The End of the Cold War

1
The End of the Cold War

• The Collapse of the
• Soviet Union

2
USSR versus USA

• United Soviet Socialist Republic
• Following WWII, the world fell into three
  categories
• Countries favorable to NATO
• Countries favorable to the Warsaw Pact
• Neutral or undecided countries
• USSR tried to spread into the undecided nations
• The USA tried to stop them
• Containment Policy

3
USSR/USA Lose Influence

• Over time, the neutrals became more powerful
• Western Europe grew under the Marshall Plan
• Japan grew under US money for rebuilding
• Oil in the Middle East gave those countries more
  influence in world affairs
• Used their influence to resist superpowers
  (USA/USSR)
• The Soviet economy struggled under massive
  military spending

4
The Superpowers are Challenged
USSR
USA

• Revolt in Czech. almost removed them from Warsaw
  Pact (1960s)
• China started friendly relations with the US
  (1970s)
• Solidarity Movement in Poland tried to change the
  communist govt (1980s)
• Soviets invaded Afghanistan to maintain power
  (1980s USSR lost)

• Cuba became communist (1959)
• US sent troops (1960s) to Dominican Republic to
  stop Cuban-style revolt
• Lost the war in Vietnam (1975)
• Participated in Lebanese Civil War (1980s)

5
1970s Attempts at Peace

• Détente relaxing of tensions
• US/USSR began to have Détente talks (Nixon)
• Small economic ties were built between them
• Entered into SALT talks
• Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
• Limited types of nuclear weapons
• US Congress did not accept agreements
• SALT agreements failed (SALT II more successful)
• US/USSR continued to have indirect conflicts in
  Middle East, South America, South Asia

6
1980s - Cold War Heats Up Again

• Ronald Reagan vowed to increase military spending
• Stop communism everywhere
• Called the USSR the Evil Empire (Star Wars)
• Placed missiles in Western Germany (6 min. from
  Moscow)
• Spent 2.2 trillion over 8 years
• Created massive debt
• Continued to send troops around the world civil
  wars

7
Soviet Collapse 1980s

• Economy failed under massive military spending
• Money not being spent to improve living
  conditions
• Could not keep up in arms race
• Mikhail Gorbachev tried to spend less on military
• Spend more on people at home
• Gorbachev said USSR would not intervene in E.
  Europe
• Many E. Eur. Countries began changing govts

8
The Cold War Ends

• USSR lost influence over Warsaw Pact Allies
• No longer spent money on military
• Dec. 1989 Mikhail Gorbachev and George HW Bush
  announced the end of the Cold War
• Feb. 1990 Communists no longer in control of
  the USSR
• USSR fractured into 15 different nations
• (Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine, etc.)
• Currently the US and Russia are considered Allies