wccoldwar

Beginning of Cold War,
1945-1956

Begins w/boundaries & zones of occupation in Europe decided at end of WWII

Soviet domination of eastern Europe & American "Truman doctrine" are sig.

US priority: contain communism

1948-1949: Berlin Air Lift, Soviet A-bomb test, NATO & east bloc formed

Korean War & Chinese involvement escalates tension

est. of Israel (1948) factor into Cold War actions - Suez Canal (1956)

"hot points", 1956-1973

Hungary, 1956: brief independence before brutal suppression by Soviets

Berlin Wall, 1961: East Germans/Soviets erect wall through the middle of the city

Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962: JFK vs. Kruschev- tensions escalate to point of war

Vietnam War, 1964-1973: massive American effort to contain communism in SE Asia

"Prague Spring," 1968: Czechoslovakia briefly throws off Soviet influence

Discussion Questions

Could the Cold War have been averted, or was it inevitable?

How does the Cold War period compare to imperialist period (1870-1914)?

Are prominent enemies necessary to unify nations?

How would you describe the global balance of power today?

What is the significance of the Cold War for today?

Cold War, 1945-1973 -
general ideas

ideological clash between communism & capitalism - rooted in 18th & 19th C. western ideas

"nuclear deterrence" is key philosophy driving both US & USSR - MAD

context of nationalism sweeping through Africa, Asia, (& Latin America)

theory: a "military-industrial complex" in both US & USSR emerges, is powerful

pre-WWII multi-polar balance of power becomes bi-polar during Cold War?