Cold War History Lecture Notes

Introduction to the Cold War

• Began after WWII
• Ideological conflict between the United States (Capitalism) and the Soviet Union (Communism)
• No direct military confrontation, but proxy wars and nuclear arms race
• Key elements: Propaganda, espionage, psychological warfare, space race

Roots of Communism and Capitalism

Industrial Revolution

• Created wealth disparity
• Karl Marx's theories of Marxism: predicted revolution and rise of communism

Russian Revolution

• Bolshevik Revolution, led by Lenin, established USSR
• One-party state, nationalized economy, outlawed political opponents

Western Capitalism

• Post-WWI, capitalism faced criticism
• Efforts for economic liberalization failed, leading to the Great Depression
• WWII highlighted further capitalist flaws

The Cold War Begins

Wartime Alliances and Tensions

• USSR sustained heavy losses; US economy thrived
• Differences in war experiences led to mistrust

The Iron Curtain

• Germany divided; USSR established control over Eastern Europe
• Truman Doctrine: US policy to contain communism

Early Cold War Conflicts

Espionage and McCarthyism

• Fear of communism spread in the West
• McCarthyism: Anti-communist crusades in the US, blacklisting suspected communists

The Marshall Plan and NATO

• US aid to rebuild Europe, counter communism
• Establishment of NATO as a defensive pact

Cold War in Asia

Post-war Asia

• Decolonization movements and rise of nationalism
• Communist China established by Mao; defensive pact with USSR

Korean War

• Divided Korea; North (Communist) invaded South
• Stalemate reached, confirming containment strategy

Nuclear Arms Race

Development of Nuclear Arsenal

• US atomic monopoly ended by Soviet nuclear test
• Development of hydrogen bombs
• Eisenhower's aggressive nuclear policies

Soviet Leadership Changes

Khrushchev's Reforms and Challenges

• De-Stalinization, but still oppressive
• Space race achievements: ICBMs, Sputnik

Berlin Crisis

• Khrushchev's ultimatum for Berlin; construction of Berlin Wall

Cuban Missile Crisis

• US discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba
• Naval blockade and tense negotiations
• Resolution avoided nuclear war, led to improved communications (hotline)

Vietnam War and Further Conflicts

• US involvement in Vietnam escalated; domino theory
• Domestic protests and eventual US withdrawal
• Communism spread in Southeast Asia post-war

Sino-Soviet Split and US Diplomacy

• Mao's China split from USSR; Nixon visited China
• Period of détente began with arms limitation talks

Space Race and Technological Competition

• Initial Soviet successes in space
• US moon landing ended space race
• Cooperation in space: Apollo-Soyuz project

Cold War in Global South

• CIA interventions to prevent communism in developing nations
• Controversial US-backed coups in Iran, Guatemala, Chile

Détente and Its Demise

• Efforts to ease tensions with strategic arms limitations
• US-Soviet cooperation ended with Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Reagan's Cold War Policies

• Peace through strength: military buildup, SDI bluff
• Renewed tensions but eventual negotiations with Gorbachev

Gorbachev's Reforms and the Fall of the Soviet Union

Perestroika and Glasnost

• Economic restructuring and openness
• Led to uprisings and loss of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe

End of the USSR

• Internal opposition and coup attempts
• Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991

Conclusion

• Cold War's end marked by dissolution of USSR
• Over 40 years of ideological conflict shaped global politics