History Pre-Bac PDF

# History Pre-Bac ## Theme 5: China after 1949 ### Key Terms - Foundation of the People's R. of C - Communism - Nationalism - Civil War - Mao Zedong - Planned economy - Maoism - Mass mobilization - Great Leap Forward - Cultural Revolution - Chinese involvement - In Korea + Vietnam Wars - P...

# History Pre-Bac ## Theme 5: China after 1949 ### Key Terms - Foundation of the People's R. of C - Communism - Nationalism - Civil War - Mao Zedong - Planned economy - Maoism - Mass mobilization - Great Leap Forward - Cultural Revolution - Chinese involvement - In Korea + Vietnam Wars - Ping-Pong Diplomacy - Little Red Book ### Essays - Main challenges CP faced in the process of taking power in 1949 - Define Maoism and compare with Stalinism (ideological, political structures, economic choices) ## 1. Chinese Revolution ### Background + Context - Century of foreign influence - Political instability - Regional factions, warlords - Poverty and inequality - Japanese control - WWII ### Sun Yat-Sen (Socialism) - Leader of the KMT and first president of Roc - KMT aimed to unify and modernize China under Sun Yat-Sen's leadership. - 19th century of humiliation - Xinhai Revolution and Chinese Republic 1911-28 - 1912: Chinese republic is established after the Xinhai Revolution under the leadership of the Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang (KMT or GMD) ## CCP (Russian CP helped with the creation) - In 1921, revolutionaries inspired by the Russian revolution formed the CP of China - KMT dived into many factions - left + right (nationalist) - Ideological similarity between Left KMT and CP - **Breakdown of the alliance created in 1923 KMT+CCP** - 1927 the new leader Chiang Kai Chek broke it as he allied with the landlords as they agreed to fight the communist - CCP sought for peasant support ## Japanese Occupation - Officially in War with China 1937 - KMT + CCP united to fight Japan - KMT containing communism, strengthened their influence in the countryside, effective land reforms - WWII CCP gained popularity, yielding fight against Japanese, supported anti-Japanese practices - After WW2 - USSR assisted the CCP in claiming Manchuria ## Civil War - 1946-49 - 1945, Chiang Kai-Shek (KMT) and Mao Zedong (CCP) attempt for a coalition gov, but mistrust + failed negotiations new conflict 1946. - 1947-49 CCP superior organization, grassroots support and access to Japanese weapons - victory. ### Weaknesses of the KMT - Prioritized landlords and city elites. - Lack of popular reforms - Authoritarian policies (dictatorship) - Heavy taxes, debts, poor economy - Gov. officials corrupt and ineffective - Repression of protests from students, intellectuals, workers - Resources were diverted to the civil war instead of addressing eco problems, like food shortages, inflation, unemployment ### Strengths of the Communists - Effective use of resources - Unified + disciplined military - Moral and ideological commitment of leaders and fighters - Peasant support through land reforms ### Foundation of the People's Republic of China - After the victory of the Civil War 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed it. - Nationalists retreated to Taiwan, establishing a rival Republic of C. ## Maoism - **Socialism = abolition of private property** - Means of production in the hands of the workers - **Is opposed to the Soviet Union system which he called "state capitalism"** - **"Mass line"** = ideas gathered from the masses processed by the CCP and transformed into laws, regulations - law + regulations transferred back and implemented by the masses - Communist Revolution = rural revolution - No need to force massive urban industrialization on China. - **Abolition of urban/rural divide** - Capitalist oppression of the countryside ends. ## Origins of Great Leap Forward - Initiated by Mao in 1958 (second 5-year plan) - Aimed to transform China from agrarian economy into a socialist industrialized society through rapid industrialization and collectivization, but also a desaster on a massive scale) Mao messed up. ### Goals 1. **Agricultural Collectivization** - Farmers were organized into large scale people's communes, where land, tools and labour were shared collectively. - Communes controlled daily life, including work, food distribution and child-rearing. 