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Conflicts between Soviet Union and U.S.A
Even before the end of WWII U.S.A's relationship with the Soviet Union began to falter. It started in 1939 when Joseph Stalin who was the Soviet leader at the time signed a non-aggression pact with Germany. Yet Stalin blamed the Allies for not invading Europian land controlled by Germany. This along with many other disagreements and conflicts created a path for the Cold War. -
United Nations
Putting aside their conflicts the U.S.A, Soviet Union, and 48 countries form a group called United Nations, this organization protected these countries against aggression, and it was based in the state of New York. All the members of the UN could vote on a number of issues, and the Security Council consisting of 11 members investigated and settled disputes. The permanent group members include; Britain, France, China, Soviet Union, and the United States. -
Containment Policy
As the relationship between the Soviet Union and the U.S.A began to falter once again, the United States became worried about the Soviet's increasing threat and power over Eastern Europe. Harry S. Truman, the United States president, created a policy called "containment." This policy stopped and resisted influence from the Soviet Union, and the expansion of communism. The U.S.A even formed alliences with small countries in Eastern Europe to help resist Soviet Influence. -
Marshall Plan
After the war, many Europian nations were left in ruin. The nation's economy was not stable. In 1947 a marshall proposed to the United States to provide aid for Europian countries in need. This program helped provide food, machinery, and many other essential materials. After countries, such as Yugoslavia recieved aid after breaking away form the Soviet Union. -
The Berlin Airlifts
In 1948 the U.S.A, France, and Britain decided to withdraw from Germany and let the occupation zones form one nation. The Soviet Union in response held West Berlin hostage. They cut off highway, water, and rail traffic into West Berlin, which resulted in the starvation of its people. The Soviet Union did this in hopes that they would surrender but Britain and U.S.A flew food and supplies for nearly 11 months in. In 1949 the Soviet Union admitted defeated and removed the blockade. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
After the Soviet Union's blockade of West Berlin many Europian Nations feared the Union's aggression. As a result of this the United States, Canada, and 10 other Europian countries came together and formed an alliance. It was a military alliance in which if one of those nations was attacked, that nation would be met with all the other nations. The Soviet Union Union saw this and became fearful, later in 1955 they created the Warsaw Pact. They created a wall that separated East and West Berlin. -
Cold War Begins
Cold War which means "a struggle over political differences carried on by means short military action or war." Beginning in 1949 the United States and the Soviet Union used spying, propaganda, and secret operations to deal with one another. Many of the nations allied to one side or another. -
Creation of Nuclear Weapons
As the Cold War became heated, the world fell into danger. At this time the U.S.A already had built atomic bombs, and in 1949 the Soviet Union exploded their first nuclear bomb. In 1950 president Truman permitted work on a thermonuclear weapon and in 1952 they tested it. Not long after in 1953 the Soviet Union did the same. Thus began an arms race, that would last four decades. Thus began an arms race that would last four decades. -
Divided China
After WWII China had split into two nations; the Nationalist side located on the Island of Taiwan, and the Communists side known as the People's Republic of China located in China. Communist China and the Soviet Union signed a treaty of friendship in 1950. The U.S.A saw this as a threat, so when Jiang Jieshi of the Nationalists fled to Taiwan the U.S provided support and helped him set up a Nationalist government. The split of China intensified, and inspired even more conflicts in the Cold War. -
Brinksmanship
In 1953 Dwight D. Eisenhower became the United State's president, and he put into position an anti-communist named John Foster Dulles as secretary of state. Dulles threatened the Soviet Union that if it attacked the United States the U.S would "retaliate instantly, by means and at places of our choosing." This willingness and brink to go to war became known as brinksmanship. The United States strengthened its army and produced more nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union did the same. -
The Space Race
The Cold War also advanced science both in the Soviet Union and the U.S.A. In 1957 the Soviet Union developed an international ballistic missile known as an ICBM, and they used the ICBM to launch the first unmanned satellite to space. Seeing this the Americans felt they lacked ability in science, so they developed new technology and in 1958 the U.S.A launched its first satellite. -
U-2 Spy Planes
In 1960 the United States and the Soviet Union were not only having conflicts on land but also in the skies. About 5 years earlier Eisenhower asked the Soviet Union if they would be able to fly over each other's territories in order for them to guard surprise attacks, but the Soviet Union refused. So the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency created spy planed called U-2s. In 1960 the Soviet Union shot down a U-2 plane, which increased conflict and tension. -
Cold War Strategies
The U.S.A, Soviet Union, and later China tried using different techniques and tactics to gain influence in Third World countries. They backed and supported wars of revolutions, and rebellions. The United States and the Soviet Union set up intelligence agencies such as the CIA and KGB, that engaged in secret spying activities. The Soviet Union provided military support for the Third World, while the U.S.A provided poverty prevention programs, military aid, and built schools. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
After the removal of the dictator of Cuba Batista (who was being supported by the U.S.A) Fidel Castro took power. Castro was backed by the Soviet Union. In 1961 the United States tried to invade Cuba but the mission failed. Due to the U.S.A's defeat the Soviet Union's leader, Khrushchev began to build 42 missiles in Cuba. American spy planes saw this site, so Kennedy demanded it's removal, and in turn, announced a blockade of Cuba. They agreed, but the U.S.A could no longer invade Cuba. -
Wars in Vietnam
As Communist Vietnam grew more powerful, the U.S.A feared another powerful communist defeat. So late in 1965, the U.S.A sent more than 185,000 soldiers to help aid South Vietnam. Although the United States had the most powerful army, it faced some difficulties. One, the soldiers were fighting on unknown grounds, two, the South Vietnamese government was becoming unpopular, and third North Vietnam was being supported by Communist China, and the Soviet Union. So the U.S.A withdrew from 1969-1973. -
Detente
As the United States tried to restore its economy after its involvement in the Vietnam War the struggles didn't end there. Because of this, the U.S.A tried to back away from direct conflicts with the Soviet Union. They created a policy called Detente, created by Richard M. Nixon. The idea of Detente came from a philosophy called realpolitik, which meant "dealing with politics and nations in a practical manner." The Soviet Union and the United States agreed to reduce conflicts and tension. -
Ronald Reagan
In 1981 President Ronald Reagan took office. Reagan had strong anti-communist ideas, and attitudes. He moved away from the peace created by the Detente and started putting economic, military, and defensive pressure on the Soviet Union. Tension began to increase as the U.S.A started to support anti-communism once again. -
Cold War Ends
Although Ronald Reagan's strong anti-communist actions created increasing tension, a new Soviet Union leader named Mikhail Gorbachev took power and created new peace policies with the United States, ending the long, Cold War.
