Post WWII tensions

End of WW2

• The US held control over Western Europe
• The USSR had control of Eastern Europe
• US aimed to promote democratic values in Eastern Europe
• The Yalta Conference occurred right before Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day)

Post-War Tensions and Effects

• The League of Nations was created
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was created to regulate the global economy and prevent depressions and world wars
• Germany was divided into 4 zones at the Potsdam Conference
  • These zones were shared between France, Britain, the Soviet Union, and the US
• Tension arose from the differing values of the occupying powers, where 3 zones had democratic values, and 1 was communist
  • This impacted the USSR, as the democratic zones could influence the USSR
• The USSR was angered by there being 4 powers ruling over one city in Soviet territory.
• Though attempts were made to build stability, conferences highlighted divides between countries with communist and democratic ideologies
• The USSR and US developed the hydrogen bomb
  • It was more powerful than previous bombs

Rise of US and USSR

• Great Britain and France were devastated, despite being on the winning side
  • France was taken over and fled to Britain
• The US and USSR became the top 2 world powers
• Both were strong and desired global leadership
• Ideological conflicts between capitalism and communism, as well as democracy and authoritarianism, emerged

The Iron Curtain

• Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain, delivered the "Iron Curtain Speech"
• One power controlled the east, and another controlled the west which was referred to as the "Iron Curtain"
• This was a division across Europe

The Cold War

• The US and USSR did not engage in physical combat
• Proxy wars were fought
• Satellite states were technically not part of the USSR, but were under its control and influence
• Satellite states were on the eastern bloc, mirroring a western bloc
• Both sides sought more alliances
• The US formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• The USSR formed the Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO)
• Other alliances included SEATO and CENTO
• Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Ghana were countries not part of any alliances
• Non-aligned states consisted of former colonies that had recently gained independence
• Newly aligned states avoided joining alliances to avoid vulnerability
• This created a non-aligned movement

China: The Fall of the Qing Dynasty

• The Qing Dynasty fell in 1911
• Its fall was caused by rebellions, internal and external issues, the Opium Wars, and conflicts between Manchus and Hans
• After its collapse, Sun Yat-sen tried to establish a republic

The May Fourth Movement

• The May Fourth Movement was a protest against the republic
• After Sun Yat-sen's death, Chiang Kai-shek promised democracy but became a totalitarian leader
• Peasants felt unrepresented

Mao Zedong and Civil War

• Mao Zedong gained popularity by addressing the concerns of peasants, advocating for nationalism
• Conflicting visions between Sun Yat-sen and Mao Zedong led to a civil war
• The Chinese Civil War pitted Sun Yat-sen's republic against Mao Zedong's communism
• Mao Zedong gained support through a long march, reaching various villages and cities
• During Japan's invasion of China, the civil war was suspended
• Nationalists and communists united to fight against Japan
• Both sides compromised by expressing they would consider democracy, but only to team up against Japan
• War resumed after Japan lost
• Mao Zedong won, establishing a communist China
  • It had a Stalin-esque mentality

Cultural Revolution

• A cultural revolution started to change Chinese culture
• The leader targeted the youth
• The goal was to eliminate old ideas and culture
• Some youth formed the Red Guard
• The Red Guard carried a "little red book" of the leader's principles and sayings

White Revolution in Iran

• The White Revolution was led by the Shah
• It resulted in land redistribution, women's suffrage, industrial improvements, and land reforms
• Even though Iran was communist, it became more democratic
• The revolution ended in 1978

Desire for Land Reform

• Ethiopia was led by Haile Selassie
• Mengistu Haile Mariam was also located in Ethiopia
• Venezuela and Tanzania also had land reform

Communist Regimes: Ethiopia

• People protested against Haile Selassie and started following Mengistu
• Mengistu established a communist regime through the "red terror"
• Aims were to eliminate opposition and implement a 10-year plan focused on agricultural improvements through collectivization

Communist Regimes: Cambodia

• Cambodia underwent decolonization
• They fought against France for independence
• Pol Pot became the leader
• Agriculture was collectivized
• There was a distinction between "new people" and "base people", with base people being rewarded as supporters
• Lack of medicine, food, and medical assistance led to deaths
• Genocides occurred for disagreeing with Pol Pot's ideas
• Killing fields were created
• Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge with the intention of achieving communism

US vs USSR

• The US aimed to contain communism, despite its spread
• The plan was to contain communism through economic and military policies
• The US gave money to countries, fearing the domino theory
• The US believed that if one more country became communist, they would all turn communist
• The Marshall Plan provided 22 countries with money post-WW2
• The additional money would create strong governments and economies, preventing communist takeover

Post WW2 Tensions

• US started supplying money to gain allies
• The USSR was angered by this
• They forbade satellite states from accepting US money
• American and western allies experienced economic growth
• At the Potsdam Conference, land was divided into 4 quadrants
• Berlin, the capital of Germany, was also intended to be split into 4
• Issues arose because Berlin was in the Soviet side, giving France, the US, and Britain a say in Soviet territory
• Allies created a new currency, angering the USSR
• The Allies' side was prospering, while the Soviet side struggled
• Stalin attempted to weaken the Allies' part of Berlin and set up a blockade
• This prevented access to goods, materials, and energy, so the allies flew in supplies
• More tension occurred
• The Allies consolidated their land, forming West Germany, while the Soviet side became East Germany
• Germany and Berlin were split in half
• West Berlin and East Berlin emerged, and a wall was built to keep people on their sides
• The Berlin Wall became a representation of the Iron Curtain
• Both sides had nuclear weapons
• They had a concept of mutually assured destruction (MAD)
• This kicked off a space and arms race

Korean War (Proxy War)

• Korea used to be occupied by Japan during WW2
• Japan did not have colonies after WW2
• The Soviets occupied the north, and the US occupied the south
• The 38th parallel was created to divide Korea
• Peasants were leaning towards communism
• Communism had more influence on land reform-oriented peasants
• Conservatives saw Japan as a growth opportunity
• Peasants wanted assistance from the USSR because they were communist, resulting in conflict between peasants and conservatives
• Kim II-Sung sought Stalin's support
• On June 25, North Korea launched an attack and captured Seoul

Korean War (cont.)