2. **Industrialization** - Focused on increasing steel production - goal was to rival SU and even surpass GB - Encouraged the establishment of backyard furnaces in communes and villages to boost local steel production ### Targets - Unrealistic production targets were set for both agricultural and industry. - Emphasis was placed on achieving “superhuman” productivity through collective effort. ### Outcome 1. **Economic Disaster** - Steel production efforts failed as most of the steel produced in backyard furnaces was poor quality and unusable. - Agricultural policies, including misreported yields and over-planning, disrupted farming practices. 2. **Famine** - The combination of poor planning, unrealistic quotas and bad weather led to widespread crop failure - The Great Chinese Famine (1959-61) resulted causing the deaths of an estimated 15-45 million people. 3. **Social Disruption** - Traditional family structures and local governance was dismantled within the communes. - Forced labor and lack of personal autonomy created widespread resentment. 4. **Political fallout** - Mao’s leadership was criticized internally within the CCP leading to a temporary decline in his influence. - The failure of the Great Leap Forward contributed to Mao initiating the Cultural Revolution to regain authority (1966-76) ## Essay 1 ### Military Opposition - Leader Chiang Kai-Shek - The CCP had to defeat the KMT, who were in charge of China - two parties fought long against each other in the Civil War 1927-49 - KMT had better weapons and support from powerful countries like the US particularly during WW2 - Problems inside the CCP - Lack of resources at first - (Not many weapons, food, money), relied on guerrilla war fare to fight - Internal debates over strategy, mostly between Mao Zedong and other leaders - Economic Instability - Widespread poverty, famine and inflation plagued China during this period. - CCP had to adress these issues to gain legitimacy and demonstrate the viability of its governance ### Geopolitical context - **Japanese invasion:** CCP and KMT had to work together to fight them. - **Cold War:** After WWll, the world was divided between the US and the Soviet Union. - The CCP was supported by the USSR, but the US helped the KMT, which added international pressure on the conflict. ### Challenges - **Fighting worlords** - **Winning support from the People:** - Farmers: most of China’s population were poor farmers, the CCP promised to give them land and help them, but it wasn’t easy to keep this promise in areas controlled by the KMT or warlords. - **Overcoming:** - Effective guerrilla warfare. - Strong grassroots mobilization. - Exploitation of KMT weaknesses ## Essay 2 ### Define Maoism 1. **Revolution by Peasants:** Maoism says that peasants are the main force of the revolution because China was mostly rural, didn’t focus on urban workers. 2. **Guerilla Warfare:** Mao believed in using small, mobile armies to fight larger enemies. 3. **Continuous Revolution:** Maoism says that the revolution doesn’t stop after taking power - society must keep changing to avoid corruption and inequality. 4. **Self-Reliance:** He emphasized that China should rely on its own resources and people. ### Define Stalinism 1. **State control.** Stalin believed in a strong central gov. controlling the economy, industry and resources 2. **Industrialization.** A key goal was to quickly modernize the Soviet Union through big projects, focus on factories and heavy industry 3. **Collectivization.** Stalin forced farmers to work on large, gov.-run farms, which caused famine and hardships. 4. **Repression.** He used violence, purges and secret police to control opposition and keep power | | Maoism | Stalinism | |----------|-------------------|--------------------| | Focus of Revol | Focused on peasants in rural areas | Focused on urban workers and ind. cities | | Economy | Supported small-scale farming and self-reliance | Focused on heavy industry and centralized farms | | Method of Control | Used propaganda and Campaigns like the Hundred Flowers Campaign | Used purges, secret police, strict censorship | | Forgein Relations | Wanted China to be independent from foreign powers | Tried to spread communism globally through influence and control | | Violence | Encouraged struggles, but focused more on ideology over mass killing | Used widespread violence, purges, and fear to maintain control | ## Min. of points just facts hehe - **Cultural Revolution # Mao tries again** - Mao’s uprising against his own party + renew the cultural values of the Chinese nation. - Directed against intellectual + bourgeois elements. - Used the mass of people to his service, because he wanted to reassert his power and control over CP - physical violence was used and 1-2 million deaths ### Causes - Mao’s drive to reassert power after the 6LF disaster where many died of famine and he lost credibility. - Continue the revolution. - Mao’s encouragement of masses and purge "Counter-revolutionary elements" ### 3 Phases 1. 