The Cold War
Section 1: Introduction to the Cold War:
As the relationships between The Soviet Union and America became tense, communism, was starting to spread around to counties. The origin of the cold war could be traced back to the conflicts or disagreements between U.S. and Soviet Union. For example, postwar disagreements, conflicting ideologies, and fears of expansionism. During the Yalta Conference and Potsdam Conference, the U.S. and Soviet leaders sharply disagreed over the future of the post-war world and also The iron Curtain speech by Churchill further divided the two. Early on in the cold war President Truman made a doctrine called the Truman Doctrine. Its main purpose was to contain soviet expansion by stopping countries who were falling to communism, wherever communism was the U.S. would have to go. Russia on the contrary, had satellite states which they took over and had as backup.
As the relationships between The Soviet Union and America became tense, communism, was starting to spread around to counties. The origin of the cold war could be traced back to the conflicts or disagreements between U.S. and Soviet Union. For example, postwar disagreements, conflicting ideologies, and fears of expansionism. During the Yalta Conference and Potsdam Conference, the U.S. and Soviet leaders sharply disagreed over the future of the post-war world and also The iron Curtain speech by Churchill further divided the two. Early on in the cold war President Truman made a doctrine called the Truman Doctrine. Its main purpose was to contain soviet expansion by stopping countries who were falling to communism, wherever communism was the U.S. would have to go. Russia on the contrary, had satellite states which they took over and had as backup.
Section 2: "Revolutions" During the cold war many revolutions took place in different parts of the world. Most of their goals were to change the government in their country. One of the first Revolutions was the Poland Revolution. Labor turmoil in Poland during 1980 had led to the formation of the independent trade union, called Solidarity, led by Lech Wałęsa. Over time it became a political force. On December 13, 1981, Communist leader Wojciech Jaruzelski wanted to stop Solidarity, declaring martial law in Poland, and imprisoned most of its leaders. In April 1989, Solidarity was again legalized and allowed to participate in parliamentary elections on June 4, 1989. Solidarity candidates most of the votes and won. A new non-Communist government, was then created. Czechoslovakia: In Czechoslovakia there was a non-violent revolution in 1989 called the Velvet Revolution. Their main goal was to overthrow communist government in the country. On November 20th there was an estimated half million peaceful protesters in Prague , who were protesting for what they wanted the government to hear. Soon after the communist government falls disassembling the one party government. The new democratic government introduced new policies such as promoting civil rights and economic freedom. Since half of Czechoslovakia still supported communism, due to financial and political problems Czechoslovakia broke up into two states. Cuba: The Cuban Revolution was a civil war that took place in Cuba between December 2, 1956, and January 2, 1959. In this was, the guerrilla forces, led by Fidel Castro, fought against the government army, under Fulgencio Batista, a dictator of Cuba.The civil war lasted three years, with battles taking place in the mountains and towns.The civil war lasted three years, with battles taking place in the mountains and towns. Fidel castros army beat Fulgencio. Cuban people supported Castro’s revolution because he had promised them to bring back democracy and freedom to Cuba. Castro actually lied to his supporters and joined sides with the Soviet Union. |
Section 3: Hot Spots
Both The Soviet Union and United States had major conflicts and battles throughout the cold war. An example would be the Vietnam war. Although, The Soviet Union did not physically fight in the war, the ideology of communism was slowing going to spread in Vietnam. A big part of this war was due to the Domino Theory which believed that if one country fell to communism, a surrounding country would follow as well. As a result of the Domino Theory U.S. gave aid to south Vietnam so they would be able to stop communism before it spreads. But actually Vietnam did not care about politics and was simply fighting for Vietnam. In the long run the nation did end up turning communist.
Another major event would be the Korean war. Both rivalry countries were part of this war. The Soviet Union gave aid and trained armies of north Korea. Whereas, U.S. gave weapons to south Korea.The Korean War began when the North Korean Communist army crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded non-Communist South Korea. The war lasted for about three years. To end the war a peace treaty was signed, and turned Korea back into its divided state at the 38th parallel.
Both The Soviet Union and United States had major conflicts and battles throughout the cold war. An example would be the Vietnam war. Although, The Soviet Union did not physically fight in the war, the ideology of communism was slowing going to spread in Vietnam. A big part of this war was due to the Domino Theory which believed that if one country fell to communism, a surrounding country would follow as well. As a result of the Domino Theory U.S. gave aid to south Vietnam so they would be able to stop communism before it spreads. But actually Vietnam did not care about politics and was simply fighting for Vietnam. In the long run the nation did end up turning communist.
Another major event would be the Korean war. Both rivalry countries were part of this war. The Soviet Union gave aid and trained armies of north Korea. Whereas, U.S. gave weapons to south Korea.The Korean War began when the North Korean Communist army crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded non-Communist South Korea. The war lasted for about three years. To end the war a peace treaty was signed, and turned Korea back into its divided state at the 38th parallel.
Section 4: the end of the Cold War
The main events that marked the end of the Cold War were the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Berlin Wall had been the main symbol of the Cold War. It had kept people from Eastern Europe, which was communist, from escaping to the West. When the Wall came down, it meant that people in the East could now leave. In 1991 the Soviet Union officially fell apart. This made the remainder of the country much weaker. Marking the end of communist rule. The final leaders of US and Soviet Union were president Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.
The main events that marked the end of the Cold War were the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Berlin Wall had been the main symbol of the Cold War. It had kept people from Eastern Europe, which was communist, from escaping to the West. When the Wall came down, it meant that people in the East could now leave. In 1991 the Soviet Union officially fell apart. This made the remainder of the country much weaker. Marking the end of communist rule. The final leaders of US and Soviet Union were president Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Section 5: Who Started the Cold War?
In my opinion, The soviet Union is accountable for starting the Cold war. This is so because Stalin had desired to dominate the world under Communism. His takeover of Eastern Europe was seen to be his first step towards trying to take over. For example, during the Yalta conference at first Stalin couldn't agree on Poland. Stalin wanted to move the borders of the USSR westwards into Poland. Suggesting that he would want to take over Poland and spread communism.
In my opinion, The soviet Union is accountable for starting the Cold war. This is so because Stalin had desired to dominate the world under Communism. His takeover of Eastern Europe was seen to be his first step towards trying to take over. For example, during the Yalta conference at first Stalin couldn't agree on Poland. Stalin wanted to move the borders of the USSR westwards into Poland. Suggesting that he would want to take over Poland and spread communism.