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Questions and Answers
What percentage of Germany's divisions did the Red Army hold down during World War II?
What percentage of Germany's divisions did the Red Army hold down during World War II?
How many Americans died during World War II?
How many Americans died during World War II?
What was the purpose of the United Nations?
What was the purpose of the United Nations?
What was the main goal of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe?
What was the main goal of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe?
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What was the outcome of the Potsdam Conference of 1945?
What was the outcome of the Potsdam Conference of 1945?
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What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?
What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?
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What event marked the beginning of the Cold War?
What event marked the beginning of the Cold War?
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What was the result of the atomic bomb being used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
What was the result of the atomic bomb being used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
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What was the main ideological struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War?
What was the main ideological struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War?
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What was the name of the German-born philosopher who believed that economic inequality would lead to revolution?
What was the name of the German-born philosopher who believed that economic inequality would lead to revolution?
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What event led to the rise of communism in Russia?
What event led to the rise of communism in Russia?
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What was the name of the organization created to deter aggressors and prevent the outbreak of another war?
What was the name of the organization created to deter aggressors and prevent the outbreak of another war?
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What was the consequence of Stalin's transformation of the Soviet Union into a modern industrial superpower?
What was the consequence of Stalin's transformation of the Soviet Union into a modern industrial superpower?
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What was the main cause of the Great Depression?
What was the main cause of the Great Depression?
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What was the name of the organization created by the Soviet Union in 1922?
What was the name of the organization created by the Soviet Union in 1922?
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What was the main goal of the United States during the Cold War?
What was the main goal of the United States during the Cold War?
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Study Notes
The Cold War
- The Cold War began at the end of World War II, with the world divided between the United States and the Soviet Union.
- It was an ideological battle between communism and capitalism, with the East (Soviet Union) vs. the West (United States).
- The struggle was seen throughout the world, with small regional conflicts turned into proxy wars, where the two sides backed opposing groups to advance their agendas.
Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Communism
- The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century transformed Western nations, introducing machine tools, steam power, and new manufacturing processes.
- Karl Marx, a German-born philosopher, believed that economic inequality would lead to revolution, and his theories became known as Marxism.
- Communism eventually appeared in Russia, where decades of discontent and failures in World War I led to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, led by Vladimir Lenin.
The Soviet Union and the Rise of Stalin
- In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was created, and would be commonly known as the Soviet Union.
- The economy was nationalized, political opponents were outlawed, and the Communist Party had absolute control over the country.
- Stalin succeeded Lenin and transformed the nation from an agricultural society into a modern industrial superpower, but at a great human cost.
The United States and Capitalism
- The United States saw flaws in capitalism, including price fixing and protectionism, and President Woodrow Wilson attempted to fix them.
- The League of Nations was created to deter aggressors and prevent the outbreak of another war, but it failed to stop fascist regimes in Italy, Germany, and Japan.
- The Great Depression hit the world economy, and the League of Nations failed to address it.
World War II and the Alliance Between the Soviet Union and the United States
- The Soviet Union allied with the United States and the United Kingdom during World War II to fight against the Axis powers.
- The Soviet Union fought a largely defensive war, with the Red Army holding down up to 80% of Germany's divisions until the invasion of Normandy in 1944.
- The United States had a very different experience of the war, with only 400,000 Americans dying, and the economy thriving during the war.
The End of World War II and the Beginning of the Cold War
- As the war drew to a close, both powers sought to increase their own security against future attacks.
- The United Nations was established to deter aggressors and promote collective security.
- The Soviet Union wanted to install pro-Soviet governments across Eastern Europe, while the United States wanted to promote democracy and capitalism.
The Division of Europe and the Beginning of the Cold War
- The Potsdam Conference of 1945 divided Germany into four zones of occupation, with the capital Berlin divided in the same way.
- Stalin's actions in Europe had shown him to be a tyrant, and Harry Truman was less willing to give in to Soviet demands.
- The division of Europe was ensured, as Stalin would not agree to a unified approach.
The Atomic Bomb and the Truman Doctrine
- The United States had successfully tested an atomic bomb, and Truman attempted to intimidate Stalin into giving concessions.
- The Soviet Union knew about the Manhattan Project since the early 1940s, thanks to an extensive spy network within the United States.
- The atomic bomb was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war with Japan, and Truman announced the Truman Doctrine, based on the policy of containment.
The Beginnings of the Cold War
- Attempts at cooperation quickly stopped, and Stalin's actions in Iran and Turkey led to a crisis.
- Truman sent the American Sixth Fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean as a warning, and Stalin backed down.