1966-1968 - People were encouraged to rebel against party leaders or individuals which are being suspected of being Counter-revolutionaries. - Formation of the Red Guards (paramilitary group) - “It is right to rebel” attacked anything they considered a threat to Mao or his ideology. - Red Guards destroyed the 4 Olds (historical, cultural, religious sites). - Workers joined the mass movement. - Universities and schools were closed. 2. 1968-1971 - After the violence spiraled out of control. - Mao took over the movement. - He ordered PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) to restore order - severe crack down on Red Guards - Continued purges of the CCP - Urban youths sent to reeducation in rural areas 3. 1971-1976 - Down to the countryside movement - Certain privileged "urban youth were forced out of the cities and exiled to remote areas to learn from farmers and workers there. - Relatively calm and stability (implementing ideological dogma in schools). - 10% of the urban population was relocated (117 million youths) - usually the oldest had to go. - Many lost the opportunity to attend university. - Influence of the Gang of Four in the CCP. - Moderates accepted Mao as he created new policies for eco development, open attitude towards science, and investments. ### Importance of Propaganda - Mao published the little Red Book which contains hundreds of his quotations. - Political + ethical guidebook. - Mandatory to carry around during C. Revolution. - Red guards checked if people carried it - Used as soft power. - Mao Cult intensified during C.R. - Everywhere his face appeared) - Political genius, guardian of his people, benevolent leader - Power of Mao over party + country. ## Self Made Timeline - KMT leader: Chiang Kai-shek - 1937-45 - Japanese invade China; CCP + KMT all. - Yun Han-sen - WWII - 1945 - End of WWII - Tension between KMT + CCP resume - 1946-1949 - Chinese Civil War - 1949 - People’s Republic of China - Established by the CCP, Mao Zedeng - 1958-62 - Great Leap Forward - Rapidly industrialize - 1966-76 - Cultural Revolution ## Theme 4: Socio-eco + socio-cultural evolution ### Key Terms - Welfare State - Glorious Thirty - Consumer Society - **Beginning of environmentalism?** - May 68 - **Massimmigration in Europe?** - Tertiarization - `Changes in social situation of woman` - Feminism - **Sexual revolution?** ### Essays a) Present the radical changes associated with eco. growth in post-war Europe b) Highlight the main socio-cultural developments from 1945-73 c) Highlight differences between Eastern and Western Europe after 1945 ## Creating social seurity ### East - Shared flats - uniform - Planned housing emphasizing equality - State-founded health care - goal classless society. - Free day care - Free education (equal accees) - Difficult to travel esp. beyond the iron curtain. - No paid holidays. - Totalitarian - Focused on Reavy industry - Food shortages persisted. - Privileged class = nomenklatura - Gender equality. ### West - Individual houses - encouraged ind. to buy their own house - lesser level of equality - Boom of pharma industry - health - Health access dependent on private companies. - Higher quality of life - Major drop in infant mortality. - Rise of consumerism (clothing, baby cases, furniture...) - Gendered workplace - Mass tourism (car, bus, plane...) - Paid holidays - Production 7 by 5% per year 1945-73 (cheap energy) - **Welfare state:** protect the individual and transferred wealth to the poorest through health insurance, pensions, unemployment benefits, ensuring equal opportunity through education. - Difficult achieving equal quality. - Unemployment + poverty persisted ## Post War Economic Boom - Germany: Wirtschaftswunder - France: The Glorious Thirty ### Main Factors - Combination of aid, stability, modernization and optimism. - European integration and industrial growth reshaped Europe’s economy. ### Cold War and US Influence - Cold War tensions promoted US support for a strong Europe. - Military spending and defense industries boosted employment. - US military bases and contracts created stability ### Marshall Plan and Infrastructure Investment - $13 billion in Us aid to rebuild European economies. - Investments in infrastructure, agriculture and modernization - Restored energy, transportation