1945–1991 | USA vs USSR

WHAT WAS THE COLD WAR?

Cold War

• A long period of tension and competition between the USA and USSR.
• It began after World War II and lasted from 1945 to 1991.
• The USA supported capitalism and liberal democracy.
• The USSR supported communism.
• They did not fight a direct full-scale war against each other.
• Instead, they competed through weapons, alliances, economic influence, technology, propaganda and support for other countries.

Two Blocs

USA + allies → Western Bloc
USSR + allies → Eastern Bloc

1945: WORLD WAR II ENDS

From Allies to Rivals

• The USA and USSR fought together against Nazi Germany during World War II.
• After the war, their different political and economic ideas created tension.
• The USSR increased its influence in Eastern Europe.
• The USA became concerned about the spread of communism.
• The former allies gradually became rivals.

1947: TRUMAN DOCTRINE & MARSHALL PLAN

The Rivalry Grows

Truman Doctrine

• The USA promised support to countries facing communist pressure.
• It was part of the US effort to stop the spread of communism.

Marshall Plan

• The USA provided economic help to rebuild Europe after World War II.
• It also helped strengthen Western European economies.

Result

• The division between the USA-led West and USSR-led East became clearer.

1949: NATO IS FORMED

Western Military Alliance

• NATO was formed in 1949 by the USA and several Western countries.
• Its main purpose was collective defence.
• Members agreed to support each other if one member was attacked.
• This strengthened the Western side during the Cold War.

1950–1953: KOREAN WAR

Cold War Spreads

• The Korean War began in 1950 when North Korea attacked South Korea.
• North Korea was supported by communist powers.
• South Korea was supported by the USA and its allies.
• The war ended in 1953, with Korea still divided into North and South Korea.
• It showed that Cold War tensions could lead to conflicts outside Europe.

1961: BERLIN WALL

A City Divided

• After World War II, Germany was divided into East and West Germany.
• Berlin was also divided between East and West.
• In 1961, East Germany built the Berlin Wall.
• It stopped people from freely moving from East Berlin to West Berlin.
• The wall became a major symbol of Cold War division.

1962: CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

The World Near Nuclear War

• In 1962, the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, close to the USA.
• The USA demanded that the missiles be removed.
• This created a serious confrontation between the two superpowers.
• The world came very close to nuclear war.
• The crisis was finally resolved through negotiations.

1960s–1980s: COLD WAR GOES GLOBAL

Competition Around the World

• The Cold War spread far beyond Europe.
• The USA and USSR supported different countries and groups in conflicts around the world.

Vietnam War

• The USA supported South Vietnam.
• North Vietnam received support from the USSR and China.
• Vietnam became an important conflict of the Cold War.

1960s–1980s: NUCLEAR ARMS RACE

USA vs USSR

• The USA and USSR built large numbers of nuclear weapons.
• Both sides wanted enough weapons to defend themselves and discourage the other side from attacking.
• This competition became known as the Nuclear Arms Race.
• Both countries had enough weapons to cause massive destruction.
• This created a constant fear of nuclear war.

1960s–1980s: SPACE RACE

Competition in Science & Technology

• The USA and USSR also competed in science, technology and space exploration.
• Both wanted to show their scientific and technological strength.
• This competition became known as the Space Race.
• Major space achievements became an important part of the Cold War rivalry.

1985: GORBACHEV'S REFORMS

Cold War Begins to Change

• By the 1980s, the Soviet Union faced serious economic and political problems.
• In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader.
• He introduced major reforms to change the Soviet system.

Glasnost

• Greater openness in government and society.

Perestroika

• Restructuring and changing the Soviet economic and political system.

1989: BERLIN WALL FALLS

A Major Turning Point

• In 1989, communist governments in several Eastern European countries began to lose power.
• Soviet control over Eastern Europe became much weaker.
• On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell.
• People could move more freely between East and West Berlin.
• Its fall became a major symbol of the weakening Cold War division.

1991: SOVIET UNION DISSOLVES

The Cold War Comes to an End

•  The Soviet Union continued to face serious political and economic problems.
• In December 1991, the Soviet Union officially dissolved.
• Its 15 republics became independent countries.
• The long rivalry between the USA and USSR came to an end.
• This marked the end of the Cold War era.