Cold War: Military Alliances, Nuclear Proliferation, and Proxy Wars

Military Alliances

  • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization):
    • Formed in 1949 by Western nations, including the United States, as a mutual defense alliance against the Soviet Union.
    • The agreement stated that an attack on one member was an attack on all, requiring a collective response.
  • Warsaw Pact:
    • Formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union as a military alliance in response to NATO.
    • Included the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe.
    • Similar to NATO, an attack on one member was considered an attack on all.
  • The creation of these alliances increased Cold War tensions.

Nuclear Proliferation

  • Arms Race:
    • The United States pioneered atomic bombs during World War II.
    • The Soviet Union developed its own atomic bombs by 1949.
    • The United States then developed the hydrogen bomb (more powerful), prompting the Soviets to do the same.
    • Both superpowers accumulated enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world multiple times.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962):
    • The Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba after a failed US attempt to oust Fidel Castro.
    • The US discovered these missile sites, leading to outrage.
    • The United States had previously placed nuclear missiles in Turkey, near the Soviet border.
    • President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further weapon shipments.
    • The crisis lasted 13 days, raising fears of nuclear war.
    • The missiles were never fired, and eventually, both parties backed down.
  • Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (1968):
    • Created in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
    • Called on nuclear powers to prevent non-nuclear countries from developing such weapons.

Proxy Wars

  • Indirect conflicts in Africa, Asia, and Latin America where the United States and the Soviet Union supported opposing sides.
  • Korean War:
    • After World War II, Korea was divided into North Korea (occupied by the Soviets) and South Korea (occupied by the US and its allies).
    • In 1950, Communist North Korea invaded anti-communist South Korea to unify the country under its leadership.
    • The United Nations (primarily the United States) aided South Korea.
    • The Soviets supported North Korea with weapons and supplies.
    • The conflict ended in a stalemate by 1953, with the border remaining largely unchanged. An estimated 3 million people died.
  • Angolan Civil War:
    • Angola was a Portuguese colony with borders drawn around rival ethnic groups.
    • After gaining independence, rival groups fought for power.
    • The Soviets backed one group, the United States another, and South Africa yet another.
    • Became a proxy war between larger powers.
  • Contra War in Nicaragua:
    • In 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (socialists) seized power in Nicaragua.
    • The United States backed the Contras to overthrow the Sandinistas, who had support from the Soviet Union.
    • The Contras committed human rights violations.
    • The conflict ended in a ceasefire, and the Sandinistas were defeated in the next election.