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Period: to
Cold War
Capitalism vs Communism. Was there a winner? -
Atomic Bombs on Japan
After WW2, two bombs were dropped onto Hiroshima and Nagasaki of Japan. After the bombs were dropped the Japanese surrendered and over 150,000 Japanese died in the bombing. Event represents innovation from GASPIRE because it shows the first time the new technology of the atomic bomb was used in war. Escalated the Cold War by introducing Nuclear weaponry and the race to improve it for possible use into the war. -
Stalins speech to Voters
Stalins speech to voters after WW2. Stalin stated that he wanted to revitalize the motivations and movements of Karl Marx. Stalin also stated that there was no way that Communism and Capitalism could coexist. This relates to political because under Stalin, power would be put into the hands of all people and would not be like capitalism where only the rich have power. Stalins speech would heighten conflict between communist countries and western countries that use capitalism. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman made it foreign policy to aid any country threatened by communism. Request for 400 million dollars to aid Greece and Turkey to keep them from turning to communism. Was followed by the Marshall plan later than year. This relates to economic from GASPIRE+ since if people believe their country is failing economically then they may turn to communism. This event would increase conflict in the Cold War showing the points that Capitalism or Communism will go to to spread. -
The Marshall Plan
In 1947, U.S Secretary of State George Marshall announced a plan at Harvard University to give financial aid to needy European countries to rebuild Western Europe. After the communists seized power in Czechoslovakia congress voted approval and the plan was put into place. The program gave $12.5 billion in total, much more than the Truman Doctrine originally asked for. This represents the GASPIRE theme of economic since financial aid was given to strengthen European countries. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
In 1948, France, Britain, and the US withdrew forces from Germany and attempted to turn their occupation zones unto one nation. The Soviet Union began blockading West Berlin and holding it inside the soviet occupation zone. The supplies were cut off for West Berlin and an airlift was required to deliver resources to West Berlin. This represents geographic because the location of West Berlin caused it the people to be away from needed supplies. Influenced hostility in Germany and the war. -
Formation of NATO
After the Berlin Blockade, ten western European powers, the US, and Canada joined together to form NATO. NATO served as a military alliance against the Soviet Union. Any attack on a NATO member would be met by armed force of all nations in NATO. Represents the theme political because it attempts to form an alliance between global powers to overwhelm the political force of the Soviet Union. Would heighten the Cold War because just like in WWI and WW2 there would be enemy alliances. (Britannica) -
Comecon
Soviet response to the Marshall Plan in 1949. Made to provide member nations with aid so they would be communist and not take money from the U.S. Comecon’s original members were the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. Comecon relates to the Gaspire+ theme psychological as it shows the Soviet Union response to the US trying to prevent communism. It influenced the Cold War by establishing an opposing side to the US establishing capitalism. (Britannica) -
Soviet Union Explodes First Atomic Bomb
After alliances started forming, the U.S already had atomic bombs. In 1949, the soviet Union exploded their own atomic bomb which surprised the U.S. because they had not expected the soviet union to develop atomic capabilities so soon. In reaction, president Truman was determined to develop a more deadly weapon called the Hydrogen bomb to be stronger than the Atom bomb. -
Mao Zedong Takes Control of China for Communists
Mao's troops supported by public support in China due to promised land reform for peasants took over China. Mao Zedong proclaimed it the People's Republic of China shattering the remnants of Nationalist leader Jiang Jieshis army. Jiang and other leaders retreated to the island of Taiwan. Takeover represents the GASPIRE theme social because Mao promised to give land and power back to those in lower social classes like peasants. -
McCarthyism
Originating from the Red Scare, McCarthyism served as an unfair campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Many accused lost their jobs in the government although most did not even belong to the Communist Party. Served as a witch-hunt overbalancing the structure of the government. Influenced many Americans to fear communists more than before. -
The Warsaw Pact
Seeing NATO as a threat, the soviet union formed an alliance known as the Warsaw Pact including the Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. The two sides were on the defensive threatening the other with M.A.D. If war ever breaks out there will be no winner. Represents the theme geographic because many neighboring nations were aligned together on either alliance. Would stand to create large enemy sides if war broke out. -
Berlin Wall Comes Up
In an attempt to stop refugees from pouring out of communist east Berlin the Berlin Wall was constructed separating east and west Berlin. Many refugees of East Berlin were poor living under the soviet union and hoped for a better higher class life in the economically rich West Berlin or elsewhere. 80 people were killed trying to cross the Berlin Wall. (Britannica) -
Red Guards Change Culture
The Red Guards were the result Mao attempting to revive the cultural movement of communism for social equality. In 1966, Mao urged China to learn revolution by having one resulting in millions of high school and college students to form militia units known as the Red Guards. The Red Guards led a major uprising known as the Cultural Revolution. The Red Guards considered intellectual and artistic activity useless and dangerous shutting down colleges and schools for housing disliked opinions. -
Moon Landing
The US sent the 1st man to the moon on this day. Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first two humans onto the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. They collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material to bring back to earth. This represents the GASPIRE theme of artistic because the video of the moon landing was definitely portrayed to look grand for the US with the flag and the famous quote. -
Jimmy Carter Elected
Jimmy Carter was the first "born again" evangelical to become president. He ran for presidency in 1976 for the democratic party. Attracted many Evangelical voters and led Newsweek to declare 1976 the "Year of the Evangelical". Enacted the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union. Relates to the GASPIRE theme religious because it played a large role in Jimmy Carter becoming elected for president. (Religious Data Archives). -
Chernobyl Disaster
The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequate trained personnel. The resulting steam explosion and fores released 5% of the radioactive core into the atmosphere and downwind. Currently Chernobyl is an official tourist attraction. Relates to the GASPIRE theme of culture because under soviet control and culture the plant workers most likely were not giving as much effort to working since it would not be worth it. (Britannica) -
Antifa Movement in Berkeley Similiar to the Red Guard
The current movements of the organization known as Antifa show similiarities to the Red Guard during the Cold war. Antifa have shut down free speeches at colleges with bomb threats and violence and organize against professors they disagree with. Claiming to be Anti-Fascist, Antifa have actually made actions against western ideals like freedom of speech and liberty by trying to shut down opposing opinions. Many colleges now lack the most important thing factor which is diverse thought. -
Interview
I interviewed my dad who I chose because he was alive during a substantial portion of the Cold War and who was easy to ask since I live with him.
"Can you give me your definition for the 'Cold War' and tell me what images come to mind when you hear that term?" Definition: The war fought between Russia and U.S., a war caused by a race for power in the fields of military, technology, and economy.
Imagery: Arms race, nuclear war, explosions, deformed bodies from nuclear warfare, protests, riots.