- The Cold War had begun, with the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a struggle for ideological influence and power.- The Cold War*
Post-WWII Era
- 1947: The CIA was established to counter Soviet espionage and propaganda
- 1948: The Marshall Plan was introduced to rebuild Western Europe and counter Soviet influence
- 1949: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed to provide collective defense against the Soviet### Space Race
- Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to orbit the Earth in 1961
- The United States sends Alan Shepard into space in 1961, but doesn't achieve orbit until John Glenn in 1962
- The Soviet Union stays ahead in the space race with Valentina Tereshkova becoming the first woman in space in 1963 and Alexei Leonov completing the first space walk in 1965
- The United States catches up with the Apollo program, with Apollo 8 becoming the first humans to orbit the Moon in 1968 and Apollo 11 landing the first humans on the Moon in 1969
Cold War Politics
- Nixon's presidency is marked by political scandals, including the bombing of Cambodia and the attempted coup in Chile
- The Pentagon Papers are leaked in 1971, revealing secrets about the Vietnam War
- Nixon creates the "plumbers" to prevent further leaks, but they are caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972, leading to the Watergate scandal
- Nixon resigns in 1974, and his successor Gerald Ford is constrained by Congress's war powers
- The CIA's abuses are exposed, and the United States begins to take a critical view of measures to contain communism
Détente
- Détente is marked by a period of reduced tension between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1970s
- The United States and the Soviet Union sign the Helsinki Accords in 1975, acknowledging the Soviet Union's European borders and agreeing to respect human rights
- The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 marks the end of détente
- The United States boycotts the Moscow Olympics and increases defense spending in response to the invasion
End of the Cold War
- Ronald Reagan's presidency is marked by a hardline stance against the Soviet Union, including a campaign of public speeches to discredit the Soviet Union's status as a superpower
- Reagan's view on nuclear weapons is to see a world where they do not exist, and he forces the Soviet Union into a new arms race
- The Soviet Union's economy is destabilized, and they are pressured to accept an arms reduction agreement
- Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985 and introduces perestroika and glasnost, which ultimately lead to the dissolution of the Soviet Union
- The Berlin Wall comes down in 1989, and Germany is reunited in 1990
- The Soviet Union is eventually dissolved in 1991, marking the end of the Cold War
The Cold War
- The Cold War began at the end of World War II, with the world divided between the United States and the Soviet Union.
- It was an ideological battle between communism and capitalism, with the East (Soviet Union) vs. the West (United States).
Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Communism
- The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century transformed Western nations, introducing machine tools, steam power, and new manufacturing processes.
- Karl Marx, a German-born philosopher, believed that economic inequality would lead to revolution, and his theories became known as Marxism.
- Communism eventually appeared in Russia, where decades of discontent and failures in World War I led to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, led by Vladimir Lenin.
The Soviet Union and the Rise of Stalin
- In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was created, and would be commonly known as the Soviet Union.
- The economy was nationalized, political opponents were outlawed, and the Communist Party had absolute control over the country.
- Stalin succeeded Lenin and transformed the nation from an agricultural society into a modern industrial superpower, but at a great human cost.
The United States and Capitalism
- The United States saw flaws in capitalism, including price fixing and protectionism, and President Woodrow Wilson attempted to fix them.
- The League of Nations was created to deter aggressors and prevent the outbreak of another war, but it failed to stop fascist regimes in Italy, Germany, and Japan.
- The Great Depression hit the world economy, and the League of Nations failed to address it.
World War II and the Alliance Between the Soviet Union and the United States
- The Soviet Union allied with the United States and the United Kingdom during World War II to fight against the Axis powers.
- The Soviet Union fought a largely defensive war, with the Red Army holding down up to 80% of Germany's divisions until the invasion of Normandy in 1944.
- The United States had a very different experience of the war, with only 400,000 Americans dying, and the economy thriving during the war.
The End of World War II and the Beginning of the Cold War
- As the war drew to a close, both powers sought to increase their own security against future attacks.
- The United Nations was established to deter aggressors and promote collective security.
- The Soviet Union wanted to install pro-Soviet governments across Eastern Europe, while the United States wanted to promote democracy and capitalism.
The Division of Europe and the Beginning of the Cold War
- The Potsdam Conference of 1945 divided Germany into four zones of occupation, with the capital Berlin divided in the same way.
- Stalin's actions in Europe had shown him to be a tyrant, and Harry Truman was less willing to give in to Soviet demands.
- The division of Europe was ensured, as Stalin would not agree to a unified approach.
The Atomic Bomb and the Truman Doctrine
- The United States had successfully tested an atomic bomb, and Truman attempted to intimidate Stalin into giving concessions.
- The Soviet Union knew about the Manhattan Project since the early 1940s, thanks to an extensive spy network within the United States.
- The atomic bomb was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war with Japan, and Truman announced the Truman Doctrine, based on the policy of containment.
The Beginnings of the Cold War
- Attempts at cooperation quickly stopped, and Stalin's actions in Iran and Turkey led to a crisis.
- Truman sent the American Sixth Fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean as a warning, and Stalin backed down.
- The Cold War had begun, with the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a struggle for ideological influence and power.
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Description
Explore the historical context of the Cold War, its ideological roots, and the global proxy wars that shaped the world. Learn about the rise of communism and its impact on world politics.
