The Cold War: An Overview

Introduction

• Post World War II era marked by the beginning of the Cold War.
• Two superpowers: United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR).
• Ideological battle: Communism vs. Capitalism.
• Nuclear arms stockpiling and control became central issues.

Division of Europe

• Eastern Europe fell under Soviet influence, creating the Eastern Bloc.
• Stalin sought to create a buffer zone with communist governments.
• Churchill noted the 'Iron Curtain' dividing the continent.

Emergence of the US as a Superpower

• US had a thriving economy post-war.
• Sole control of the atomic bomb initially.
• Hostilities with USSR began with Soviet actions in Iran and Turkey.

Containment Strategy

• Truman Doctrine: US policy to contain Soviet expansion.
• Marshall Plan: $13 billion to aid European economies to deter communism.

Division of Germany

• Germany split post-war into Eastern (Soviet) and Western (Allied) zones.
• Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948-49): Key early Cold War confrontations.
• Creation of NATO (1949) as a defensive pact against USSR.

CIA and Global Interference

• Growth of CIA in response to Soviet threat.
• Interventions in Iran (1953) and Guatemala (1954).

Cold War in East Asia

• Communist victory in China (1949) under Mao Zedong.
• Korean War (1950-53): US involvement to prevent spread of communism.

Khrushchev’s Leadership

• Formation of Warsaw Pact.
• Berlin Wall constructed (1961) to stop East German defections.
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Closest point to nuclear war.

Vietnam War

• US involvement in Vietnam escalated under President Johnson.
• War deeply unpopular; led to widespread protests.

Brezhnev Era and Detente

• Brezhnev’s leadership marked by corruption and stagnation.
• Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) began in 1969.
• Detente: Period of eased tensions, but ultimately ineffective.

Reagan’s Presidency

• Reagan’s policy of 'Peace through Strength'.
• Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) aimed to pressure USSR.

Gorbachev’s Reforms

• Introduction of Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (transparency).
• Negotiations with Reagan led to the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (1987).

Collapse of the Soviet Union

• Gorbachev’s reforms led to the unraveling of the Soviet sphere.
• Eastern European revolutions in 1989.
• Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989.
• Dissolution of the USSR into 15 states in 1991.

Conclusion

• Cold War ended with surprisingly little conflict.
• Significant impact on international relations for over 40 years.

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