Unit 9

Unit 9: The Cold War

Topic 1: The Iron Curtain

Essential Question: How did the division of Europe after WWII contribute to tensions between the US and USSR?

Historical Figures

• Winston Churchill: British Prime Minister and coined “Iron Curtain”

• Joseph Stalin: Soviet leader

• George Marshall: US Secretary of State

• Harry S. Truman: US president

• Nikita Khruschchev: Soviet leader

Part 1: Post WWII

Consequences of WWII

• More civilian than military deaths

• Widespread displacement

• Severe destruction of infrastructure

• Forests and farmlands devastated & destroyed 

Yalta Conference

• Promises Stalin kept:

  • Division of Germany and Berlin into allied control zones

• Promises Stalin broke:

  • Democratic elections in Eastern Europe

The United Nations

• Established in 1945

• Purpose: maintain international peace

  • Security council: 11 members including 5 permanent members with veto power (Britain, US, China, France, and Soviet Union)

Rivals Emerge

• United States

  • Aims: Establish new global order

  • Issues: distrusts Stalin and communism 

• Soviet Union

  • Aims: Spread communism, form buffer from West

  • Issues: resentment towards West for ideological differences

Part 2: East vs. West

Soviets Build a Buffer

• Soviets occupy Eastern Europe post-WWII to create a buffer zone

• Stalin violated Yalta agreements by installing communist governments

• Soviet violence in occupied territories

Division of Germany

• Germany split post-WWII into two nations 

• West Germany: Controlled by US, UK, and France

  • Berlin divided into four military zones

The Iron Curtain

• Symbolizes the ideological and physical division between Eastern (Soviet-influenced/communist) and Western (American-influenced/democratic) Europe after WWII

• Eastern Bloc: Soviet Union and its satellite states

• Western Bloc: USA and allies

Cold War Policy

• Containment Strategy: A broad US policy to prevent Soviet expansion

  • Truman Doctrine: Pledges US support for nations resisting communism

• $400 million to Greece and Turkey to combat communist threats

  • Impact: success

The Marshall Plan

• Post-WWII Europe in ruins and at risk of Communist influence

• US aid for European recovery

  • Rebuild Europe, counteract Communism

• Boosts US global position

Part 3: Tensions Rise

The Berlin Airlift

• June 1948: Stalin closes ground access to West Berlin

  • Block West Germany’s unification, and expand Soviet influence

• US and UK initiate Berlin Airlift supplying the city entirely by air drops

• Stalin lifted the blockade in May 1949

Rival Alliances

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): 12-nation defensive alliance against Soviet aggression

  • Warsaw pact: Soviet-led defense treaty with satellite states

• Berlin Wall: Built by East Germany to prevent escapes to the West

  • Cold War’s division between communist East and democratic West

Topic 2: Arms and Space Race

Essential Question: How did competition between the US and USSR increase Cold War tensions?

Historical Figures

Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet leader (1953-1964); prioritized space exploration

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg: spies executed for passing nuclear secrets to the USSR

Francis Gary Powers: U-2 spy plane shot down over the USSR in 1960

Neil Armstrong: first man on the moon (Apollo 11, 1969)

Dwight D. Eisenhower: US President (1953-1961); led early Cold War efforts 

Part 1: The Arms Race

Setting the Stage

• USSR’s Espionage: efforts target US military secrets 

• Theft of US atomic bomb plans

  • USSR atomic bomb: successful test in 1949

• 1949: begins arms race between the US and USSR

The Arms Race

• Nuclear age begins: post-WWII, US and Soviet Union become nuclear superpowers

• Hydrogen bomb: 67 times more powerful than WWII atomic bombs

  • US tests in 1952

  • USSR tests in 1953

• Race for power overshadows the ethical dangers 

Brinkmanship

• Brinkmanship: US and USSR used the threat of nuclear war to deter aggression

• Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD): both sides had enough nukes for total retaliation

