AP World History Unit 8

Cold War and Decolonization

Big Three

Leaders of the Allied Powers during World War II.

USA: Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

GB: Winston Churchill

USSR: Joseph Stalin

Played pivotal roles in shaping post-war policies and discussions.

The Tehran Conference (Iran)

• First of 3 meetings held by the Big 3 for the post-war world.

• November 1943

• The Allies agreed that the US and GB would focus on freeing Western Europe, while the USSR would focus on Eastern Europe.

• Agreed to shift some Polish territory to the USSR which would be offset by Poland gaining territory elsewhere like in Germany.

The Yalta Conference

Second meeting of the Big Three held in February 1945, where they discussed the reorganization of post-war Europe, including the administration of Germany.

• FDR wanted the Soviet’s help against Japan, and the USSR wanted EE as a buffer zone and some Japanese islands.

The Potsdam Conference

• July 1945

• Final meeting among leaders of the Big 3

• Truman demanded free elections in EE, but the Soviet communists gained control of much of EE and refused Truman’s demands.

• The US and USSR lost trust in each other, which set the stage for the Cold War.

Harry Truman

Succeeded FDR and made key decisions including the use of atomic bombs in Japan and advocating for free elections in Eastern Europe (Potsdam Conference).

Europe after WW2

• The USSR, Poland, and Germany were hit the worse

• GB and France, despite their losses, maintained strong democracy, education, and corporations, which made them global powers after the war.

• Europe became less influential and the US and USSR became more influential.

Why did the US suffer the least after WW2?

• Mainland was untouched in the war

• Industrial bases and infrastructure became stronger

• Less deaths

Cold War

A long period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological conflict, military build-up, and proxy wars.

Hydrogen Bomb

A bomb developed in the 1950s by the USSR and USA that was much more powerful than atomic bombs.

Dwight Eisenhower

• Succeeded Harry Truman

• Served during the Cold War and oversaw significant events such as the Korean War and the establishment of NASA.

• Concerned about the US-Soviet competition for nuclear supremacy.

Military-industrial complex

• The informal alliance between the government and large defense contractors, who Eisenhower feared would gain too much power.

Self-determination

The idea that nations have the right to freely determine their political status, government, and leaders.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.

• US, GB, USSR, China discussed it

Iron Curtain

The term used to describe the division between Western powers and the Eastern bloc during the Cold War.

Criticisms and Similarities

US:

• Attached the Soviet system for restricting free speech and worship

Soviets:

• Attacked the US capitalist system for discrimination and inequality.

Similarities:

• Big economic decisions were made by big groups (government/millions of shareholders)

• Both countries acted out of fear for the other

Satellite Countries

Eastern European nations under Soviet influence after World War II, which followed the USSR's political and economic directives.

• Outlawed any other political parties

• Made them develop 5 year plans to develop industry and collectivize agriculture

• Could only import Soviet goods and export to the Soviet Union

World Revolution

The idea of a global uprising against capitalism, advocating for the establishment of communism through widespread revolution across multiple countries.

Containment

A United States foreign policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War by diplomatically and militarily supporting countries resisting Soviet influence.

• George Kennan

Truman Doctrine

A policy established in 1947 that pledged U.S. support for countries resisting communism, specifically aimed at containing Soviet influence in Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative launched in 1948 to provide economic aid to Western European countries to rebuild their economies after World War II and prevent the spread of communism.

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON)

An economic organization of socialist countries established in 1949 to promote economic cooperation and planning among its member states, primarily to counter the Marshall Plan.

Non-Aligned Movement

A movement that consisted of countries who did not want to side with the US or Soviets and wanted to remain neutral and stay out of the Cold War.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

A point where regardless of who started a war, both sides would be obliterated by the end of it.

• Since no side could win a war, no side wanted to start one.

Sputnik

The first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the beginning of the space age.

Proxy War

When a major power (USA/USSR) helps bring about a conflict between other nations but does not always fight directly. These conflicts often serve to extend their influence without direct military involvement.

Berlin Airlift

A military operation in 1948-1949 where the Allies supplied West Berlin by air after the Soviet Union blockaded the city, ensuring its survival without direct military confrontation.

Berlin Wall

A barrier constructed in 1961 by East Germany to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to West Berlin, symbolizing the Cold War divide.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A military alliance formed in 1949 between North American and European countries to provide collective defense against aggression, primarily in response to Soviet threats and communism during the Cold War.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance established in 1955 among the Soviet Union and its Eastern (Communist) Bloc allies to counter NATO and maintain Soviet control over its satellite states.

Communist Bloc

The group of socialist states in Eastern Europe led by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, characterized by a shared commitment to communism.

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

A regional defense organization created in 1954 to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, involving countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Philippines, Thailand, and others.

Central Treaty Organization (CENTO)

A Middle Eastern alliance formed in 1955 to prevent the expansion of communism in the Middle East including nations such as the United Kingdom, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan.

Korean War

A conflict that lasted from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by United Nations forces led by the United States. The war resulted in a stalemate and the division of Korea along the 38th parallel.

Douglas MacArthur

A distinguished US general who served in both World Wars and the Korean War.

Vietnam War

A conflict that occurred from 1955 to 1975, primarily between communist North Vietnam supported by its communist allies, and South Vietnam, backed by the United States and other anti-communist nations. The war resulted in the fall of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and the reunification of Vietnam under communist control.

Lyndon Johnson

Succeeded Dwight Eisenhower in 1964

• Sent more troops to Vietnam because he feared the domino theory.

