8b America in the Cold War8b America in the Cold War.docVIP

Lecture 8 America in the Cold War Outline The Cold War 2. The tension between U.S USSR 3. The Korean War (1950-53) 4. The Cold War in the 1950s 1960s 5. The Vietnam War (1959-1975) The Cold War (1945-1991) The tension and rivalry between the USA and the USSR (Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics) was described as the Cold War. There was never a real war between the two sides between 1945 and 1991, but they were often very close to war (Hotspots). Both sides got involved in other conflicts in the world to either stop the spread of communism (USA) or help the spread (USSR). The tension between U.S USSR The USA and the USSR were the two world Superpowers. The USA was a capitalist society with a democracy. The USSR was a communist country with a dictatorship. Both wanted to be the most powerful nation in the world. Development of the Cold War The Cold War (1945-91) was one of perception where neither side fully understood the intentions and ambitions of the other. This led to mistrust and military build-ups. United States U.S. thought that Soviet expansion would continue and spread throughout the world. They saw the Soviet Union as a threat to their way of life; especially after the Soviet Union gained control of Eastern Europe. Soviet Union They felt that they had won World War II. They had sacrificed the most (25 million vs. 300,000 total dead) and deserved the “spoils of war.” They had lost land after WWI because they left the winning side; now they wanted to gain land because they had won. They wanted to economically raid Eastern Europe to recoup their expenses during the war. They saw the U.S. as a threat to their way of life; especially after the U.S. development of atomic weapons. Communist countries after World War 2 Czechoslovakia (1948) Poland (1947) Hungary (1947) China (1949) Cuba (1959) North Korea (1945) Cold War Mobilization by the U.S. Alarmed Americans viewed the Soviet occupation of eastern European countries as part of a com