The Cold War

1
The Cold War

• What was the Cold War? Ideological struggle
  between the US-led West and Soviet Union-led East
  from 1945 to about 1990
• Key issues Who was responsible for the start of
  the Cold War? What were the major events? Did
  the West win the Cold War? How?

2
The Atomic Bomb and the Origin of the Cold War

• US chose to use the bomb not only to end the war
  in Japan, but also to prevent Soviet role in
  occupation and to make them more manageable.
• Soviet suspicion of American monopoly
• Nuclear arms race heightened ideological distrust

3
Contrasting Interpretations on the Origins of the
Cold War

• Official School American government had no
  choice but to stand firm to a dictator, Joseph
  Stalin, who was ruthless at home and expansionist
  abroad
• Revisionist School The US was bent on expansion
  as well, esp. economically, while the Soviets
  were concerned for their security

4
Major Events of the Cold War before the Vietnam
War

• United Nations,1945
• Containment, 1946-1947
• Marshall Plan, 1947
• Berlin Blockade, 1948
• NATO, 1949
• First Soviet A-bomb, 1949
• Chinese Communist Revolution, 1949
• Korean War, 1950-1953

5
Impact at Home

• McCarthyism Anti-communism and reckless
  accusations
• Loyalty oath War hysteria spies, the
  Rosenbergs HUAC political conservatism and
  social conformity neglect of racism, poverty,
  womens discontent