• Feared that China and the USSR would bring all of SE Asia under communist rule.

Domino Theory

The idea that if one country in a region fell to communism, other countries would soon follow.

Angola

• Portuguese colony of Angola who had won independence in 1975

• Faced great ethnic conflict because different ethnic groups were thrown together under one government after European colonial powers placed new borders across Africa.

• USSR/Cuba, South Africa, and the US.

Contra War

A conflict in Nicaragua during the 1980s where U.S. backed Contra rebels fought against the Sandinista socialists, which had come to power after the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship.

• Ended with the demobilization of the Contra and Sandinista armies.

Fidel Castro

The leader of Cuba who established a communist state after the 1959 revolution, aligning Cuba with the Soviet Union and opposing U.S. influence in the region.

The Bay of Pigs Crisis

A failed military invasion of Cuba in 1961 by U.S. backed Cuban exiles, aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro's regime.

• Occurred after Cuba natioanalized their industries and became more communist.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was a key figure during the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Nikita Kruschev

The leader of the USSR after Stalin

• Saw an opportunity in Cuba and shipped nuclear missiles there.

• Felt justified because the US had placed nuclear missiles in Turkey.

Hot Line

A direct communication link established between the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War to prevent misunderstandings and facilitate communication in crises.

Antinuclear weapons movement

A social and political movement advocating for the reduction or elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide.

• First movements started in Japan after the US tested nuclear weapons in the ocean.

Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty

An international agreement prohibiting all nuclear test explosions for environmental and health concerns, adopted in 1963

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Called on nuclear powers to prevent the spread of military nuclear technology to non-nuclear countries.

Land reform

A governmental policy aimed at redistributing land from large landowners to landless or smallholder farmers, often to improve agricultural productivity and social equity.

Mao Zedong

A Chinese communist revolutionary who led the Communist Party of China from its establishment in 1921 until his death in 1976.

• Won support because he redistributed land to peasants, opened schools and hospitals, etc.

• Nationalized industries and created 5 year plans based on the Soviet models.

Great Leap Forward

An economic and social campaign initiated by Mao Zedong in 1958, aiming to rapidly transform China from an agrarian society into an industrialized socialist society

• Peasant lands were organized into communes or large agricultural communities which were state controlled, not privately owned.

• Led to severe food shortages which were ignored to convince the outside world of its success.

Cultural Revolution

• Launched by Mao to reinvigorate China’s commitment to communism

• Silenced Mao’s critics

• Ordered the Red Guards (revolutionary students) to seize government officials and intellects.

Muhammad Reza Pahlavi

• Iranian shah who was placed into power after his the British and Russians forced him to abdicate his power over his support of Hitler’s Nazi regime.

Mohammad Mosaddegh

• After Pahlavi was forced to flee the country, Iran selected Mohammad Mosaddegh

• Nationalized oil companies

  • US and GB overthrew him and returned Pahlavi to power who ran an authoritarian regime.

White Revolution

An initiative launched by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the 1960s aimed at transforming Iran through a series of social, economic, and land reforms to modernize the country.

Venezuela and Guatemala

Venezuela: major land reform efforts

Guatemala: United Fruit Company lobbied to overthrow Arbenz from the government.

Haile Selassie

• Exiled Ethiopian leader who returned to power

• Aligned with western powers

  • Many saw him as a pawn of US imperialism

Mengistu Haile Mariam

Ethiopian leader who ruled after Haile Selassie, he implemented Marxist policies and was responsible for the Red Terror campaign.

India

• Instituted some land reforms and tried to redistribute some land

• Mixed success

• The Indian Central Government took direct rule in order to slow down and reverse the program.

the Muslim League

A political party in India founded in 1906 to represent the interests of Muslims and seek autonomy within British India, leading to the creation of Pakistan.

Kwame Nkrumah

Ghanaian leader who led the country to independence from British colonial rule in 1957 and promoted Pan-Africanism and nationalism

• Eventually claimed dictatorial powers when voters agreed to a one-party state.

One-party state

A political system where a single political party controls the government and other parties are either banned or excluded from power.

Organization of African Unity (OAU)

An organization founded in 1963 to promote unity and cooperation among African nations, and to oppose colonialism and imperialism.

Algerian War for Independence

A conflict from 1954 to 1962 between France and Algerian nationalists (FLN) seeking independence, marked by guerrilla warfare and harsh French military responses.

Charles de Gaulle

Played a major role in ending the Algerian War

• Planned Algeria’s steps for independence and later served as President of France, advocating for a strong, independent French government.

Algerian Civil War

• Violence came to Algeria again, but this time in reaction to one-party rule.

• The Algerian Civil War, occurring from 1991 to 2002, was a brutal conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups, resulting in widespread violence and significant loss of life.

Ho Chi Minh

• The communist leader of North Vietnam who wanted to unite Vietnam under communism

Viet Cong

A communist guerrilla group that fought against the South Vietnamese government and U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

• Second president of Egypt after overthrowing the king with Naguib

• Promoted Pan-Arabism and communism

Suez Crisis

A diplomatic and military confrontation in 1956 when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, leading to an invasion by Israel, followed by the UK and France, ultimately resulting in a political standoff and withdrawal under US and Soviet pressure (non-aligned).

Biafran Civil War

• Began when the Igbos (Christian tribe) sought autonomy because of attacks from the Hausa Islamic groups.

• Biafran nation failed to exist

Quiet Revolution

A period of radical social and political change in Quebec during the 1960s, characterized by the progressive reforms of the Liberal government, leading to the secularization of society and increased nationalism.