cold war thaws

1) WHAT DOES THAW MEAN? WHAT DOES THAW HAVE TO DO WITH THE COLD WAR?

When you get frozen meat out of your refrigerator and put it on the kitchen table, the frozen meat begins to melt or THAW. When you put an ice cube on a table, it begins to THAW. It begins to warm up. The Cold War begins to THAW in the 1970s. This means that the relationship between the USSR and the USA begins to warm up. In other words, the Cold War relations improve.

COLD WAR THAWSWhat does Thaw mean?

COLD WAR THAWSWhat does Thaw mean? Warming of relations

2) WHAT WAS BRINKMANSHIP & DETENTE?Two words that define the mood of Cold War diplomatic relations between the two superpowers were

Brinkmanship and Détente. Brinkmanship is an intimidation strategy to push an enemy to the point of a disaster. The strategy is to push an enemy to the ‘brink’ or to the edge and by doing so the hope is the enemy will back down to avoid all out disaster. Of course, this strategy runs the risk of all out nuclear war. In other words, two sides using immense pressure to get opposing to back down can lead to one of the sides not backing down but responding militarily and thus triggering nuclear war on the most tragic of scales. Examples of Brinkmanship are the Cuban Missile Crisis and Berlin Wall Crisis at Check Point Charlie. Leaders often associated with Brinkmanship are John Kennedy (US) and Nikita Khrushchev (USSR). The policy of Brinkmanship is usually associated with the early part years of the Cold War (1950s – early 60s).

Détente is a French word meaning “relaxation” and is another Cold War strategy that developed after Brinkmanship (associated with later 60s and 1970s). It is a very different approach than Brinkmanship. Détente was formed as a result of the intense and near disastrous Cuban Missile Crisis and Berlin Wall Crisis. Neither was likely to change the others’ mind. Thus, Détente proposed both superpowers needed to learn how to cooperate and co-exist with each other. It was in the interest of the 2 superpowers, humanity and the world for such an approach to be taken. Détente is often associated with longtime Soviet Leader Brezhnev and President Richard Nixon of the late 1960s and early 1970s and Jimmy Carter of the late 1970s. Détente was intended to warm up relations and hopefully decrease tension between super powers.

Reference Meaning Term Definition

COLD Bad

WARM Better

COLD Bad

WARM Better

COLD Bad

Brinkmanship

WARM Better

Détente

COLD Bad

Brinkmanship a) Pushing an enemy to the point of disaster

WARM Better

Détente a) Less tension

b) Flexible to differences

c) Realist politics

COLD Bad

Brinkmanship a) Pushing an enemy to the point of disaster

b) Create immense pressure until one side backs down

WARM Better

Détente a) Less tension

b) Flexible to differences

c) Realist politics

d) French word for relaxation

De-StalinizationAfter Stalin’s death, Khrushchev denounced many of Stalin’s actions as being harmful, wrong and against Leninist / communist ideals. He denounced the gulag system under Stalin and allowed for the publishing of One Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich, a classic about the horrors of Stalin’s gulags. Under Khrushchev, the Soviet Union was more open and less censored than under Stalin. By the time Khrushchev left power, the Soviet Union was not the harsh totalitarian state it was under Stalin. However, more hardliner communists like Brezhnev viewed Khrushchev as a failure that made the Soviet Union weaker. Thus, Brezhnev returned to more harsh governmental practices.

Brezhnev

BackBack

What was De-Stalinization?

De-StalinizationAfter Stalin’s death, Khrushchev denounced many of Stalin’s actions as being harmful, wrong and against Leninist / communist ideals.

China & Russia Split

USSR Leader Nikita Khrushchev

Chinese Leader Mao Zedong

1. Hello Mao

3. It is good to show the world communist brothers together!

5. Da! Da! Da! We are equal partners, unlike selfish capitalists!

7. Nyet! I mean… well, We will share our nuclear missiles by protecting you from imperialist Americans.

9. How dare you question our Communism! You Chinese should just follow our lead… our missiles are your missiles in that they will protect you.

