The Cold War

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The Cold War

• Causes and Consequences

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What is the Cold War?

• Lasts from 1946 1991
• A period of tension and hostility between the USA
  and its Allies versus the USSR and its Allies.
• During this period, the USA and USSR never fought
  directly against each other.
• However, they were violent conflicts involving
  other Nations (Korean War, Vietnam War, Afghan
  War)
• Both side engaged in espionage (spying) and a
  massive arms race developed

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Long Term Causes

• The North America and Western Europe have been
  opposed to Communist rule in Russia since the
  beginning
• The USSR was treated like and outcast (denied
  entry in the League of Nations)
• Communism calls for violent revolution (the USSR
  was accused of sending agents to other countries
  during the depression to destroy western
  governments)
• Clearly before WWII, the USA (along with Canada
  and Europe) and USSR were enemies

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Short Term Causes

• During WWII, the USA and USSR were allies of
  convenience
• However, when the war ended, both sides had very
  different ideas on how Europe should be re-built
• The USSR wanted to destroy Germany completely,
  take territory, and protect itself from future
  attacks by creating a buffer zone (Basically,
  they wanted communist governments in countries
  along their border)
• The USA wanted Free Elections in liberated
  countries, rebuild Europe and help Germany become
  a prosperous and responsible country
• At first, both sides argued but soon
  communication stopped completely

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Igor Gouzenko

• Clerk working in the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa
• Called home after the war
• However, wanted to stay in Canada
• Went to RCMP with secret documents proving the
  Soviets were spying on their war-time Allies (in
  exchange for asylum in Canada)
• Gouzenko exposed several sleeper agents across
  North America that were trying to steal Nuclear
  Secrets and other technology.
• 18 people (including a Member of Parliament) were
  convicted in Canada
• Gouzenko proved that Canada was at war with the
  USSR whether we liked it or not

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The Iron Curtain

• After WWII, the Soviet Union took control of the
  countries in Eastern Europe (Poland, East
  Germany, Hungary, Romania etc)
• Communist governments were installed in these
  countries and their people could not leave or
  communicate with the outside world
• The line between the free nations of Western
  Europe and the communists of Eastern Europe was
  named the Iron Curtain because of the lack of
  communication between both sides and the massive
  opposing armies that faced each other

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The Importance of the Cold War

• The Cold War was the most important political
  situation of the last 60 years.
• In some way, the cold war involved in most of the
  conflicts around the world
• Thousands were killed and governments around the
  world rose and fell because of the interference
  of the two great powers
• However, the greatest importance of the cold war
  was the fear it generated
• The Nuclear Arms race between the USA and USSR
  produced enough weapons to kill everything on the
  planet 7 times

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Sputnik 1 and M.A.D.

• The worlds first man-made satellite (launched by
  the Soviets
• Basically just a small radio transmitter
• However, it was launched into space by a very
  powerful rocket
• This rocket was powerful enough to reach anywhere
  around the globe at a speed so great, it would be
  impossible to stop
• These rockets were used to create nuclear tipped
  Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)
• There was no defense against this weapon
• Therefore, the USA built their own and aimed them
  at the USSR
• The world was kept peaceful because of Mutually
  Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)
• Basically, if one country launched its ICBMs,
  everybody dies

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Key Points

• The Cold war was caused because of the distrust
  between the Western World and the Communists as
  well as the conditions after WWII
• Igor Gouzenko exposed a Soviet spy ring
• The Iron Curtain separated communist countries
  from Western Europe
• The launch of Sputnik led to peace through
  Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)
• The Cold War dominated world politics from the
  1940s to the 1990s