Part 2: The Incident

Tensions Heighten

• CIA U-2 Flights: Secret flight missions over USSR 

• 1960 U-2 Incident: Soviet forces shoot down U-2 spy-plane

  • Impact: Pilot Francis Gary Powers captured

• US admits spying: confirmed surveillance

• Incident significantly escalated Cold War tensions

Part 3: The Space Race

The Space Race

• 1953 Stalin dies: Nikita Khrushchev prioritizes space exploration

  • Space race begins

• 1957: USSR launches Sputnik, the first satellite into space

• US reaction: launches its first satellite in 1958

• Satellite technology demonstrates ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) capabilities

• Saturn V Rocket: critical for lunar missions

• Apollo 11 Achievement: 1969 moon landing by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin

• Early 1970s marked the start of US-Soviet collaboration in space

Topic 3: Mao’s China

Essential Question: How did Mao’s policies transform China, and what consequences followed?

Historical Figures

• Mao Zedong: Leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949

• Chiang Kai-shek: Leader of the Nationalist Party (KMT) during the Chinese Civil War, retreated to Taiwan

Setting the Stage

• 1945-1949: Civil War between Communist Party (CCP) and Nationalists (KMT) resumed after WWII

• Communist tactics: peasant support

  • Used guerrilla warfare, aided by USSR

• Communist victory: Founding of the People’s republic

  • Nationalists retreated to Taiwan

Part 1: Tragedy of Liberation

The Tragedy of Liberation

• Class warfare: “landlords” or “peasants”

• Individuals were humiliated into confessing “crimes” 

• Thousands executed as class enemies

  • Aimed at “purifying” society

Mao’s Vision

• Mao aimed to build a classless, communist society

  • Maoism: his version of communism focused on peasant-led revolution and rural reform

• Mao used propaganda to create a heroic image

• Land was taken from landlords and redistributed to poor peasants

  • Over 1 million landlords were killed

Part 2: Great Leap and Famine

5-Year Plan

• Mao’s First 5-Year Plan (1953-1957) aimed to rapidly industrialize China

  • Emphasized heavy industry with Soviet support

• Merged private farms into large collectives to boost food production

  • Increase state control over farming

Great Leap Forward

• Initiated in 1958: Aimed to rapidly transform China into a communist society

  • Collective farming and industrialization

• Formation of Communes: A collective farming community

• Shared dining halls and dorms with children raised in communal nurseries

• Personal pay was replaced with work credits

  • Determined your allotment of food

• Low motivation and poor productivity

• Known as “The Giant Step Backwards”

The Great Famine

• Four Pests Campaign: 1958 initiative to eliminate pests to improve harvest and health

• Sparrows targeted

  • Caused a surge in crop-eating insects like locusts

• Swarms of locust destroyed crops

• Great Famine: A severe food shortage causing mass hunger and death across China

  • Unrealistic quotas and falsified data hid the crisis

• Mao knew about the famine but refused to act

• 15-45 million died

  • Great Leap Forward was abandoned by 1960

Part 3: Cultural Revolution

The Revolution

• Mao launched campaigns to reinforce communist control

  • Targeted old customs, culture, habits, and ideas

• Destroyed books, temples, and historical artifacts

• Millions were humiliated, imprisoned, or killed

  • Led to social unrest, economic decline, and lasting national trauma

Blind Loyalty

• The Little Red Book spread Mao’s ideas

  • Maoist ideology: promoted class struggle, anti-capitalism, and devotion to Mao

• Red Guards: student groups attacked “bourgeois” enemies

Struggle Sessions

• Struggle Sessions: staged events where accused individuals were forced to confess to crimes

• Victims were beaten and mocked

  • Helped Mao eliminate dissent and tighten control over society

Legacy

• Mao’s Death (1976): His death ended the cultural revolution and decades of political turmoil

• Mass deaths: 50-80 million

• Mao reshaped China through land reform, collectivization, and social campaigns

• Still honored as a founding leader

Topic 4: The Korean War

Essential Question: How did the Korean War show a new US strategy to stop communism?

