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The Cold War - Garima Singh

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and Soviet Union from the mid-1940s until the early 1990s. Some key events included the emergence of the US and USSR as superpowers after WWII, the Iron Curtain dividing Europe, the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan seeking to contain communism in Europe, the founding of NATO in response to the Berlin Blockade, and the Cuban Missile Crisis bringing the two sides closest to nuclear war. The Cold War ended in the late 1980s as reformist leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost and perestroika, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall and ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

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Satyam Pathak
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351 views14 pages

The Cold War - Garima Singh

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and Soviet Union from the mid-1940s until the early 1990s. Some key events included the emergence of the US and USSR as superpowers after WWII, the Iron Curtain dividing Europe, the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan seeking to contain communism in Europe, the founding of NATO in response to the Berlin Blockade, and the Cuban Missile Crisis bringing the two sides closest to nuclear war. The Cold War ended in the late 1980s as reformist leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost and perestroika, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall and ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Uploaded by

Satyam Pathak
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Cold war

By Dr. Garima Singh


Meaning of the cold war
• War like situation between the two power
bloc – USA and USSR- but not a war.
• It was a diplomatic war – not an armed
conflict.
• Louise Halle- cold war was a situation of high
tension between two east while allies. .
• Ideological tensions – between American
bloc and soviet bloc.
• Ideological weapons against each other –
propoganda, espionage, military alliances,
regional organisations etc.
Reasons for the start of cold war
• Emergence of USA as a nuclear power 1945–
situation of distrust.
• Defeat of Germany created a vacum
• Ideological factors responsible – liberal
democracy based on capitalism and socialism
based on Marxism – dissatisfactions of history
(Bolshevik revolution) – USA did not
recognised USSR till 1933.
• USA and USSR had buried their differences only
because of the threat of Germany and Japan
for IIWW. – east west cooperation temporary
Conti…
• Mutual suspicion – history, USSR fought Germany on eastern
Front alone , the western alliances wanted to fight the Italian
side first and then open second front .
• Different motivations for Germany – Divided the country into 4
zones – USSR – to disarm, demilitarize Germany, reparation
fee, USA – find market in Germany
• Iran – both countries wanted to expand for oil. The soviet
union encouraged local independent movt and USA supported
Shah of Iran.(soviet quit Iran 1946)
• Iron curtain – soviet bought Poland, Hungary , Romania and
Bulgaria under their suzerainty.
• Churchill fulton speech – “soviet union has erected an iron
curtain. Dividing east and west.
• Poland, Eastern Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and the Soviet Union–
countries which came under soviet Union influence.
• Mutual hostility became a regular feature.
Iron curtain
First Phase – 1948 - 1953
• Truman Doctrine of March 1947 – Containing
communism – USA assistance to Greece and
turkey. – European nations could rely on USA.
• Marshall Plan – American sec of state –
George Marshall. – economic assistance
from USA – against hunger, poverty, chaos. \
• COMINFORM – binding east european
countries – trade treaties and warning
against marshall plan.
• Berlin Blockade –
• NATO – 1949 – US Military alliance
• Korean War 1950
Korean war (1950-53)
Second phase : confrontation and
fragmentation (1955- 1963)
• Change in leadership – Khrushchev in USSR and Eisenhower
• Initial policy of peaceful coexistance
• Khrushchev started criticizing Stalin.
• Anti- soviet feelings in the East.
• Uprising in Poland (1956)- conflict in polish communist party –
gomulka fraction won and started reforms in poland –
“national road to socialism”
• Soviet union did not interfere in Poland – endorsed Poland on
condition that they remain in WARSAW and on socialist road
• Hungry uprising (1956) – SU could not remain silent. Imre Nagy
in hungry supported by USA. – demanded even more reforms –
freedom of speech, departure of SU troops – followed by
USSR action by tanks.
• PTBT – USA and USSR signed 1963 (china did not )
Suez crisis 1956
• Suez crisis (1956) – nationalization of suez canal in Egypt.
• Suez canal under Britain and France for 99 years period since
1869. (profit )
• Egypt king overthrown - Nasser came up in 1952 and became
PM from 1954.
• Nasser required military and economic aid for the country –
couldn't get it from USA or USSR.
• Nasser proposal to Aswan High Dam – even negotiations for
Anglo American assistance collapsed.
• Egypt decided to nationalize Suez Canal – to raise revenue.
• Britain and France hatched conspiracy.
• Britain and France military action against Nasser.
• UN GA – Peacekeeping forces for canal
• Egypt has its way. – Britain France withdraw forces. (blow to
Britain as a great power)
Berlin Wall 1961
• Berlin city was neither a part of west
Germany nor east Germany .
• Officially under the occupation of four allies.
• West Berlin more prosperous and eastern
Berlin people tempted to move to west –
trouble for USSR.
• Refugees from East to West in huge
numbers
• 1961 – wall constructed to stop people of
east Berlin by USSR.
CUBA MISSILE CRISIS 1962
• USA freed Cuba from Spain in 1898.
• USA could not ensure an efficient govt.
• USA intervention in Cuba was written in Pratt
ammendment .
• 1934 – policy of good neighbor adopted by America.
• Political unrest and instability followed
• Batista took to power 1952 – permanent dictator –
introduced a reign of terror.
• Rise of Fidel Castro – 1959
• Declared himself a Marxist – 1961
• Assistance from USSR
• DEBACLE OF BAY OF PIGS
• CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
New problems :1963-1968
• Vietnam war : French occupation on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (from 1863- 1940)
• Japan occupation from 1941-1945.
• French tried to resume their imperial power.
• Vietnam was occupied by the British south of 16 parallel and Chinese estb themselves

