Cold War and Contemporary Europe

Russian Revolution

Communist regimes brought revolutionary changes to the societies they governed AND helped launch a global conflict that restructured international relations & touched the lives of almost everyone

Cold war pt. 1

• Economic, cultural, ideological, political, diplomatic (and under certain circumstances), military struggle between Western nations & the Communist bloc

  • Decades long state of tension & hostility

  • Mutual distrust

  • Varying degrees of severity

  • Emergence of 2 superpowers: U.S. & USSR

cold war pt. 2

• Initial Phase involved a struggle for control of war-devastated Europe 

• Next Phase → Containment of communism by the West in the “Less Economically Developed Countries”

Who went by the name “Iron Curtain”?

Churchill

Truman Doctrine

• Pledged military aid to Greece, Turkey & any other nation threatened with communist aggression & expansion

united nations

• Replaced the League of Nations

• Began with 50 nations → 193 & NGOs such as Amnesty International (join in debate, but do not vote)

• Has a General Assembly & 6 main committees & Human Rights Council, & Economic & Social Council

security council

• Must approve any international military action

• 5 permanent members with vetoes: France, Russia, China, UK, U.S.

General Douglas MacArthur

• Supreme commander of the American military government that ruled post-war Japan

  • Wanted to end militarism & ensure democratic government