Historical Figures

• Kim Il Sung: Leader of North Korea. Started the war to unify Korea under communism

• Syngman Rhee: President of South Korea. Anti-communist leader

• General Douglas MacArthur: US commander of UN forces

• Harry S Truman: US President. Committed troops to defend South Korea

• Kim Jong Il: Song of Kim Il Sung. Took power in 1994

Setting the Stage

• Post-WWII Korea: Divided nation at the 38th parallel

• North Korea

  • Ideology: Communist state

  • Leader: Kim Il Sung

  • Ally: USSR

• South Korea

  • Ideology: Democratic republic

  • Leader: Syngman Rhee

  • Ally: US

Part 1: The War Begins

North Korea Attacks

• June 25, 1950: North Korea seeks to unify Korea under communism

  • USSR sent aid to North Korea

• North Korea launch surprise attack on South Korea

  • Quickly overrun the South

Part 2: The War Heats Up

The UN Responds

• Seoul captured; South Korea requests UN help

  • Containment policy: US aims to prevent communism spread

• UN forces led by US, deployed over 500k troops

• Led by General MacArthur

  • North Korean forces retreat

  • UN pushes towards Chinese border

China Gets Involved

• Threatened by UN forces near its border, China intervenes with over 300,000 troops

  • Chinese forces push UN troops back 

• Fierce battles result in a bloody stalemate

• MacArthur’s proposal: nuclear strikes against China

  • Truman’s response: Rejects MacArthur’s nuclear options, fearing escalation into World War III

Truman Takes Control

• MacArthur publicly criticizes Truman’s war strategy

• Truman fires MacArthur for insubordination

• Post-MacArthur, Truman focuses on peace talks

Part 3: The Ceasefire

The War Ends

• 1953 Armistice: truce agreement between North Korea and UN forces

• 38th Parallel Border

  • Demilitarized Zone (DMZ): Established to reduce hostilities

• Seen as a stalemate

  • Dubbed “Forgotten War” due to lack of clear victory

Aftermath

• North Korea

  • Communist reforms

  • Kim Jong Il escalated nuclear efforts in 1994

• South Korea

  • Capitalist policies

  • Military dictatorship until 1987, then democracy

• Tensions remain

Topic 5: Vietnam War Begins

Essential Question: How did Cold War tensions and Vietnam’s history lead to US involvement in the Vietnam War?

Historical Figures

• Ho Chi Minh: Leader of the Vietminh and north Vietnam; sought Vietnamese independence with a communist vision

• Dwight D. Eisenhower: US president who promoted the Domino Theory

• Ngo Dinh Diem: US-backed leader of South Vietnam, known for corruption

• Lyndon B. Johnson: US President who escalated American military involvement

Part 1: French Indochina

Setting the Stage

• Vietnam part of “French Indochina” since the 1800s

• World War II: Japanese occupation

• France attempts to reclaim Vietnam

  • Strong opposition against returning to colonial status quo

Vietnamese Uprising

• The Viet Minh form to seek independence

  • Leader: Ho Chi Minh, pro-communist agenda

• French response: arrests and jails Vietnamese protesters

  • Begins the conflict

Part 2: American Policy

The Domino Theory

• US containment (1950): US financially supports France in Vietnam

• Domino theory (1954): if one nation falls to communism, neighboring countries will too

• French defeat: leads to Vietnam’s division

Vietnam Divided

• Geneva Accords (1954): Divided Vietnam at 17th parallel

  • South Vietnam: Democratic, led by Ngo Dinh Diem, backed by US

  • North Vietnam: Communist, led by Ho Chi Minh, supported by USSR and China

Part 3: Things Heat Up

Diem’s Corruption

• US-South Vietnam Alliance

  • Diem’s regime marked by corruption

• Known for political suppression, particularly against Buddhists

• US quietly supported a coup resulting in Diem’s assasination

  • Post-Diem, South Vietnamese leadership worsened 

Gulf of Tonkin

• Gulf of Tonkin incident

  • 8/2/64: North Vietnamese patrol boats fired torpedoes at the US ship, USS Maddox, in the Gulf of Tonkin

• Used to justify stronger US involvement 

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Gave President Johnson broad authority to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal war declaration

US Intervention

• US starts shifting from advising to combat involvement

• Viet Cong: Communist guerrillas emerge in South Vietnam

  • North Vietnam sends aid and troops to support the Viet Cong

Topic 6: Escalation in Vietnam

Essential Question: How did US tactics in Vietnam affect the war and public opinion at home?

