Heimler's History: Cold War Effects

Introduction

• Focus on the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union
• Theme: No direct fighting between the two powers but significant indirect conflicts and developments

Effects of the Cold War

1. Military Alliances

   • NATO (1949): Formed by Western nations to counter Soviet influence
     • Members: United States, Great Britain, France, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Portugal, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands
   • Warsaw Pact (1955): Soviet response to NATO
     • Members: Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Albania, Bulgaria

2. Proxy Wars

   • Cold War characterized by indirect fighting through proxy wars
   • Korean War (1950-1953)
     • Division of Korea into North (Soviet-backed) and South (U.S.-backed)
     • North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to UN (mostly U.S.) intervention
     • China supported North Korea, resulting in a stalemate
   • Angolan Civil War (1975)
     • Post-colonial power struggle in Angola
     • U.S., Soviet Union, and South Africa backed rival groups
   • Contra War in Nicaragua (1979)
     • Sandinista socialists seized power
     • U.S. backed contras to overthrow Sandinistas, who were supported by the Soviet Union
     • Conflict ended in cease-fire, Sandinistas defeated in elections

3. Buildup of Nuclear Weapons

   • Arms Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union
   • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
     • Soviet missiles placed in Cuba after U.S. failed attempt to remove Castro
     • U.S. missiles in Turkey; mutual tensions
     • Naval blockade by U.S. led to high tensions, but no conflict occurred
   • Resulted in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968)
     • Aimed to prevent spread of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear nations

Conclusion

• Summary of key Cold War effects: military alliances, proxy wars, nuclear arms race
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