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Crisis and Conflict

An Enquiry Approach to Modern World History

Secondary 4

Chapter 8:
From a World War to a
Cold War

Was the post-World War II era


a period of stability?

Why did the Cold


War break out?

Factors leading to the Cold


War between the USA and
the USSR.

How did the Cold War


affect Europe?

Ways in which Europe was


affected by the Cold War.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

How did the Cold War


affect the rest of the
world?

Ways in which the rest of


the world was affected by the
Cold War.

In a Nutshell

A Cold War is defined as a situation of tense relations


and fierce competition between nations.

There is however no direct confrontation as in an all-out


war.

Such a situation occurred between 1945 and 1991,


involving the superpowers, the USA and the USSR.

The superpowers divided Europe into two.

Eastern Europe was led by Communist USSR while


democratic USA controlled Western Europe.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

US Vice-President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev argued


about who had a better life Americans living in a democratic society or
Russians in a Communist society. The 1956 debate is called the Kitchen Debate
as it took place in Moscow at a kitchen exhibition.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Competing
ideologies

Why did the Cold War


break out?
Feelings of
mistrust

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Wartime alliances
broke down

Competing ideologies

An ideology refers to a set of ideas about how a society


should be run.

In many ways, the Cold War confrontation between the


USA and the USSR was a clash between their opposing
ideologies.
Democracy

The USA

Communism

The USSR

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Communism VS Democracy
Who controls the society?
Communism

The Communist Party rules the people.


Only the Communist Party members can be
in the government. This government is
considered a one-party dictatorship.

Democracy

People choose their government by


voting for the leaders they want. The
leaders can belong to any party.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Communism VS Democracy
How should people live?
Communism

The community is more important than


the individual. So the individual should
put the needs of the community before
his own.

Democracy

The individual has more rights and some


of these rights are more important than
the needs of the community. Such rights
include freedom of speech and the press.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Communism VS Democracy
How should the wealth of the society be
created and shared?

The countrys wealth is owned


collectively by the society.

The Communist Party creates


wealth by deciding what to
produce. This is called a centrally
planned economy.

Everyone should work and should


get an equal share of the benefits
of the society.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Communism

Communism VS Democracy
How should the wealth of the society be
created and shared?

The countrys wealth is created by


private enterprise and trade.

Businessmen and entrepreneurs create


wealth by deciding what to produce.
This is called market economy.

Some individuals may become


wealthier than others. How wealthy one
becomes depends on the individuals
skills as an entrepreneur or how well
he invests his resources.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Democracy

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Communism VS Democracy
Democracy

Communism

They believed that Communists


had to accept the control of
the Communist Party and give
up all their freedom.

To them the workers in a


democratic society, were
the slaves of the rich
landowners, factory owners
and industrialists.

For supporters of Democracy


choosing between
Democracy and Communism
felt like choosing between
freedom and slavery.

Communists, on the other


hand believed that the
workers were not free in
democratic societies.

Back

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Feelings of mistrust

When the Communists came to power in the 1917 October


Revolution in Russia, they lost the trust of the USA and other
Western nations. This was because the Communist government
called for a world revolution.

Could this mean the end of Capitalism and Democracy? The West
begin to question the actions of the Communists.

Poor relations existed also because of the involvement of the West


in the Russian Civil War. They provided aid to the anti-Bolshevik
White armies.

Since then, there had always been tension between the


Communists and supporters of Democracy.

The USA and the USSR had more power to spread their ideologies
around after they became superpowers at the end of World War II.
Back

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Wartime alliances broke down

The Soviet Union joined the USA and Britain as one of the Allied
Powers and joined in the fight against Japan, Italy and Germany.

This alliance was only temporary.

The feud was resumed after the war ended and when they found no
common enemy to unite them against.

The leaders of the USSR, the USA and Britain met at Yalta to
discuss what to do with Germany once the war was over.

It was decided that Germany was to be divided into four different


zones.

After the war ended, they met at Potsdam to resume the discussion
that was stopped.

Several misunderstandings arose out of the conferences which


contributed to hostile relations.

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The Potsdam Agreement

What was agreed?

Details of the zones of occupation of Germany were


finalised.

Reparations were to be collected in the form of industrial


equipment from own zone. The USSR was to receive
additional money from other zones as its zone was
mainly agricultural and it had suffered the most during
the war.

