mcq unit 8

Cold War (1947–1991): U.S. vs. Soviet Union

• Two superpowers after WWII: USA (capitalist) and Soviet Union (communist)

• Main cause of Cold War: Conflict between capitalism (private business) and communism (government controls everything)

• Called Cold War because they didn’t fight each other directly — instead they had proxy wars (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan)

Key Alliances & Tensions

• NATO (1949): U.S. + Western Europe formed a military alliance to stop communism

  • Still exists today

  • Russia doesn’t like NATO expansion near its borders (e.g. Ukraine — big reason for invasion)

Nuclear Arms Race & Space Race

• Both sides built thousands of nukes (but never used them)

• Sputnik (1957): Soviets launched 1st satellite

• Eventually, nukes were reduced — but still enough to destroy the world multiple times

Communism vs. Capitalism

• Communism: Gov owns everything — meant to create equality, but leads to low motivation and weak economy

• Capitalism: People own businesses — creates inequality but motivates people to work hard

Soviet Collapse

• Mikhail Gorbachev (1985) introduced:

  • Perestroika = Some capitalism

  • Glasnost = More free speech

• It wasn’t enough — Soviet economy collapsed

• 1989: Eastern European countries left Soviet control (Poland, Hungary, etc.)

• 1991: Soviet Union officially ends

China

• Chinese Civil War (1945–1949):

  • Communists (Mao Zedong) beat Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek)

• Mao’s rule:

  • Great Leap Forward (1958–61): Collectivized farming → massive famine → 15–45 million died

  • Cultural Revolution (1966–76): Targeted "enemies" of communism → chaos, deaths, violence

  • Pro-women reforms: Mao pushed for gender equality

• After Mao: Deng Xiaoping allowed capitalism → led to China’s economic rise

Vietnam War

• North Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, communist) vs. South Vietnam (U.S.-backed, capitalist)

• Another proxy war like Korea

• Ho Chi Minh gained support from peasants (like Mao and Gandhi)

Other Cold War Stuff

• Marshall Plan: U.S. gave money to rebuild Western Europe after WWII

• Truman Doctrine: U.S. would help countries fight communism (started with Greece & Turkey)

• Prague Spring (1968): Czech tried to reform, but Soviets crushed it

• Helsinki Accords (1975): Tried to ease Cold War tensions (détente)

Post-War Decolonization

• After WWII, most African & Asian colonies got independence

• Many migrated to former colonizers' cities (e.g., Indians to London)

• Borders in Africa (from Berlin Conference) caused ethnic conflicts after independence

• Algeria: France didn’t want to let go → war for independence → Algeria free in 1962

India & Pakistan

• 1947: India got independence → Split into:

  • India (mostly Hindu)

  • Pakistan (mostly Muslim)

• Led to violence and death of millions

• East Pakistan later became Bangladesh

• India & Pakistan still hate each other and both have nuclear weapons

Middle East & Religious Governments

• Iran (1979): Islamic Revolution → religious leaders (Ayatollah) take over

• Taliban in Afghanistan (1996–2001, 2021–): Strict Islamic law, sheltered Osama bin Laden → U.S. invaded after 9/11

Africa & Apartheid

• South Africa had apartheid (racial segregation) until 1994

• Nelson Mandela became 1st Black president after being in jail

Totalitarianism Examples

• Stalin (USSR): Collectivized farms → famine in Ukraine (1930s)

• Pol Pot (Cambodia): Killed 2 million+ people, forced people into farms (Khmer Rouge)

Technology, Travel, & Pollution

• 1950s: Jets invented → faster travel → more global contact

• Cars + planes → more fossil fuel use → climate change

• Debate began in 1990s as China & India industrialized

Other Key People/Terms

• Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt): Took control of Suez Canal from British

• Nationalist Movements: Led by educated elites in Africa, Asia, Middle East