and manufacturing facilities. ### Technological and Industrial Modernization - Adaption of US production techniques increased efficiency - Modernized sectors: steel, automobiles, electronics. - Agricultural mechanization ↑ productivity. ### Political stability and security - Nato and US security commitments ensured stability. - Contained communist influence, promoting capitalism. - Encouraged domestic and foreign investment. ## European Integration and Trade Expansion - Formation of European Economic Community (EEC) - Free trade and a common market reduced barriers. - Increased economic interdependence among nations. - Consumer boom and credit access - Growing middle class with higher wages - Expansion of consumer credit boosted spending. - Demand for consumer goods like cars and appliances. - Popular growth and labor force expansion - Postwar baby boom increased workforce by the 1960’s. - Higher workforce participation, including woman. - Boosted production capacity and consumer power. - Cheap and stable energy supplies - Stable oil prices kept energy cost low. - Cheap energy supported industries and consumer affordability. - Promoted expansion in manufacturing and transportation. - Keynesian Policies and Social Programs - Governments spent on welfare, infrastructure and public goods. - Investments in education and vocational training - Support for social stability and a reliable consumer base. ### Definition Keynesian Policies - Gov. should demand to boost growth - Consumer demand is the primary driving force in an economy. - Main tools are gov. spending on infrastructure, unemployment benefits and education ## Welfare State - Type of governing in which the national gov. plays a key role in the protection and promotion of eco. and social well-being of its citizens. - Examples: state c., retirement programs. ### Definition Consumerism - A social and economic order in which the goal of many individuals includes the acquisition of goods and services beyond those that are necessary for survival of for traditional displays of status. ### Commonwealth - Organization that unites the UK and its former colonies with privileged eco. and cultural ties. ### Extra Info - Glorious 30 - How does it reflect the eco. boom? - Freedom with owning a car (traveling) affordable for middle class. - Consumerism = modernization of consumer goods. - Optimism, relaxation, having paid holidays. - How does it reflect a very traditional type of society? - Nuclear family: not living with grandp. and only having 1-2 children. - Gender roles. - Ownership = happiness ! - Message of this time: - Optimistic - Economy + society is doing well. - Financial stability - happy marriage. - Aspirational make the viewer want that life - It creates a model - stereotype ## May 68 - A massive student protest and worker strikes, challenging traditional norms, authoritarianism and consumerism. - Over 10 million workers joined, paralyzing the economy. - While short-term gains include wage ↑, its lasting impact was a cultural and political, inspiring social movements across Europe and it became a symbol of youth rebellion and the demand for transformative change. ### 1. Post-War Reconstruction and Welfare State Expansion - Economic Importance: After the devastation of WWII, rebuilding was critical. The Marshall Plan provided a significant boost to Western Europe’s economy, helping nations like France, Germany, and the UK recover quickly. - Social Impact: The expansion of welfare states fundamentally transformed society. Universal healthcare, free education, and social safety nets addressed inequality and improved living conditions, particularly for the working and middle classes. ### 2. Cultural Revolution and Social Movements - Widespread Protests: The late 1960s, particularly the revolutionary year of 1968, marked a wave of student-led protests across Europe (e.g., Paris, Prague, and Berlin). These protests demanded more democracy, greater freedom, and less authoritarianism - Second-Wave Feminism: The feminist movement was especially active during this time, leading to legal reforms and changes in societal attitudes toward women. ## Theme 2: Division and construction of Europe (not that important topic) ### Key Terms - Federalism - Sovereignty - Supranationalism - Hague Conference - Council of Europe - ECSC - Treaty of Rom? - European Defense Community - Schuman declaration - Maastricht Treaty - Common Agricultural Policy ### Essays: a) Compare the different options for rebuilding Europe after 1945 - Marshall Plan, European Integration b) Evaluate the favorable factors and obstacles to European cooperation after 1945 c) Identify and explain the different stages of enlargement and deepening of the E. communities ### Favorable Factors + Obstacles 1. **Shared Desire for Peace and Stability** - After 2 devastating wars in less than 3 decades; there was a strong motivation to create structures that would promote peace. - They wanted also to integrate Germany to reduce the risk of aggression while supporting eco recovery. 