The Cold War was a period of diplomatic hostility between communist nations led by the Soviet Union and capitalist nations led by the United States from 1945-1991. The rivalry grew out of ideological and geopolitical differences between the two superpowers after World War II. Key events of the Cold War included the Berlin Blockade, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Space Race. Growing economic troubles and independence movements within the Soviet Union ultimately led to its collapse, marking a victory for the United States in the Cold War.

1. COLD WAR
Many thanks to
my “comrade”
Gsill for creating
the majority of
this powerpoint.

1945-1991

2. Communism Spread in the 20th century
• Starting in the 19th century, groups affiliated
with communism gained power throughout
regions of the world.
• Russia, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba
eventually become communist.
• (Similar to the spread of democracy in the
18th century – American, French, LA
revolutions.)

4. Cold War begins
• 1. In WWII, the Soviet army drove the
Germans back across Eastern Europe.
Other Allies raced to beat the Soviet Army to
Berlin.
• 2. USSR occupied several countries along its
western border and considered them a
necessary buffer or wall of protection from
the west.
• 3. Stalin installed Communist governments
in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, and
Yugoslavia.
• 4. Early in 1946 Stalin declared that
communism & capitalism could not exist in
the same world. War between the U.S. &
U.S.S.R. seemed certain.

5. COLD WAR
1945-1990s

6. What was the Cold
War?
A period of diplomatic hostility between the
Communist Nations and anti-Communist nations
(and their allies)
USSR
USA

7. “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron
curtain has descended across the continent.”
• - Winston Churchill March 5, 1946

8. THE U.S. RESPONSE
1948 - The Truman Doctrine
• A promise made by
the US to provide
military & economic
support to countries
that rejected
communism
• This policy of stopping
the spread of
communism was call
the “containment”
policy

9. The Marshall Plan
•A U.S. program of economic aid to
European countries to help them
rebuild after WWII.
•Provided food, machines,
and other materials to
European nations to help
stabilize Europe.

10. The Marshall Plan
•Which country received the most aid from the United States?
•Why would those nations receive the most aid?

11. The Marshall Plan
Evaluate the two photos. What significant changes have occurred in the second photo?

13. SOVIET RESPONSE
BERLIN BLOCKADE
1948- Soviets
closed all road
and rail links to
Berlin.
The Western allies
began a massive
airlift to feed the
West Berliners.

14. How did they fight the Cold War?
• Threaten each other with – military build up,
new technology, & global influence
– NATO (US) & Warsaw Pact (USSR) were
the two main military alliances
• Use Propaganda – create hatred and
paranoia of the other side
• Send economic aid to weaker nations to
spread influence and gain allies
• Support allied nations in conflicts to protect
interests or agitate the other side (sponsor

15. COLD WAR
EVENTS

16. COMMUNIST CHINA 1949
Mao and the
Communists
founded the People’s
Republic of China
(not recognized by
the US)

17. KOREAN WAR 1950 - 1953
After World War II Korea was
divided, along the 38th parallel,
into North Korea, occupied
Soviet forces and South Korea
occupied by American forces.
North Korean forces, seeking to
unify the country under
communist rule invaded the south
in 1950. Commanded by General
Douglas MacArthur, UN forces
prevented a northern takeover of
South Korea. An Armistice was
signed in 1953.

18. 1959 - CUBAN
REVOLUTION
In 1959 Fidel Castro seized power in
Cuba. He nationalized businesses and
executed opponents, transforming
Cuba into a Communist state.
He threatened to spread Communism
to other Latin American countries.
BAY OF PIGS INVASION
1961
In 1961, U.S.-trained and supported
Cuban exiles who invaded Cuba at the
Bay of Pigs. They were defeated.

19. Berlin Wall 1961
• The East German
Government built a
dividing wall in Berlin
to separate East and
West Berlin.
• It became a symbol of
the Cold War.

20. CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 1962
In 1962 the United States discovered
that Cuba was secretly building bases
to install Soviet missiles with nuclear
warheads. After President Kennedy
ordered a naval blockade of Cuba and
threatened and invasion, Khrushchev
agreed to withdraw the missiles for a
pledge that the U.S. would not invade
Cuba.

21. VIETNAM WAR 1954-
1975
When the French withdrew from
Indochina in 1954, Vietnam was
divided. Ho Chi Minh Founded
Communist North Vietnam, while
South Vietnam established ties to the
West.
Communists known as Vietcong began
a guerrilla war in South Vietnam with
North Vietnamese support.
The U.S. entered the conflict to resist
communism. Although the U.S. had
superior technology, and used 500,000
soldiers it could not defeat the North
Vietnamese (and its aid from USSR).
In 1973 U.S. troops withdrew under the
Paris Peace Accords. In 1975 the
South fell to the North.

22. Soviets War in Afghanistan
1979-1979, the Soviets invaded
In
Afghanistan to support the
communist government
against the Taliban rebels.
The U.S. supported the
Taliban with advisors and
weapons.

23. ARMS RACE
The United States developed the Atomic Bomb during WWII.
Soviet scientists developed one in 1949.
For 40 years the superpowers spent huge amounts of money to
develop more & more powerful weapons. This raised the
tensions between the two countries. It also raised the fears
among many people that the superpowers might become
involved in a conflict that would destroy the world.

24. Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What?
HISTORY OF NUCLEAR WARHEAD STOCKPILES --
1945-1995
NOTE: Totals are estimates. Lists include strategic and non-strategic warheads, as well
as warheads awaiting dismantling
1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995
UNITED STATES 6 3,057 31,265 26,675 22,941 14,766
SOVIET UNION 0 200 6,129 19,443 39,197 27,000
BRITAIN 0 10 310 350 300 300
FRANCE 0 0 32 188 360 485
CHINA 0 0 5 185 425 425
Source: National Resources Defense Council

26. SPACE
RACE
The super
powers also
competed
in space.
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, a satellite, into orbit around the
Earth.
Soon after the United States established NASA. The race was on.
In 1958 the U.S. launched its own first satellite. In 1961, the Soviets sent the
first man into space.
In 1969 the U.S. was the first nation to put a man on the moon. Both the
Soviets and Americans explored the use of satellites for military purposes.

27. Who won the Cold War?
The U.S.A.!
Beginning in the late 1980s, the Soviet
Union began to fall apart.
 Its satellites and republics became
independent.
 A “new” government took control of
Russia

28. Why did the U.S. win?
 The Soviet Union’s economy suffered as
the government spent money to keep up
with the U.S. (especially military spending)
while the domestic economy failed.
 Lack of freedom & opportunities within
the Soviet Union and Soviet controlled
nations created a mood for change.
 Many groups in the USSR pushed for
change as independence movements
gained momentum in the satellite nations.