The new borders of Poland were confirmed.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

The Potsdam Agreement


Stalin

Truman

What to do with
Germany?

We should cripple
Germany completely.

We do not want to repeat


the mistakes of the
Treaty of Versailles.

Should Germany pay


for the reparations?

Yes. 20 million Russians


were killed in the war.

We do not want to repeat


the mistakes of the
Treaty of Versailles.

What to do with
Eastern Europe?

We agreed at Yalta that


We have to cultivate a
these would be under the get tough attitude
Soviet sphere of
towards Stalin.
influence; with united
Eastern Europe, no one
will dare to move a finger
against them.

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The Potsdam Agreement

Significance

The USSR was suspicious of the West. Stalin


imprisoned non-Communist Polish leaders and
placed Communist leaders in the Polish
government. Buffer zones were created to make
Communism more powerful.

The poor relations between the two superpowers


at the Potsdam Conference were a sign that their
wartime alliance had come to an end and that the
Cold War had begun.
Back

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Europe was divided

Nato and Warsaw Pact


were set up

How did the


Cold War
affect Europe?

Marshall Plan was put


into action

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Germany was divided

Truman Doctrine was


announced

Europe was divided

Europe was divided into two blocs between 1945 and 1948.
The East comprised mainly of Communist governments and
the West consisted of democratic countries.
The USSR expanded its control over Eastern Europe by
setting up Communist governments in these countries.
The USSR could then influence these Communist
governments to follow policies that were non-threatening to it.
The countries with Communist governments were known as
satellite states.
The West criticised the USSR for setting up such
governments without holding free elections and for their harsh
tactics.
Such actions further contributed to the bad blood between the
two superpowers.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Europe was divided

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Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Germany was divided

A crisis ensued among Britain, France, the USA and the


USSR over how to administer Germany in 1948.
Germany was to be divided into four parts and Berlin into
four zones, according to peace talks in Britain.
In 1948, Britain, France and the USA decided to join their
separate zones in Germany. In order to help the West
German economy recover, they agreed to create a new
currency.
Afraid that Germany would grow strong and threaten the
USSR, Stalin planned to seize control of West Berlin through
a blockade.
He had hoped to force the Western powers to leave the city
by blocking all supplies of food to West Berlin.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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The Berlin Blockade 1948

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Germany was divided

The USA was determined to support West Berlin as it


represented the democratic system.
It was afraid that if it did so, the USSR would become
bolder and invade West Germany.
However keen to avoid war, President Truman ordered
an airlift of food and other supplies into West Berlin.
This lasted for ten months.
Realising that the West was determined to support West
Berlin, the USSR ended the Berlin Blockade after ten
months.
The blockade was important in helping us understand
why Germany became two separate countries.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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In August 1949, the West set up the German Federal Republic in West Germany.2
In October, the USSR set up the German Democratic Republic in East Germany.3

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Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Truman Doctrine was


announced

Following Soviet expansion in Europe, President Truman


decided that the USA must stop Communism from
spreading.
On 12 March 1947, he announced the Truman Doctrine.
The Truman Doctrine provided American aid to Greece
and Turkey in order to prevent the spread of
Communism.
Turkey controlled the Dardanelles and the Greek
government was fighting against Communism.
Agreeing with Trumans sentiments, Congress soon
voted $400 million of aid to Greece and Turkey.
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Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

The Marshall Plan was put into


action on 5 June 1947

Following the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan was introduced.


The Plan sought to make Europe rich and strong again and prosperous
enough to resist Communism, by providing financial help.
Between 1948 and 1952, 16 countries in Western Europe received a
total of US$13 billion in aid, loans and goods.
Soviet satellites were forbidden from accepting American financial aid.
Stalin felt that the West was using this to expand its influence over
Europe.

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Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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NATO and Warsaw Pact were set up

The division of Europe into two spheres of influence


forced both sides to set up military alliances.
In April 1949, the USA set up the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) for collective security against any
Soviet attack.
Similarly, the USSR set up an alliance known as the
Warsaw Pact in 1955, uniting all Communist countries in
Eastern Europe except Yugoslavia.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Military alliances

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Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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How did the Cold War


affect the rest of the world?
China joined the
Cold War

The Cuban Missile


Crisis

The Korean War

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

China joined the Cold War

When China turned Communist in 1949, it became


involved in the Cold War.