2. **National Sovereignty Concerns** - Countries were wary of surrendering their sovereignty to supranational institutions, fearing a loss of control over their domestic and foreign policies. - UK = choosing to stay out of early integration. 3. **Lingering Hostilities and Distrust** - Historical rivalries between France and Germany created resistance to cooperation (suspicion + humiliation) 4. **Diverging Economic Conditions and Priorities** - Countries were in different stages of economic recovery and varying industrial capacities (different needs). - Differences in eco. systems 5. **Complexities of Economic Integration** - Integrating different economies posed challenges. - Removal of trade barriers, customs duties, harmonization of policies (difficult). - Fears integration could lead to job losses in certain sectors or a shift in eco. power. 6. **Economic Necessity and Reconstruction Needs** - E. economies were destroyed (inc. infrastructure, ind. sectors). - The Marshall Plan provided US eco. aid and encouraged cooperation among nations as a condition of receiving funds. - Helped the economy, having stabilized currency, helped lay foundation for future collaboration (ex: DEE) 7. **Common Threat of the Soviet Expansionism** - Fear united W. European countries - pushing them toward cooperation to contain the Soviet influence. - Nato (1950) - military cooperation. 8. **Support for European Integration Ideals** - Visionary leaders promoted the idea that deeper economic and political ties make countries interdependent - less likely to engage war / Schuman Dec. - ECSC 9. **Growing Popular Support for a United Europe** ### Random Notes from different papers nothing on ppl - Milestones in European Construction 1945-73 - 1948, International Congress of Europe in Hague. - Two different ideological trends emerged. - Most of the trade union activists (Fr., It.) took the federalist line. - Unionists, advocating the intergovernmental line (Br., Scand.) - Governments of the European states agreed on having a Consulative Assembly appointed by the national parliaments + Committee of Ministers (decisions taken unanimously + has the final say) - 1949: ten states signed the Statute of the Council of Europe. - **The Economic and Social Committee** wanted abolition of trade quotas, currency convertibility, resource planning, labour mobility, coordination of economic policies, promotion of full employment - European Assembly elected by universal suffrage. - European Centre for Culture (EEC), College of Europe, European Convention on Human Rights. ### *Hague Conference* - Permanent headquarters in Strasbourg, a city that had been fought over by Germany + France - Invited Adenaur, ready to make compromises. - Trade union activists took the federalist line. - Unionist advocate the intergovernmental line. - They took elements of federalism and unionism to create a hybrid system. ### *Council of Europe* - Abolition of trade quotas. - Eco. coordination. - Fundamental citizens right + a court. - Labor mobility and employment - Creation of European Assembly ## *Schuman Declaration 1950* - Proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community. - ECSC goals - `Help Africa to develop` - Maintenance of peaceful relations - Create a de facto solidarity. - Eco. development, raising living standards - War would be materially impossible, because of the independence of both countries economically - Key resources of industrialization + war industry - Eco. interdependence collaboration ### ECSC - Led to further European construction. - Eco: Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority - Polit: Composed of independent people appointed by gov - equal representation - Measures will be taken who do something against the Authority - By compromise and starting eco. cooperation, political European construct will be possible, starting with eco. issues not politic. ### Supranationalism - Power at a level above the boundaries of the nation state; having authority or power that is greater than that of single countries ### Federalism - Is a system of gov. in which states unite up some of their powers to a central authority. ### Intergovernmentalism - (Cooperation / Unionism) prioritizes national sovereignty where member states collaborate on common goals but remain ultimate authority and veto power over significant decisions. ## European Defence Community - Why necessary? - Cold War: outbreak of the Korean War (threat of communism) - US support of remilitarisation of Germany. - Why fail? - **(France Vetoed)** - France feared about West Germany’s remilitarisation and lose of sovereignty. Communists also opposed to be tied to the capitalist US. - Justified? - War wasn't over since a long time. - Concerns about national sovereignty. - Fears about West 6. remilitarization. - Concerns about absence of UK from program. - Opposition of Communists - Why Uk didn’t want to join in the beginning the EEC. - Dislike of the supranational elements in the treaties. - Worried about damaging links with Commonwealth countries. - Demanded a lot of exemptions. - Commonwealth countries expressed opposition (Canada, New Zealand) - Bad for the UK after they joined later. - Accept many elements controversial among some British uchers. ## For Essay 3 The evolution of the European Communities (which later became the European Union) involved enlargement (adding new member states) and deepening (increasing the scope and integration of shared policies). These processes occurred in distinct stages, each marked by significant treaties, agreements, and challenges. ### 1. Foundation and Early Development (1951-1957) - Enlargement: Founding members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, West Germany. - Deepening: The creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (1951): Established a common market for coal and steel, reducing the risk of war by pooling these industries. - The Treaties of Rome (1957): Established the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community), promoting economic integration and the free movement of goods, services, labor, and capital. ### 2. First Enlargement (1973) - Enlargement: New members: Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom. - Deepening: Strengthened institutions and policies within the EEC. - Expansion of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). - Challenges: Economic instability from the 1970s oil crisis. - The UK’s skepticism about integration, leading to renegotiations of its membership terms. ### 3. Southern Enlargement (1981–1986) - Enlargement: New members: Greece (1981), Spain, and Portugal (1986). - These additions reflected the Eu’s role in consolidating democracy in Southern Europe after periods of authoritarian rule. - Deepening: The Single European Act (1986): - Strengthened the European Parliament's role in economic integration and improving decision–making within the EU. - Challenges: Economic disparities between wealthier northern and poorer southern member states. ### 4. Northern Enlargement and Maastricht Treaty (1995) - Enlargement: New members: Austria, Finland, Sweden. - These countries joined a more cohesive and integrated European Union. - Deepening: Maastricht Treaty (1993): Transformed the European Communities into the European Union. - Established Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and a single currency (the euro). - Introduced EU citizenships, enhancing individual rights and freedoms. ### European Union 1993 - Necessary? - Yes, because unification or collapse of Europe. - After 2 WW in the span of a single generation - Defend themselves + peace + avoid war between countries + one country can’t overpower other countries - Benefits? - Small nations count as much as larger ones - European family - Spiritually great France and Germany - Balance of power ## European Construction timeline - 1948 - Marshall Plan - 1949 - Council of Europe - 1951 - Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) - 1957 - Treaty of Rome -⇒ European Economic Community (EEC) - 1962 - Common Agricultural Policy - 1963 - European Communities (EC) - 1983 - First enlargement of the ## Theme 1: Cold War 1945-73 ### Key Terms part 1: - Capitalism / Communism - Market economy / Planned economy - Iron Curtain - Truman Doctrine - Proxy War - Space Race - Containment - Marshall Plan - Two Camps Theory - Popular democracies - Berlin blockade - NATO - Warsaw Pact - MAD ### Part 2: - Peaceful coexistence - Détente - Korean War - Vietnam War - Berlin Wall - Cuban Missile Crises - Prague Spring ### Timeline - 1945 - Yalta