Unit 8 Review: Cold War and Decolonization

Overview

  • Major Topics: The Cold War, Effects of the Cold War, Spread of Communism after 1900, Decolonization after 1900, Newly Independent States, Global Resistance to Existing Power Structures, End of the Cold War

8.1 Setting the Stage for the Cold War and Decolonization

Essential Question
  • What was the historical context for the Cold War after World War II?
Context
  • After WWII:
      - Many colonies had unfulfilled hopes for self-government.
      - Anti-imperialist sentiment grew globally.
      - Colonial desires for independence became woven with the conflict between capitalism and communism.

8.1 - Ending World War II

The Big Three
  • Leaders: Great Britain, the United States, and the USSR met to discuss post-war plans.

  1. Tehran Conference (1943):
       - USSR focused on liberating Eastern Europe; US and GB focused on Western Europe.
       - Agreement to cede some Polish territory to the USSR.

  2. Yalta Conference (February 1945):
       - Acknowledgement of Germany's near surrender; disagreement on post-war treatment.
       - Focus on reconstructing Eastern Europe and defeating Japan.
       - FDR claimed free elections for E. Europe; Stalin insisted Eastern Europe be a buffer against invasion.
       - FDR promised USSR aid against Japan.

  3. Potsdam Conference (1945):
       - Truman replaced FDR as US President; Churchill was voted out during the conference, replaced by Clement Attlee.
       - Calls for free elections met with Stalin's refusal.
       - Soviet control entrenched in E. Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania.

  • Post-WWII distrust resulted in a Cold War atmosphere.

8.1 - Shifting Balance of Power

  • Massive destruction in Europe: estimated deaths between 40 million to 60 million.
  • US emerged as a superpower with an intact industrial base, able to provide aid to rebuild (e.g., Marshall Plan).
  • US Post-WWII Factors:
      - Minimal loss of life and no mainland fighting.
      - Developed nuclear capabilities with the atomic bomb.
  • USSR’s Post-WWII Factors:
      - Suffered significant population losses (10-20% in USSR, Poland, Germany) but maintained strong democracies in GB and France.

8.1 - The Start of the Cold War and the Breakdown of Empires

Start of the Cold War
  • Characterized by indirect confrontation, propaganda, and an arms race; no full-scale war occurred.
  • Countries became proxies in superpower conflicts.
Breakdown of Empires
  • Post-WWI, calls for self-determination grew; imperialism continued in Asia, Africa, etc.
  • Nationalism surged as WWII weakened imperial powers, providing opportunities for colonial independence movements.

8.2 The Cold War

Essential Question
  • What were the causes and effects of the ideological struggle of the Cold War?
Context
  • After WWII, the US (Democratic Capitalism) and USSR (Totalitarian Communism) were the two leading global powers.

8.2 - Cooperation and Rivalry

The United Nations
  • Successor to the League of Nations, created to prevent future conflicts.
      - Inaugurated in 1945 with support from both US and USSR despite ideological differences.
Rivalry in Economics and Politics
  • Post-war tension led to the division of Europe:
      - “An Iron Curtain” as described by Winston Churchill (1946).
      - Capitalism (US) vs. Communism (USSR):
        - US: Private ownership, individual self-interests.
        - USSR: State-owned assets, promoting equality and fairness.
Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
  • Differences in governance:
      - US: Reliance on free elections and press.
      - USSR: Controlled elections, emphasis on single-party rule.

8.2 - Conflicts in International Affairs

Soviet Influence
  • USSR's ambition led to the establishment of satellite states in E. Europe dependent on its economy.
Containment Policy
  • Developed by George Kennan: Prevent spread of communism through support of non-communist governments.
  • Truman Doctrine: Commitment to support free peoples resisting subjugation (Greece and Turkey).
  • Marshall Plan: Aimed at rebuilding Western European economies; refusal of aid in E. Europe led to COMECON.

8.2 - The Space Race, Arms Race, and Non-Aligned Movement

Space Race
  • Initiated by the USSR's launch of Sputnik (1957) leading to competition in space exploration.
Arms Race
  • Development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and nuclear arsenals.
Non-Aligned Movement
  • Newly independent nations sought neutrality in superpower conflicts, as demonstrated by the Bandung Conference (1955).

8.3 Effects of the Cold War

Essential Question
  • How did both the Soviet Union and the United States seek to maintain influence during the Cold War?
Proxy Wars
  • Many regional conflicts transformed into proxy wars (e.g., Korean and Vietnam Wars).
Korean War
  • North Korea’s 1950 invasion of South Korea; UN forces led by the US intervened,
  • Resulted in a stalemate and division of Korea.
Vietnam War
  • Escalation of US involvement through military support, leading to heavy casualties on both sides.