11. Our position is clear and right… you Chinese should follow it!

13. Nyet!

15. Nyet!

2. Yes, Hello Comrade

4. Yes, and since we are communist we share everything

6. Since we are equal and we share… you will give us nuclear weapons, yes?

8. But we are equals...We should share…Are you a true communist?

10. How could they be our missiles if you wont give them to us?

12. No, I think we will go our own way.

14. Yes!

16. Yes!

17. Stupid stubborn Chinese!

18. Sneaky stubborn Russians

19. We Americans should cause further division between the

communists in China and the USSR

China & Russia Split4 4

USA Leader Richard Nixon

7 Years laterNew leader

USSR Leader Brezhnev

Chinese Leader Mao ZeDong

20. Hi Mao, want to hang out? Them Russians are treating you wrong. The US won’t!

21. Hi, Nixon and America!Yes, let’s hang out.

22. I no like! Maybe I talk Nixon too, yes!

23. Yes, now I can apply

the idea of DETENTE to the Cold War

7 Years laterNew leader

24. What is DÉTENTE: 1. Associated more with Nixon and Carter

2. Not associated with Truman, Eisenhower, JFK and Reagan3. “ Warming” of the Cold War

4. Opposite of Brinkmanship5. General reduction of tension between Soviet Union & USA

What caused the Russian & Chinese Communist Split?

USSR Leader Nikita Khruschev

Hello Comrade

Yes, Hello Comrade

It is good to show the world communist brothers together!

Yes, and since we are communist we share everything

Da! Da! Da! We are equal partners, unlike

selfish capitalists!

Since we are equal and we share… you will give up nuclears weapons,

Nyet! I mean… well, We will share our nuclear

missiles by protecting you from imperialist Americans.

But we are equals...We should share…

Are you a true communist?

How dare you question our Communism! You Chinese

should just follow our lead… our missiles are

your missiles in that they will protect you.

How could they be our missiles if you wont give

them to us?

How could they be our missiles if you wont give

them to us?

Stupid stubborn Chinese!

Our position is clear and right… you Chinese should

follow it!

Stupid stubborn Chinese!

No, I think we will go our own

Sneaky stubborn Russians

No, I think we will go our own

We Americans should cause further division

between China and the USSR

Let’s step in and play the “China Card”

SOME YEARS LATER… like 1972

Hi Mao, want to hang out? Them Russians are treating you wrong. The US won’t!

Hi Mao, want to hang out? Them Russians are treating you

wrong. We, Americans won’t!

Hi, Nixon and America!Yes, let’s hang out.

Hi Mao, want to hang out? Them Russians are treating

you wrong. We won’t!

Hi, Nixon and America!Yes, let’s hang out.

I no like! Maybe I talk Nixon too, yes!

Yes, now I can apply the idea

of _______ to the Cold War

Guess the Term H2)

5) Associated more with Nixon and Carter

Guess the Term H2)

4) Not associated with Truman, Eisenhower, JFK and Reagan

Guess the Term H2)

3) “ Warming” of the Cold War

Guess the Term H2)

2) Opposite of Brinkmanship

Guess the Term H2)

1) General reduction of tension between Soviet Union & USA

Guess the Term H2)

1) General reduction of tension between Soviet Union and USA

DÉTENTE H2)

Yes, now I can apply the idea

of DETENTE to the Cold War

What caused the Russian & Chinese Communist Split?

a) Mao asked for Russian bomb plans since both are communist and they should share, even bomb plans. b) Russian said they would protect their fellow communists and there was no need for China to have a bomb.

5-8) What are the USSR Satellites Nations?The USSR Satellites were Eastern European nations behind the Iron Curtain that were under the sphere of influence of the USSR. While these nations, also known as the Eastern Bloc, did have their own communist governments, they were under direct control from Moscow. They nations included Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

During the Cold War, populations in these nations did rise up to defy Soviet control. Most noticeably was the Hungarian Revolt of 1956 and the 1968 Czech Uprising. The Hungarians were demanding free elections and Soviet troops out. The Czechs sought loosen censorship and openness to new ideas.

(Ask Mr P about how he was almost killed Budapest in 1996 b/c of the Hungarian Revolt of 1956 but was saved by some Korean )

Both movements were severely crushed. Soviet leader Brezhnev ordered tanks to roll in and crush these mass democratic street protests by the native people. Unlike his predecessor Khrushchev, Brezhnev went back to more Stalinistic treatment of people. Under Brezhnev, nothing will harm communism, revolts will be crushed, human rights will be violated and free speech will not exist.

USSR Satellite CountriesWhat?

Who? Where?

USSR Reaction?(Brezhnev)

USSR Satellite CountriesWhat? “Independent” eastern European countries really

dominated and controlled by Moscow, USSR

Who? Where?

GROUP 6 tell CLASS THE ANSWER TO THIS.

USE MAPS ON NEXT FEW SLIDES

Who? Where?

Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria

Group 7 – Tell class the answers

Who? Where?

Want? Hungary – 1956

Czech -1968

Who? Where?

Want? Hungary – 1956

Czech -1968

Who? Where?

Want? Hungary – 1956 Free elections & Soviet troops out

Czech -1968 Loosen censorship & openness to new ideas

Group 8 – Tell class the answers

Who? Where?

a) crushed revolts

Who? Where?

a) crushed revolts

b) violation of basic human rights

Who? Where?

a) crushed revolts

c) no freedom of speech

Who? Where?