Historical Figures

• President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ): increasing troop deployments

• General William Westmoreland: US military commander in Vietnam

Part 1: Early Stages of the War

US Enters the War

• 1965: President LBJ sends 180k troops

  • 61% of Americans support intervention

• Westmoreland seeks more troops

• LBJ agrees, implements draft

  • Troop Count: over 500,000 by 1967

Viet Cong Tactics

• Guerrilla Warfare: Used dense jungles for ambushes

• Tunnel Systems: created extensive networks for defense, surprise attacks, and connecting villages

The Endless War

• US underestimated Viet Cong resilience

  • VC perceived the war as existential, leading to defiance

• Declining US morale

  • Growing casualties eroded US troops’ resolve

Part 2: A New Approach

US Strategy

• 1965-1968: US dropped over 800k tons of bombs on North Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder

  • Ground assaults on Viet Cong targets

• Cut supply lines, destroy infrastructure, and reduce civilian support for the Viet Cong

Chemical Warfare

• US used Agent Orange to destroy jungle cover and expose Viet Cong

  • Long-term health problems for US soldiers

• Planes dropped napalm to burn forests

  • Caused civilian deaths, burns, & environmental damage

• Raids destroyed villages and harmed civilians

Part 3: The War Turns

Tet Offensive

• 1/30/1968: Viet Cong’s surprise attacks during Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year

  • 10,000 Viet Cong launch attacks

• 12 US bases and the US Embassy attacked; about 3,000 US casualties

• US and South Vietnamese counter, with 32,000 North Vietnamese fatalities

  • A tactical victory for the US but a significant psychological defeat

US Reaction

• Tet offensive casts doubt on White House honesty

• Public opinion shifts

  • Debates over withdrawal vs dishonor

• Casualties and coffins deepen war opposition

Topic 7: Vietnamization

Essential Question: How did the US try to leave Vietnam while maintaining power and credibility?

Historical Figures

• Richard Nixon: US president who introduced vietnamization to gradually withdraw American troops

• Henry Kissinger: Nixon’s top advisor

• Pol Pot: Leader of the Khmer Rouge who orchestrated the Cambodian Genocide

Part 1: A Change of Pace

Setting the Stage

• Nixon takes office (1969)

  • Only 30% of citizens supported war

• Nixon’s goal: withdraw US forces while preserving honor

  • Implement Vietnamization

Vietnamization

• Vietnamization: gradual US troop withdrawal

• Began in 1969

  • 1972: US troop presence reduced to 25,000 from a peak of 500,000

Peace with Honor

• Nixon’s Goal: preserve US global influence and credibility

  • Peace through strength

• Secret bombing campaigns in Cambodia and Laos to target Viet Cong supply lines and sanctuaries

My Lai Massacre

• 3/16/1968: Under Lt. William Calley, US troops killed over 500 Vietnamese civilians in My Lai

• Women, children, and the elderly

• Soldier’s defense: following Calley’s orders

• Out of 14 charged, only Calley was convicted

Part 2: Promises Broken

Invasion of Cambodia

• Nixon orders US troops into Cambodia in April 1970

• Aimed at disrupting North Vietnamese supply routes

  • Sparked protests against US involvement

Peace at Hand

• 1972: 60% of Americans urge US withdrawal

  • Peace talks collapse

• “Christmas bombings”: 100k tons of bombs in 11 days

• Paris Peace Accords: 1973, signed to end US involvement

Vietnam War Ends

• A mass evacuation began as North Vietnamese forces rapidly advanced toward Saigon

• Largest helicopter evacuation in history

• Fall of Saigon: on April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese troops captured the city, marking the end of the Vietnam War

