AP European History Unit 9 Summary

Overview of Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe

• Timeline: Begins in 1945, post-World War II Europe

• Key Context: End of two massive wars leading to the reconstruction of Europe, primarily aided by the United States.

• Marshall Plan:

  • Definition: Economic aid package from the U.S. to European countries, distinct from the Dawes Plan (which involved loans).
  • Purpose: To provide economic stability and prevent the spread of communism in Western Europe.
  • Impact: Resulted in rapid economic recovery and growth in Europe, termed an "economic miracle."

• Cold War Initiation:

  • Division of Europe: Split into Eastern Europe (Soviet-dominated) and Western Europe (aligned with the U.S.).
  • Iron Curtain: Described by Winston Churchill, symbolizes the ideological division and separation of the two blocs.
  • Cold War Characteristics:
  • Absence of direct military conflict ("cold") but ongoing tensions, arms races, and propaganda.
  • Notable buildup of NATO (Western allies) vs. Warsaw Pact (Eastern Bloc).

• Key Organizations:

  • NATO: Alliance among the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe; mutual defense pact against Soviet aggression.
  • Warsaw Pact: Military alliance including the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe.

• Soviet Union Changes:

  • Stalin's Death (1953): Followed by Nikita Khrushchev, who initiated de-Stalinization, denouncing Stalin's leadership style.
  • Gulag Changes: While the gulags began to be dismantled, surveillance and control remained.

• Resistance Movements in Eastern Bloc:

  • Hungarian Revolt and Prague Spring: Attempts for liberal reform.
  • Brezhnev Doctrine: Justified Soviet intervention in socialist countries to maintain communist rule.

• Truman Doctrine vs. Brezhnev Doctrine:

  • Truman Doctrine: U.S. commitment to resist Soviet expansion.
  • Brezhnev Doctrine: Soviet stance to intervene if socialism is threatened in allied countries.

• Nationalism in the Contemporary Era:

  • Conflicts:
  • IRA in Northern Ireland: Ethnic and religious conflict regarding control.
  • Chechnya: Muslim region in Russia seeking independence, resulting in violent uprisings.
  • Yugoslav Wars: Ethnic conflicts leading to atrocities like ethnic cleansing, particularly against Bosnian Muslims.

• Welfare State Development:

  • Post-war Europe saw the rise of welfare states with healthcare and social services as government responsibilities.
  • Example: The British National Health Service (NHS) established under a Labour government, reflecting a shift toward government involvement in healthcare.

• Post-Communist Changes:

  • Mikhail Gorbachev: Introduced reforms (glasnost - openness; perestroika - restructuring) aimed at modernizing the Soviet system but led to its collapse.
  • End of Communism: Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) and disintegration of the Soviet Union (1991) signify the end of the Cold War.

• Second-Wave Feminism:

  • Addressed women's rights beyond suffrage, focusing on economic and societal roles.
  • Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex": Examined the status of women as 'other' in society and called for their redefinition.

• Margaret Thatcher:

  • First female Prime Minister of the UK (1979), symbolizing progress for female leadership amid conservative policies (Thatcherism) promoting neoliberalism and economic privatization.

• Decolonization:

  • Post-war era spurred discussions of self-determination among colonized nations.
  • Different trajectories for decolonization: peaceful in India versus violent struggles in Algeria and Vietnam.

• European Integration:

  • Formation of the European Union (1990s): Creates a shared economic and political space, including the Euro and the European Parliament.
  • Challenges exist: national sovereignty vs. European unity, as seen with Euro-skepticism (e.g., Brexit).

• Migration Issues:

  • Rise of migration from different parts of the world raises questions about identity and integration within European nations.

• Philosophical Shifts:

  • Emergence of existentialism (especially through Jean-Paul Sartre) questioning objective reality and emphasizing personal responsibility in building one's life.

• Religious Continuity:

  • Despite shifts towards secularism, Christianity retains significance in various European identities and cultures.
  • Vatican II Reforms: Changes in Catholic practices to modernize and address contemporary needs, though traditional doctrines remain in place.