• US troops were deployed, and the United Nations voted to send aid to South Korea
• South Korea's army was not well-equipped
• The communist advance slowed but did not stop
• South Korea won a battle against North Korea
• Truman feared escalating the war by involving China
• Troops reached the Yalu River, close to China
• China was communist
• China sent troops and pushed allies back to South Korea
• Peace negotiations began, lasting two years
• China, North Korea, and the US signed an agreement, but South Korea refused
• Fighting ended with no resolution and new boundaries drawn

Proxy Wars: Bay of Pigs Crisis

• Fidel Castro nationalized industries and reformed land
• Ties with the US and the West were cut, and ties with the Soviet Union were solidified
• The US attempted to overthrow Castro, but American soldiers were captured
• Castro allied with the USSR, which placed missiles in Cuba
• The US quarantined Cuba and cut off supply lines
• The US and USSR had a direct telephone call

Proxy Wars: Afghanistan

• Towards the end of the Cold War, the USSR sent troops to Afghanistan, attracted by its resources
• Mohammed Daoud launched a coup, placing communist leaders in charge
• The US launched a coup and the USSR interfered
• President Carter was in power
• Afghanistan weakened the USSR, contributing to its fall
• 10 years before the USSR left the Taliban seized control, aiming to eliminate US and USSR influence
• Resistance formed

Attempts to Reduce Tensions

• The Test-Ban Treaty banned testing new weapons
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty existed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons
• There was a rise in anti-nuclear war movements

Decolonization: India

• WW2 weakened many countries, so they couldn't control their colonies
• India sought independence from British rule
• The British passed the Rowlatt Acts, allowing officers to imprison protesters without trial
• The Amritsar Massacre occurred
• Gandhi rose to prominence
• Non-cooperation and civil disobedience strategies were used
• The Swadeshi policy encouraged people to make their own goods which took away from the British
• The Salt March was conducted
  • Gandhi marched 241 miles to make salt, attracting millions
• The British government began negotiations with Gandhi
• India was not granted independence yet, and WW2 put the revolution on hold
• Britain was physically exhausted, enabling India to gain independence
• Religious issues persisted even after independence
• India was partitioned

Decolonization: Ghana

• Nkrumah advocated Pan-Africanism after gaining independence
• There was a coup
  • It was caused by independence from Great Britain
  • It resulted in dictatorship, coups, and Pan-Africanism

Decolonization: Rwanda

• The two main ethnic groups in Rwanda were the Hutus and Tutsis
• It was a German colony
• In 1918, German colonies were taken away due to the Treaty of Versailles
• A mandate system was used
• Rwanda became a mandate under European oversight
• Belgium took charge of Rwanda
• Belgium favored the Tutsis because of their lighter skin, causing anger among the Hutus
• The Hutu Revolution occurred in 1959
• Belgium granted Rwanda independence
• Rwanda was freed as a result of the Hutu rebellion.
• Tutsis remained, leading to an unstable government
• Tension existed between the two groups
• A Tutsi leader took charge
• Tutsis aimed to return to Rwanda
• As soon as they returned, the Hutu revolted again, causing a massacre
• Extremists dehumanized Tutsis through radio messages
• The United Nations did nothing to help; they did not evacuate the Tutsis

Decolonization: Algeria

• It used to be a French colony
• France loved Algeria
• France attempted to make Algeria as French as possible
• Many French people moved there
• Most didn't like them living there
• The FLN fought for independence violently
• The revolution led the president to agree to their independence
• The government was unstable
• It led to a civil war
• They wanted to get rid of the French

LEQ Notes

• It's important to have context, a thesis, evidence that ties back to the thesis, historical reasoning skills, and complexity

Newly Independent States

• Examples of newly independent countries formed from decolonization are Laos, Cambodia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Ghana

Israel/Palestine

• Great Britain had a mandate for Palestine and oversaw it
• A declaration stated Palestine was for Jewish people, ensuring other religions would not be persecuted
• Arabs in the region were angered by the declaration
• They felt the British promised Arabs independence
• The British promised the same land to two groups
• Arabs and Jews lived in one region which created tension
• The Holocaust led Jews to seek refuge in their homeland
• Britain was losing its grip on colonies
• India had just gained independence from Britain
• The land was given to the UN
• The UN created a plan for partition, creating an Arab and Jewish state
• Arabs wanted more land because they severely outnumbered Jews in the region
• Arabs revolted
• Land disputes arose between Arabs and Jews
• Israel had stronger forces and took over land in other locations
• Issues were discussed at Camp David Accords
• The land was partitioned once more
• Palestine's geography was spread out and they could barely communicate between Arabs
• The distance caused two different governments to rise up
• Hamas rose up and ruled the Gaza Strip