Cold War Overview

Overview

This lecture covers the origins, major events, ideological conflict, technological rivalry, and eventual end of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1945–1991.

Origins of the Cold War

• The Cold War began after WWII as an ideological conflict between capitalist USA and communist USSR.
• Both superpowers avoided direct conflict, instead engaging in proxy wars and competition for global influence.
• The USSR established communist control over Eastern Europe; the USA promoted democracy and free markets.

Key Events and Policies (1945–1962)

• The Truman Doctrine established a policy of containment to stop Soviet expansion.
• The Marshall Plan provided economic aid to rebuild Europe and counter communism.
• Berlin Blockade (1948–49) and Airlift highlighted superpower tensions leading to the division of Germany.
• Establishment of NATO (1949) as a defensive alliance against USSR; Warsaw Pact (1955) as Soviet counterpart.
• The Korean War (1950–53) demonstrated the US commitment to containing communism militarily.
• Massive nuclear arms buildup and the arms race began after the USSR developed its own atomic weapons.

Escalation and Crises (1953–1962)

• Khrushchev's policies included destalinization but also suppression of revolts in Hungary and Poland.
• The Space Race began with the Soviet launch of Sputnik (1957); USA responded by creating NASA.
• The Berlin Wall (1961) was erected to stop defections from East to West Berlin.
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, resulting in improved US-USSR communication.

Cold War in Asia and the Third World

• US interventions in Korea and Vietnam aimed to prevent communist expansion.
• CIA covert operations supported pro-Western regimes and undermined leftist leaders in Iran, Guatemala, Congo, and Chile.
• China became communist under Mao (1949), with relations with the USSR deteriorating in the 1960s.

Détente and Arms Control (1969–1979)

• Détente eased tensions via arms limitation (SALT I & II) and increased superpower cooperation.
• The space race ended with joint US-USSR missions.
• Internal unrest and economic stagnation weakened the Soviet bloc.

Renewed Tensions and the End of the Cold War (1979–1991)

• Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979) ended détente.
• Reagan increased US defense spending and pressured the USSR economically and militarily.
• Gorbachev introduced reforms (perestroika and glasnost), but economic stagnation and nationalist movements led to the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.
• In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, ending the Cold War.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Proxy wars — conflicts where superpowers support opposing sides without direct combat.
• Containment — US policy to prevent the spread of communism.
• Marshall Plan — US financial aid program for postwar European recovery.
• NATO — North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Western military alliance.
• Warsaw Pact — Soviet-led Eastern European military alliance.
• Détente — period of relaxed tensions and improved relations.
• Perestroika — Gorbachev’s policy of economic restructuring in the USSR.
• Glasnost — Gorbachev’s policy of openness and increased transparency.
• Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) — strategy where both sides can inflict total nuclear retaliation.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review major Cold War crises: Berlin Blockade, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War.
• Read about the causes and impact of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
• Study the effects of nuclear arms treaties and space race achievements.