Conference - UN foundation - 1947 - Truman Doctrine - 1948 - Berlin Blockade - 1949 - NATO - 1950 - Korean War starts - - 1953 - Stalin dies - 1955 - Wars on Pact - 1956 - Berlin Wall - 1957 - Cuban Missle Crises - 1962 - Peaceful Coexistence - 1964 - Vietnam War - 1968 - Prague Spring - - 1975 - Space Race ### Essays: a) Evaluate the role and responsibility of the USA, the USSR and European countries in the bipolarization of the world b) Causes and Consequences of the Cold War c) Proitize events of the Cold War and justify pivotal role some of them played ## * Cuban Missle Crisis 1962 - Before 1959: - US is very close to Cuba, holiday destination for Americans. - US owned most of the businesses - Cuban eco. is under US control until Fidel Castro the communist became leader - 1959: US and Cuba after 1959 - Bay of Pigs invasion 1961 - Close relationship to Soviet Union → Castro nationalized US owned businesses. - US imposed eco. sanctions on Cuba = prohibits US businesses from trading with Cuba. - USSR why put missiles? - US put missiles in Turkey and Italy capable of reaching to Soviet Union + Castro asked - Justified? - Revenge, protect communist regime, trap the US - "Tread the US" - get upper hand in the arms race. ### Key Definitions missing - **Détente** - period when tensions or conflicts between countries become less intense (improve their relations). - Peaceful talks, agreements or compromises - Ex: US and USSR had a period of détente in 1970s - worked together on agreements to limit the number of nuclear weapons and reduce the risk of war (Nixon, Brezhev) - **Peaceful Coexistence** - Cold War strategy and ideology, primarily advocated by the Soviet Union during the 1950s–1960s under Khrushchev. - Proposed that communist and capitalist nations could coexist without direct military confrontation, even though they were rivals (Cuban Missle Crises) ## Popular democracy - "The USSR called itself claiming to represent the working class under one-party communist system / Party controlled all aspects of life - centralized economy, suppression of dissent, global influence. ## Proxy War - Conflict where two or more major powers support opposing sides but do not engage in direct combat with each other. - They back other countries, groups to fight on their behalf - Avoid direct confrontation, especially between nuclear powers. - Examples: Korean War, Vietnam War. ## Space Race - Period of intense competition between the US and USSR during the Cold War to achieve dominance in space exploration + technology - demonstrated the rivalry between two different economic systems + ideology. - Key Milestones - Sputnik 1: First satellite launched by the USSR (start of the S.R) - Yuri Gagarin: Soviet astronaut became the first human in space. - Apollo 11: The US landed the first humans on the moon -> significant victory in the S.R. ## Prague Spring - Was a period of political liberalization and reform in Czechoslovakia during 1968 - Dubček, leading to: - Political Reforms, economic changes, reduction in censorship, civic rights - January he initiated reforms - August USSR feared they would weaken communist control → invaded to suppress reforms ## Vietnam War ### Background - Vietnam had been a French colony since the 1860s. - WWII Japanese invaded and occupied it. - Nationalist group led by Minh declared independence from France. - French refused to leave - war against Minh until 1954 (French Indochina War) - US supported the French (ne free elections; fear of communism) - Minh defeated the French 1954 - Geneva Accord - Vietnam into 2 (17th parallel), North - Ho Chi Minh / South - Diem (puppet) ### Beginning of guerrilla war, 1957 - Viet Cong started a guerrilla war against Diem regime. - US (Truman + Eisenhower) sent military aid to the Diem regime, refused to send troops. - Diem regime lost support - dictatorship (no Buddhism) → murdered in 1963. - US sends troops: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 1964 (Lyden Johnson) - China and USSR supported North Vietnam. - **Tet Offensive, 1968:** During Tet Holiday, the N. Vietnamese attacked 30 S.V. cities. - Massive casualties; loss of support for the war in the US - Americans committed atrocities - burning villages, killing civilians, use of napalm to destroy forests Viet Cong was hiding - My Lai Massacre killing unarmed civilians by US troops. - 1968 peace talks begin and 1969 begins to remove troops from Vietnam. - Paris Accord: peace agreement - US gives money to S. Vietnam until 74 → 75 attack 76 - S. and N. Vietnam Combined.