8.3 - Allied Occupation of Germany

Post-WWII Division
  • Germany and Berlin were partitioned among the Allies.
      - Berlin Blockade by USSR (1948) and subsequent Berlin Airlift by Allies.
      - Resulted in the division of Germany into East and West.

8.3 - NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and Other Alliances

Formation of NATO (1949)
  • A defensive alliance against the Soviet Bloc.
Warsaw Pact (1955)
  • Soviet response to NATO, consolidating military forces among satellite states.
Other Alliances
  • SEATO and CENTO as further efforts to counter Soviet influence.

8.3 - Proxy Wars - Korea and Vietnam

Korean War
  • After split at the 38th parallel, conflict broke out when North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to a UN military response.
Vietnam War
  • US involvement escalated, opposition and protests grew domestically.

8.3 - The Battle in Cuba

Cuban Revolution
  • Castro's rise led to nationalization of US-owned businesses, breaking relations with the US.
Bay of Pigs Crisis
  • Failed US-backed invasion leading to strengthened Cuban-Soviet relations.
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
  • US discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, leading to a significant confrontation.

8.4 Spread of Communism after WWII

Essential Question
  • How did Communism and land reform affect China and other countries?
Context
  • Legacy of colonialism led to class disparities that communists sought to address through land reforms.

8.4 - Communism in China

Communist Victory
  • Mao Zedong won support through reforms leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Great Leap Forward
  • Land collectivization led to famine and millions of deaths.
Cultural Revolution
  • Mao's movement to reassert communist ideology, targeting dissenters.

8.4 - Turmoil in Iran

Foreign Influence
  • Overthrow of nationalist Prime Minister Mossadegh by US and UK led to return of authoritarian Shah.
Iranian Revolution (1979)
  • Overthrew the Shah, leading to the establishment of a theocracy under Islamic law.

8.4 - Land Reform in Latin America

Venezuela and Guatemala
  • Land redistribution faced resistance, with US intervention in Guatemala to protect business interests.
Other Areas
  • Included similar movements across Latin America aiming to rectify social inequities.

8.5 Decolonization after 1900

Essential Question
  • How did people pursue independence after 1900?
Context
  • Nationalist movements escalated following WWII, prompting negotiations and unrest.

8.5 - Movements for Autonomy: India and Pakistan

Indian National Congress
  • Led by Gandhi, advocated for independence through nonviolent protest.
1947 Independence
  • GB negotiated independence but partitioned India leading to communal violence.

8.5 - Decolonization in Ghana

Negotiated Independence
  • Achieved independence from GB in 1957 under Kwame Nkrumah, who fostered nationalism and infrastructure development.

8.5 - Decolonization in Algeria

Violent Struggle
  • The FLN led a brutal conflict for independence from France; outcomes included a bitter civil war post-independence.

8.5 - Negotiated Independence in French West Africa

Peaceful Transitions
  • Colonies negotiated independence, displaying a contrast to violent struggles elsewhere.

8.6 Newly Independent States

Essential Question
  • What political changes led to territorial and demographic developments?
Context
  • Rapid increase of independent states with significant social and economic shifts.

8.6 - Israel's Founding and Its Relationship with Neighbors

Zionist Movement
  • Early Zionist advocates for a Jewish state culminated in the establishment of Israel in 1948, resulting in ongoing conflicts in the region.

8.6 - Cambodia Gains Independence and Survives Wars

Khmer Rouge
  • Their rise to power led to mass genocide in Cambodia.

8.6 - Women Gain Power in South Asia

Notable Leaders
  • Indira Gandhi (India), Benazir Bhutto (Pakistan), and Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka) navigated complex political landscapes post-independence.

8.6 - Tanzania Modernizes and Emigration from New to Old Countries

Julius Nyerere and Ujamaa
  • Economic challenges faced under Nyerere's leadership promote emigration strategies from newly independent states.

8.7 Global Resistance to Established Power Structure

Essential Question
  • What were differing reactions to existing power structures after 1900?
Nonviolent Resistance
  • Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela exemplified effective peaceful resistance movements.
Challenges to Soviet Power in E. Europe
  • Uprisings faced harsh crackdowns leading to further reforms.

8.8 The End of the Cold War

Essential Question
  • What caused the end of the Cold War?
Shift in Superpower Dynamics
  • Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union marked the end of the Cold War.

Conclusion

  • Review the complex socio-political transformations and ideologies that led to decolonization worldwide and shaped the Cold War dynamics.