th
north – both withdraw in 1946 but couldn’t make grounds for reestablishment of French
empire .
• Geneva conference – 1954 – divided Vietnam – south and north-communist growing
influence.
• France granted independence to Vietnam. Elections were to be held – preservation of
communism in North. Ho chi minh govt in north and south by govt of Bao Dai.
• North veitnam has greater population than south and leftist elements in south likely to
vote for Ho Chi Minh. But bao dai refused to participate in voting.
• Bao Dai deposed – to prime minister Ngo Dinh Diem. He ruled south veitnam as his
personal property. Coup against Diem in 1963 took place and killed him
• active communist group came in south vietnam aided by communist North.
• 1962- 65 US aid to South Vietnam – to prevent Communist domination in South Vietnam.
• 1968- 5,40,000 TROOPS IN South Vietnam
• Domino theory
• American domestic opinion against US involvement in war
• End of 1972 – futility realised by US. 1973 Ceasefire estb. 1975 – communist govt
established in vietnam.
• Soviet intervention in czechoslovakia
Détente and end of the cold war –
1968-1979
• Attempts made by two countries for maintaining the status quo –
PTBT (1963), NPT (1968), SALT (1972) – Since military capacity lost
its prestige.
• West Germany – Ostopolitik led to lessening of tension between SU
and west Germany.
• Helsinki conference – 1975 – symbolic culmination of détente.
• Borders not to be altered by force
• Both superpowers promised to respect the Helsinki final act.
• But soon ended – new cold war – soviet intervention in Afghanistan
1979.
• Share of arms export from USSR increased than US by early 1980’s.
• Afghanistan – changed from monarchy to republic under president
Mohammed Daud 1973 – decided to seek weapons from USSR. –
Which gave way to influence of Soviet Union.
• 90,000 soviet troops in afghanistan – beginning of new cold war.
• Gorbachev rising in USSR. – Policy for reforms
• Mikhail Gorbachev(1985) and Reagan – Met
at summit to decrease the level of arms. –
intermediate and middle level ballistic
missiles.
• Introduction of glasnost (openness) and
perestroika (revolutionary changes in
political system)by Mikhail Gorbachev
• 1989 – fall of the Berlin wall.
• 1991 – disintegration of the SU.

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