The The Cold Cold WarWar

Causes And

Consequences

The War is Over •With the end of WWII, U.S. and Canada joined the newly formed United Nations to promote greater co-operation and non-violent resolution of conflicts (1945).

•Time of creating a fresh start with new opportunities.

THERE IS TENSION •Just because World War III has not happened, it does not mean that there has been no bloodshed since WWII.

• By 1948, there was a new type of war: The Cold War.

• Who’s fighting this war?:U.S.A. + Democratic countries (i.e.

Canada)Vs.

U.S.S.R. + Communist countries

Long Term Causes:A complex relationship

•USSR was denied access to the League of Nations (hostility)

•The Soviets were accused of spying on the Western front during the depression to destroy their government

•Clearly before WWII, the USA (along with Canada and Europe) and USSR were enemies

Igor Gouzenko• Clerk working in the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa

• Called home after the war• However, wanted to stay in Canada

• Went to RCMP with secret documents proving the Soviets were spying on their war-time Allies (in exchange for asylum in Canada)

• Gouzenko exposed several “sleeper agents” across North America that were trying to steal Nuclear Secrets and other technology.

• 18 people (including a Member of Parliament) were convicted in Canada

• Gouzenko proved that Canada was at war with the USSR whether we liked it or not

Short Term Causes• During WWII, the USA and USSR were allies of convenience

• However, when the war ended, both sides had very different ideas on how Europe should be re-built

• The USSR wanted to destroy Germany completely, take territory, and protect itself from future attacks

• The USA wanted “Free Elections” in liberated countries, rebuild Europe and help Germany become a prosperous and responsible country

• At first, both sides argued but soon communication stopped completely

How The Threat Began

•Russia brought communism to: Bulgaria, Romania and Poland to avoid German invasion (since Germans were slow to understand… DO NOT INVADE RUSSIA!)

•This was a communist buffer to divide Germany and Russia.

•The U.S. is like: “OMG COMMUNISM IS SPREADING! WHO’S GOING TO BUY ARE STUFF??AND WHAT ABOUT FREEDOM!?!”

What is the Cold War?

•Lasts from 1946 – 1991

•During this period, the USA and USSR never fought directly against each other (only tensions).

•However, they were violent conflicts involving other Nations (Korean War, Vietnam War, Afghan War)

•Both side engaged in espionage (spying) and a massive arms race developed

The US says, “Communism Sucks!” •  The U.S. must come to the aid The U.S. must come to the aid of any country threatened by of any country threatened by communist aggression. Communism communist aggression. Communism must not be allowed to spread must not be allowed to spread and conquer new territories, and conquer new territories, because the farther it spread because the farther it spread and the more powerful it became…and the more powerful it became…

•Russia had lost 20 million Russia had lost 20 million people in WWII, and the U.S. has people in WWII, and the U.S. has atomic weapons… The U.S. felt atomic weapons… The U.S. felt they had the upper hand. they had the upper hand.

First Cause of the COLD WAR:

GOALCrush Communism

Weapon: Propaganda

Anti-Communist MoviesHollywood

Other Examples•Magazines•News broadcasts•Concerts•Art exhibits

American Expressionism!

Wars in Other Locations

1950 – 1953 – The Korean War• Korea, under the control of the Japanese during World War II, was occupied by Soviet and American troops following the war (divided – Soviets North, US South).

• By the end of 1949, both the USSR and the US had pulled their military forces out of Korea, but the Soviets left behind a communist government in North Korea and the U.S. left behind an anticommunist government in South Korea.

• So, Korea was divided into mutually hostile halves looking at each other across an invisible dividing line, each committed to reunifying Korea on its own terms.

The Lasting Legacy

•Despite the United State’s effort, North Korea is still communist to this day.

•33 thousand American soldiers died.

•American soldiers still guard the South in case of a communist attack.

The Iron Curtain• After WWII, the Soviet Union took control of the countries in Eastern Europe (Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Romania etc)

• Communist governments were installed in these countries and their people could not leave or communicate with the outside world

• The line between the free nations of Western Europe and the communists of Eastern Europe was named the “Iron Curtain” because of the lack of communication between both sides and the massive opposing armies that faced each other

Fear•The greatest importance of the cold war was the fear it generated

•The Nuclear Arms race between the USA and USSR produced enough weapons to kill everything on the planet 7 times

How do the Soviets develop nuclear weapons so quickly?

Klaus Fuchs•Fuchs worked on the Manhattan Project and leaked information to the Soviets. He later helped the Chinese build their first bomb.

Julius Rosenberg•Rosenberg also gave atomic secrets to the Soviets

Fun Fact!•It was actually during the Cold War that the production of transportation/highways really boomed!

•Why? It was created for speedy evacuation routes in the event of a nuclear attack!

Bert the Turtle

Sputnik 1 and M.A.D.• The worlds first man-made satellite (launched by the The worlds first man-made satellite (launched by the Soviets)Soviets)

• Basically just a small radio transmitterBasically just a small radio transmitter• However, it was launched into space by a very However, it was launched into space by a very powerful rocketpowerful rocket

• This rocket was powerful enough to reach anywhere This rocket was powerful enough to reach anywhere around the globe at a speed so great, it would be around the globe at a speed so great, it would be impossible to stopimpossible to stop

• These rockets were used to create nuclear tipped These rockets were used to create nuclear tipped Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)

• There was no defense against this weaponThere was no defense against this weapon• Therefore, the USA built their own and aimed them at Therefore, the USA built their own and aimed them at the USSRthe USSR

• The world was kept peaceful because of Mutually The world was kept peaceful because of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)

• Basically, if one country launched its ICBMs, Basically, if one country launched its ICBMs, everybody dieseverybody dies

#FlashbackFriday•The Cold war was caused because of the distrust between the Western World and the Communists as well as the conditions after WWII

•Igor Gouzenko exposed a Soviet spy ring•The Iron Curtain separated communist countries from Western Europe

•The launch of Sputnik led to peace through Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)

•The Cold War dominated world politics from the 1940s to the 1990s

Opinion

•Do you think that the “Cold War” is an appropriate name for the time period? Why? If you do not think it was appropriate, what do you think it should have been called?

Opinion

•Do you think the U.S. had anything to worry about? Should they have threatened the Soviets?

•Do you think the Soviets were really trying to take over Europe with communism or were they just protecting themselves from Germany?