between
communists and capitalists
Germany and its capital,
Berlin, were divided –
Berlin wall
Threat of nuclear attacks
started an arms race
between US and Soviets
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The Cold War ended in
1989
Ended when East and
West Germans tore down
the Berlin Wall
Soviet leader Gorbachev
met with US Presidents
Reagan and Bush to begin
repairing relations between
the two countries
Communism ends in
Russia
The Berlin Wall
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlinwall/videos/deconstructing-history-berlin-wall
Cold War Events: Anti-Communism
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Fear of communism spread through the United States
in the 40s and 50s
Supported by actions of the government and the FBI
Congress: House Committee on Un-American
Activities
– Hollywood: members of the film industry
investigated for communist activities in 1947
– 10 people sent to prison
– Hundreds “Blacklisted” and unable to find work
Cold War Events: Anti-Communism
Red Scare and Witch Hunts
 Leaders in Congress accused people of being a
communist
 Sen. Joseph McCarthy claimed to have lists of
communists in the government and military
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Used the “list” to blackmail people
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ecwKeU1_IU
The Rosenbergs
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Couple convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union
Sentenced to death for espionage
1st civilians to be executed for espionage during peacetime
Senator Joseph McCarthy and the
Rosenburgs
The Korean Conflict
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Japan had controlled the Korean peninsula many
years prior to WWII.
With Japan’s defeat in WWII, Korea was divided at
the 38th Parallel into North Korea (communist) and
South Korea (democratic).
In June 1950, with the backing of the Chinese and
Soviet Communists, North Korea invaded South
Korea—the United Nations (and therefore the US)
got involved…
http://www.history.com/videos/sherman-pratt-survives-the-koreanwar#sherman-pratt-survives-the-korean-war
Korean Conflict
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After 3 years of fighting, the conflict ended in
July of 1953 with no side holding a clear
advantage—North and South Korea still remain
divided at the 38th parallel to this day.
Legacy of the Korean Conflict
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The US learned that China had a strong
military following the Communist takeover by
Mao in 1949.
This was in a larger sense a war between the
Soviets and Americans, between Communism
and Democracy/Capitalism.
History can decide the winner — would most
people want to live in North or South Korea
today??????
The Space Race
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Both the US and the USSR developed nuclear
weapons.
People built bomb shelters as both nations worried
about nuclear war.
October 4, 1957: Soviets launched Sputnik, the world’s
first satellite.
In 1961, the Soviets were first to launch a man in to
space.
On July 11, 1969, the US finally pulled ahead in the
space race by being the first to land on the moon (Neil
Armstrong).
Apollo 11:
United States lands on the moon
http://www.history.com/videos/space-race-cold-warfront#space-race-cold-war-front
John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address
Camelot
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John F. Kennedy is elected
president in 1960
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Youngest president
Glamorous
Wife was Jackie, children
Caroline and John-John
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Senator from Massachusetts
Jackie set fashions for the
time
Popularity ratings as high as
77%
Strong supporter of Civil
Rights Movement
Kennedy Assassination
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Kennedy went to Dallas, TX to rally support for the Democratic
Party
Had concerns about anti-Kennedy citizens in TX, but did not take
all security precautions
Shot while riding in a motorcade parade, Nov. 22, 1963
http://www.history.com/videos/john-f-kennedy-assassinated#john-f-kennedyassassinated
Kennedy Assassination
and Funeral
Johnson Sworn in as President on
Air Force One in Dallas
Kennedy Assassination, con’t
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Shot by a lone assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, who had
communist sympathies
Lee Harvey Oswald was murdered two days later
outside police headquarters by Jack Ruby (Who owned
a Dallas nightclub with mafia connections)
Assassination investigated by a Congressional
committee who produced the Warren Report,
concluding that Oswald had acted alone
Nation mourned with a massive state funeral that
copied the one held for Lincoln
Cuba
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Fidel Castro, a communist revolutionary, came
to power in 1959 and nationalized Cuba.
Castro’s government was embraced by the
USSR and put under a trade embargo by the
United States.
Several CIA campaigns were launched to try to
overthrow Castro’s government – none were
successful.
Bay of Pigs
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CIA agents secretly trained exiled Cubans to invade
Cuba and overthrow Castro
American bombers led the way disguised as Cuban air
force
Plans were discovered and Kennedy abandoned the
plan for further attack
Exiled Cuban forces were left to fend for themselves
and were soon captured and executed
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/bay-of-pigs-invasion/videos/bay-ofpigs-cias-perfect-failure?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false
Cuban Missile Crisis - 1962
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USSR built missile silos in Cuba and began stocking them
with nuclear warheads
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Silos discovered by US reconnaissance planes
US Navy attempted to stop and search all ships headed for
Cuba to prevent further build-up
Kennedy announced the plans on television
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Enabled surprise Soviet attack less than 100 miles from the coast
of the US
Wave of panic swept through the United States
Krushchev (Soviet leader) agreed to turn back the ships
and disarm Cuba if the US promised to never invade the
island
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis