Cold War Notes Part 2:
World Studies
-The Soviet Union kept a tight grip on it Eastern European satellites. The Soviet Army put down revolts in both Poland and East Germany using military might.
The Hungarian Revolt
-In 1956, a revolution led by Imre Nagy, a Hungarian nationalist broke out.
-The Hungarians ended one-party rule, got rid of Soviet troops, and withdrew Hungary from the Warsaw Pact.
-In response, the Soviets sent tanks and troops. Thousands of Hungarians were killed and the revolt was suppressed.
The Invasion of Czechoslovakia
-In 1968 revolution occurred in Czechoslovakia. Led by Alexander Dubcek, the Czechs demanded liberal forms, and reduction of censorship.
-The Soviet Union sent troops again to restore a communist dictatorship.
*These incidents proved that the Soviet Union would use force at any time to keep communism in Eastern Europe.
The Arms Race
-Both the United States and the Soviet Union spent great amounts of money to develop more and more powerful weapons.
-The Soviets followed the Americans by creating their own atomic bomb in 1949.
- The tension between the two superpowers rose, and many other countries in the world feared that the two superpowers might become involved in a conflict that would destroy the world.
The Space Race
-The two superpowers also competed in space.
-In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, a satellite, into space to orbit the earth.
-The U.S. launched its first satellite in 1958 and created N.A.S.A. or National Aeronautics and Space Administration to help with improving American technology.
-In 1961, the Soviets sent their first man into space
-In 1969, the U.S. became the first to send a man to the moon.
CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD
* Although the U.S. and the Soviet Union never directly clashed they did through surrogate, or representative states. This meant that each supported opposite forces throughout the world.
The Cold War in East Asia
-Cold War tension grew in Korea in the 1950’s and Vietnam in the 1960’s. In each case the U.S. and Soviet Union gave Economic aid, advisory, and troops to opposing sides.
-KOREAN WAR- Korea was divided into two parts North and South Korea. North Korea was communist and occupied by the Soviets and South Korea was democratic and occupied by the U.S.
-North Korea wanting an independent communist nation invaded South Korea but was stopped by the U.N troops. An armistice was signed in 1953.
-VIETNAM WAR- In 1954 Vietnam was divided between a communist north and a non-communist south.
-The North led by Ho Chi Minh wanted to unite Vietnam into one communist nation
-U.S. troops were sent to stop Minh from doing this but were unsuccessful. In 1973 President Nixon ordered a cease-fire and removed American troops.
-In 1975, the North Vietnamese captured a city called Saigon, reuniting Vietnam.
The Cold War in the Middle East
-ARAB STATES AND ISRAEL- under leader Gamal Abdel Nasser the Arab state of Egypt ended Western control of their country. The Soviet Union backed Nasser and Egypt fought two wars against Israel, which was supported by the United States.
-IRAN AND IRAQ- both countries were found to be rich in oil.
-This sparked the two superpowers to pledge support to each government.
-The U.S. helped to keep a communist nationalist from coming to power in Iran. This caused an Islamic revolution in 1979, which toppled the non-communist shah in Iran.
-The Soviet Union supported Iraq, which became a socialist dictatorship in 1960. Iraq also had many oil reserves.
The Cold War in Africa
-CONGO- a Belgian colony became independent in 1960.
-The new premier asked the Soviets for help and they supported him against rebels and a revolt.
-Five years late a strong non-communist dictator named Mobutu Sese Seko took control of the country and named it Zaire.
-Being non-communist he received support from the West and stayed in power to the late 1990’s.
-ANGOLA- in Southwestern Africa a Portuguese colony, called Angola won independence in 1975.
-Two rebel groups clashed for control of Angola till the late 1990’s. One rebel group was backed by each of the two superpowers.
The Cold War in Latin America
CUBA
-Fidel Castro took power in Cuba and made it a communist state.
-The U.S. and the Soviet Union’s tension of nuclear weapons increased due to the fact that Cuba was so close to the U.S.
-The Soviet Union backed Castro, and Castro allowed the Soviet Union to build nuclear missile bases in Cuba.
-Eventually, President Kennedy demanded nuclear weapons to be removed and the Soviets agreed to this as long as the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba.
- The U.S. and the Soviet Union took the opposite sides of rebel groups in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador to battle for or against communism furthering the Cold War and tensions.
- Some nations remained neutral. These nations were called nonaligned nations. There focus was to prosper economically and avoid getting involved with the Cold War. Ex Yugoslavia, and many African nations.
The Role Of The U.N.
-During the Cold War the U.N. Provided a place where superpowers could air their differences peacefully.
-Most countries voted in two blocks, either for the U.S. or for the Soviets. This limited the effectiveness of the U.N.
-Today the U.N. sends international peacekeeping forces to countries in conflict.
-Also, the U.N. helps to provide health services to less developed countries.