Part 3: Aftermath of the War

US Impact

• Public distrust

  • Veterans shunned

• Draft abolished

• War Powers Act: required the president to notify Congress troop deployment

Vietnam After the War

• North Vietnam enforced strict controls and used reeducation camps

• Over 1.5 million Vietnamese fled, mainly to the US and Canada

• Economic opening

Part 4: Cambodian Genocide

The Khmer Rouge

• Khmer Rouge (1975): Communist group that seized control in Cambodia

  • Pol Pot: Led the Khmer Rouge; aimed to create a classless, farming society

• Cities were evacuated; religion, schools, and money were banned

  • Cambodia cut off from outside world

Genocide Begins

• Books, art, and traditions were destroyed

• Millions sent to rural camps, many died

  • Killing fields: Mass graves where victim were executed and buried

• Targeted groups: Intellectual, monks, ethnic minorities

Fall and Aftermath

• Around 2 million people died 

• 1979: Vietnam invaded and removed the Khmer Rouge 

  • ECCC Tribunal (2006): A special court was set up to put surviving Khmer Rouge leaders on trial

Topic 8: The Cuban Missile Crisis

Essential Question: How did the Cuban Missile Crisis nearly lead to nuclear war, and what prevented it?

Historical Figures

• Fidel Castro: Revolutionary leader in Cuba and aligned with the Soviet Union

• Fulgencio Batista: Cuban dictator overthrown by Fidel Castro

• John F. Kennedy (JFK): US president during the Cuban Missile Crisis

• Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet Premier

• Cuban Exiles: Anti-castro cubans trained by the CIA

Part 1: Communism in Cuba

Cuban Revolution

• Fidel Castro overthrew US backed dictator Batista in the 1950s

  • Castro established a communist government

• Introduced social reforms but evolved into a strict dictatorship

• US to impose a trade embargo 

  • Castro received aid from the Soviet Union

Bay of Pigs Invasion

• US plan to remove Fidel Castro from power

  • JFK approved the plan, relying on CIA-trained Cuban exiles

• Mission failed quickly, with most invaders either killed or captured

  • JFK facing major embarrassment

• Pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union

Part 2: The Crisis of 1962

Origin of the Crisis

• Summer 1962, the USSR secretly shipped nuclear weapons to Cuba to prevent another future invasion

• US viewed this as a major threat

• US secretly planned airstrikes and a possible invasion

Discovery of Missile Sites

• October 14, 1962, US spy planes found the Soviet missile bases being built in Cuba

  • Nuclear-armed and could strike US

• 13-day standoff known as the Cuban Missile Crisis

  • Kennedy promised massive retaliation (MAD) if the Soviets launched a nuclear attack

The Standoff

• President JFK ordered a naval “quarantine” of Cuba to stop Soviet missiles from arriving

• Soviet ships sailed toward the blockade, raising fears of a nuclear war

  • At the last moment, Soviet ships turned back

• Crisis averted

Part 3: Crisis Averted

Aftermath

• Nuclear Hotline: established to prevent misunderstandings 

• Limited Test Ban Treaty: banned atmospheric nuclear tests

• Soviets removed missiles from Cuba

  • US secretly removed missiles from Turkey and Italy

• Global perception:

  • Khrushchev (loser)

  • JFK (winner)

Topic 9: Cold War Conflicts

Essential question: How did the US and Soviet Union expand their Cold War rivalry through global conflicts?

