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Causes of the Cold War (1)
The rivalry of the world's most powerful nations started for these reasons: Riches vs. Size
• US is the richest country in the world.
• Russia is the largest nation in the world. Political System
• US has a democracy and a president that is elected.
• A one-party system where only the communist party is an option. Economic System
• Capitalism- private ownership and the right to make money.
• Communism- state ownership of the means of production, and the belief that wealth should be shared. -
Causes of the Cold War (2)
Leaders and Beliefs
• Truman believed that Communism was wrong.
• Stalin believed that Capitalism was wrong. Military Tension
• US had the atomic bomb.
• Russia had the largest army. Political Tension
• US feared the spread of Communism.
• Russia wanted to expand Communism to the entire world. -
Causes of Cold War (3)
After WWII Thoughts
• US wanted to rebuild and make a partnership with Germany.
• Russia wanted reparations from Germany and revenge. WHY
• The US saw Germany as a potential partner after the Nazi party was gone. To prevent from another conflict like WWII the US wanted to spread the influence of Capitalism to Germany.
• Russia believed that Britain and the US had delayed their attack in WWII so that Germany and Russia would destroy each other. Russia was also effected more by Germany in WWII. -
Causes of Cold War (4)
Economic Influences
• The US and Western Europe were Anti-communism. Their colonies were as well. The US invaded Pacific islands to spread this influence.
• Russia took over surrounding countries in Europe and put them under the influence of Communism. Tried to take over Japan. WHY
• The US capitalist side spread so that most of the counries were Capitalism and could rival Comminism.
• Russia created a buffer of countries in Eastern Europe and wanted Japan to protect both sides. -
Cold War Begins - The Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was held in a town called Yalta on February 4th-11th of 1945. Franklin D. Roosevelt represented the United States, Winston Churchill represented Great Britain, and Josef Stalin represented the Soviet Union. -
End of World War II
The Japanese surrender several days after the United States drop an atomic bomb on the city Nagasaki. The US dropped the bomb because the Japanese did not reply to the terms of surrender. The second bomb was dropped becasue the Japanese still did not reply. -
Iron Curtain Speech
Winston Churchill delivers the "Iron Curtain" speech -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a speech made by President Truman that turned out to express more than just a speech. This was essentially President Truman declaring that he supported any smaller nations that try to resist communism. President Truman felt this was necessary to declare his support because at the time the Solviet Union was also trying to promote communism. So the US had to combat their efforts. -
Marshall Plan is announced
The Maeshall plan was an American program to help rebuild Eurpean countries post World War II. This was a plan to help rebuild nations that were hurt and to stop the spread of Communism. Also this was plan to help remove trade barriers, maderize industry, and Make Europe prosperous again. -
Berlin Blockade begins
This event was the first major crisis of the Cold War. Germany and the Soviet Union set up a blockade cutting all resources going into Berlin off. They set up blockades that shut off rail ways, roads, canals that were going into main sectors of Berlin. This was an act of war seen by the rest of the world. -
Berlin Blockade ends
Throughout the Berlin Blockade, planes from multiple nations were dropping supplies into Berlin for its people. When in ended, all blocks where lifted and people where free to move where ever! -
Mao Zedong takes control of China and establishes the People's Republic of China
Mao proclaimed the birth of the People's republic of China by saying: “The central government of the People’s republic of China is established!”. China had become a powerful ally. -
Korean War begins
North Korea sent armed troops into South Korea, signaling the start of the Korean War. The United States caught wind of this and quickly sent troops in support of South Korea. American support and supplies helped South Korea drive forces into the center of North Korea while their troops were in the capital of South Korea, turning things into a bloody stalemate. -
Period: to
Nuclear Arms Race
- Atomic test series of 11 explosions at Nevada Test Site (imcomplete)
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Korean War ends
After three years of a bloody and frustrating war, the United States, the People's Republic of China, North Korea, and South Korea agree to an armistice, bringing the Korean War to an end. The armistice ended America's first experiment with the Cold War concept of "limited war." -
Warsaw Pact formed
The Solviet Union saw NATO as a threat so they created a pact that would rival NATO and included countries such as: East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev began to build 42 missile sites in Cuba in 1962. That year, an American spy plane discovered the sites. President John F. Kennedy declared that missiles so close to the U.S. mainland were a threat. He demanded their removal and also announced a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent the Soviets from installing more. -
Warsaw Pact ends
The warsaw pact was closed down Febuary 25 of 1991. The treaties between the countries became obsolete and there was little reason to them once non-communists came into power. Also, the only invasions ever launched by the Warsaw Pact were aginast its own members, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. -
End of the Cold War
The end of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War