USSR Reaction

?(Brezhnev)

a) crushed revolts

c) no freedom of speech

d) NOTHING will harm communism.

Who are these 2 guys?

9-10) TWO ANTI-COMMUNIST APPROACHESThe US presidents did not keep one consistent anti-communist approach throughout the Cold War. Two very outspoken

anti-communist Republican Presidents were Richard Nixon (1968 – 1974) and Ronald Reagan (1980-1988).

Nixon had become President after the policy of Brinkmanship saw near nuclear war take place with both the Cuban Missile Crisis and Berlin Wall under the leadership of Democratic President Kennedy. In addition, the mood of the nation was very much turned off by the chaotic conflict in Vietnam.

Thus, Détente was developed as a policy to create less tension between the US and USSR. Nixon’s Administration concluded that the two superpowers had to become open to each others’ differences. They had to recognize each other as they were and learn how to co-exist together. Furthermore, under Détente Nixon pushed to have peace talks to improve relations. During this time, SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) were held and the superpowers took steps to lower the amount of missiles aimed at each other.

It also was during this time, the USSR was showing serious systematic problems. Its future did not look good. Keeping a friendly relation with USSR while it rotted from within seemed like a good course for the US to take. After Nixon resigned as President, the policy of Détente continued under Democratic President Jimmy Carter. The 1970s saw a movement towards trust and cooperation take place under the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Originally a Hollywood actor, Reagan portrayed himself as a hardcore anti-communist tough leader. Unlike Nixon, Reagan felt peace could be achieved not through cooperation, but competition with the Soviet Union. This led to more tension and mistrust between the two superpowers. The Reagan Administration’s Theory proposed if the US spent more money on weapons, then the Soviet Union would do the same. The Soviet Union would have lots of weapons but even less food and supplies for the economically limited Soviet people. Thus, do to ever increasing poor conditions of the Soviet people, the communism system would collapse and the US would be the victors of the Cold War.

Reagan’s plan was criticized for many reasons. Even if Reagan’s theory worked, it might result in an unstable Russia with lots of nuclear weapons, which might make the world more dangerous. Another problem with Reagan’s plan was in order to bankrupt the Soviet system the US would have to borrow billions upon billions of dollars for weapons. Thus began the massive debt problem the US suffers from today.

Undoubtedly, it was during the Reagan years that Soviet leader Gorbachev began to negotiate an ending to the Cold War. Whether Reagan’s deficit spending made the USSR collapse or was collapse coming on its own is uncertain. What is certain is that the Cold War headed towards a quick ending under Gorbachev (USSR) and Reagan (US) which resulted in a Soviet Union no longer in existence and the US debt problems here to stay and middle class American economic life gone for good. Which should make Americans ask: Was all the borrowing? debt? weapons? Was it all worth it to ‘win’ the Cold War?

Two Anti-Communist ApproachesNIXON

1968 -1974

REAGAN

1980 - 1988

1968 -1974

REAGAN

1980 - 1988

A) Détente = Less Tension A)

1968 -1974

REAGAN

1980 - 1988

B) Open to USSR differences B)

1968 -1974

REAGAN

1980 - 1988

C) Peace talks & S.A.L.T. C)

1968 -1974

REAGAN

1980 - 1988

A) Détente = Less Tension A) Star Wars = More Tension

1968 -1974

REAGAN

1980 - 1988

B) Open to USSR differences B) Compete with USSR

1968 -1974

REAGAN

1980 - 1988

B) Open to USSR differences B) Compete with USSR

C) Peace = talks & S.A.L.T. C) Peace = Competition

Reagan’s TheoryA) US = spend more $ on ___________.

B) _____ does the same.

C) Make _____ spend $ on ___________.

D) USSR has lots of ___________.

E) Lots of Soviet ___________ equals little _____ & ___________ for ____________.

F) _____ conditions for _____ people.

G) ____________ will end.

10 Back

Reagan’s TheoryA) US = spend more $ on weapons.

B) _____ does the same.

C) Make _____ spend $ on ___________.

G) ____________ will end.

B) USSR does the same.

C) Make _____ spend $ on ___________.

G) ____________ will end.

C) Make USSR spend $ on weapons.

G) ____________ will end.

D) USSR has lots of missiles.

G) ____________ will end.

E) Lots of Soviet missiles equals little _____ & ___________ for ____________.

G) ____________ will end.

E) Lots of Soviet missiles equals little food & supplies for Soviet people.

G) ____________ will end.

F) Poor conditions for Soviet people.

G) ____________ will end.

G) Communism will end.

10 Back

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