Historical Figures

• Jacobo Arbenz: President of Guatemala

• Anastasio Somoza: US-supported Nicaraguan dictator

• Ronald Reagan: US president

• Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: Pro-western ruler of Iran

• Mohammad Mossadeq: Iranian Prime Minister removed via a CIA-backed coup

• Ayatollah Ruholah Khomeini: Islamic leader who led the 1979 Iranian Revolution

• Jimmy Carter: US president

• Mikhail Gorbachev: Soviet leader

Part 1: The Cold War World

Third World

• Many countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa gained independence after WWII

• US and USSR vied for influence

  • Became sites of Cold War conflicts

  • Some nations rejected both sides

Cold War Strategies

• Supported revolutions and conducted covert operations via CIA and KGB

• Provided economic and military aid

• Espionage and alliances

• Propaganda and brinkmanship

• Proxy wars: Superpowers fought indirectly by supporting opposite sides in wars like Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan

Part 2: The Cold War in Latin America

Latin America

• US aimed to stop the spread of communism in Latin America

  • Backed coups, funded rebels, spread propaganda, and gave military aid

    • Nationalization: Government takes control of land or industries from private or foreign owners

• The US supported dictatorships that aligned with anti-communist goals

American Intervention

• (1954) Guatemala: US feared land reforms, CIA to orchestrate a coup and install a pro-US regime

• (1953) Chile: US ousted leftist President Allende, Pinochet’s dictatorship followed

• (1979-1990) Nicaragua: US supported Contra rebels

• (1979-1992) El Salvador: A US-backed civil war led to mass violence

Part 3: The Cold War in Iran

Iran

• Islamic values clashed with Western influence

• Shah Pahlavi aligned with the West (US and Britain)

• Prime Minister Mossadeq pushed to reduce foreign control 

  • Shah exiled

• US helped remove Mossadeq and restore the Shah in 1953

Islamic Revolution

• Shah’s efforts to modernize met with resistance

  • Ayatollah Khomeini led pushback against Western influence

• 1979 protests forced the Shah into exile

  • Khomeini established an Islamic state

  • Promoted push back against the West

Hostage Crisis

• 1979: Iranian revolutionaries took over 60 Americans hostage at the US embassy in Tehran

  • Hostages were held for 444 days, released in 1981

Part 4: The Soviets go to War

Afghanistan

• Soviet influence: Grew in Afghanistan during the 1950s, helping establish a communist government

• Muslim Revolt: In the late 1970s

• USSR invasion (1979) turned into a prolonged conflict

The Soviets War

• Mujahideen Resistance: Rebel forces challenged Soviet army

  • US protected its oil interests by supplying rebels with US weapons

• Soviet Withdrawal: In 1989, due to internal unrest within the USSR

Topic 10: Collapse of the Soviet Union

Essential Question: How did Gorbachev’s reforms help lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Part 1: Gorbachev’s Reforms

Gorbachev

• New leadership: in 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev as general secretary

• Soviet citizens eager for change

  • Radical new political and economic ideas

Social Reforms

• Soviet Union a totalitarian regime

• Gorbachev’s insight: a free flow of ideas and information

• Glasnost: 1985, introduced to increase government transparency and media openness

  • Churches reopened

  • Political prisoners released

  • Censorship lifted

  • Journalists empowered

Economic Reforms

• Economy: faced stagnation

  • Gorbachev introduced economic reforms

• Perestroika: Economic restructuring

  • Shifted decision-making power to local managers

  • Allowed for the opening of small private businesses

  • Reducing Communist Party control

Political Reforms

• Gorbachev introduced reforms to increase openness and democracy

  • Voters favored reformers over Communist elites

• Reforms reduced the Communist Party’s grip on power

Part 2: The Beginning of the End

Germany

• Reagan’s Challenge (1987): “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

• 1989: Berlin Wall fell

• German reunification (1990)

Soviet Unrest

• Gorbachev’s openness allowed growing demands for change

• Ethnic divisions

  • Baltics and Ukraine began breaking from Soviet rule

• Protests and violence broke out

• 1990: A Soviet crackdown on Lithuania’s independence

Gorbachev’s Fall

• Gorbachev lost support as reforms failed economy

• Criticised for using force against Lithuania

• Boris Yeltsin, a critic of Gorbachev, became Russia's first elected president

Part 3: The Fall

The End

• August 18, 1991: Hardliners detained Gorbachev, demanded resignation

  • August 21, military withdrew, Gorbachev returned

• Weakened Gorbachev

• Gorbachev resigned on December 25, 1991

  • The USSR dissolved the next day, ending the Cold War