The USA felt threatened by the Communist alliance


between China and the USSR.

The USA feared that the USSR might give China the
technology to produce its own nuclear weapons.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

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Japan became the USAs main


anti-Communist ally

Due to the threat of Communism in China, the USA


strengthened Japans economy and introduced
democratic reforms.

Through this, the USA hoped to turn Japan into its main
anti-Communist ally in the region.

Other than strengthening Japan by providing economic


aid, new technology and new industrial equipment, the
USA also managed to get Japan to allow it to station its
troops in Japan.

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USAs One China Policy

Due to unfriendly relations between the USA and


Communist China, the USA adopted a One China Policy
between 1945 and 1972.

The USA refused to recognise the Peoples Republic of


Chinas (PRC) Communist government.

Instead, it recognised Taiwan (Republic of China) as the


legitimate government of China.

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Increased US support for


anti-Communists in Asia

Due to the rise of Communist China, the USA was eager


to form allies in Asia.

Other than Taiwan, the USA also sent troops to support


anti-Communist governments in other countries such as
South Korea and South Vietnam.

Besides, it also formed an anti-Communist alliance in


Southeast Asia (SEATO) in 1954 to oppose Communist
gains in Southeast Asia.

In the name of giving aid, sometimes cruel and corrupted


governments were supported and maintained.
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Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Case Study 1:
The Korean War
Korea was divided at the 38th parallel
after World War II.
The USSR
North: The Peoples
Democratic Republic
The USA
South: The Republic of
Korea

This division was supposed to be


temporary.

In June 1950, the North Koreans


launched a surprise attack against the
South and the capital Seoul fell in just
three days.

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Case Study 1:
The Korean War

The UN decided to send troops to the


region under its UN flag. The huge bulk
of the troops sent were American and
command of them was given to
General Douglas MacArthur.

By the end of August 1950 only Pusan


in the south-east corner of South Korea
had not fallen to the North.

In September, MacArthur took the huge


risk of launching an amphibious landing
at Inchon 200 miles behind enemy lines
and from here he launched an attack
against the North Koreans.

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Case Study 1:
The Korean War

MacArthur later chose to advance north


towards the Chinese border at the Yalu River.

This provoked the Chinese to launch a


massive attack against the UN forces and
South Korea.

The war became static warfare as both sides


were entrenched in their positions. Peace
talks started at Panmunjom and lasted for
two years.

An armistice was signed in 1953. The fighting


ended but no peace treaty was signed.

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Korea
The war cost the lives of
about 2.5 million Koreans.
Many families were
separated because of the
division at the 38th parallel.

Global impact
The war also showed
that smaller countries
were not always controlled
by superpowers. In the
case of Korea, both the
North and South used the
superpowers to achieve
their aim of uniting Korea

China
China showed that it was
a major military power with
its entry into the war.
China grew confident and
demanded a seat in the UN
in 1971.

Impact of the
Korean War

Taiwan
Fearing China might use the
Korean War as a chance
to attack Taiwan, the USA
sent military support to
Taiwan.

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Japan
Japan became a key US
partner in Asia and a model
of US democracy. The Korean
War also helped Japans
economy as it was the main
supplier of South Korea.

USA
Following the Korean War,
the USA was eager to form
alliances in Asia. This
included ANZUS (with
Australia and New Zealand)
and SEATO in Southeast
Asia.

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Case Study 2:
The Cuban Missile Crisis

Trouble began in 1962 when the USA found out that the
USSR had missiles in Cuba which could hit most of the
major American cities.

Furthermore, the Soviets had 40,000 troops in Cuba.

More than 100,000 US soldiers were stationed at


Florida, the American state closest to Cuba.

The US forces around the world were also placed on


high alert.

Soviet submarines that were armed with nuclear


weapons were also on their way to Cuba.

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Case Study 2 :
The Cuban Missile Crisis
President Kennedy ordered a US
naval blockade of Cuba to stop
supplies from reaching Cuba.

Trouble began in 1962 when the USA


found out that the USSR had
missiles in Cuba which could hit
most of the major American cities.
Following that, the USA sent more
than 100,000 soldiers to Florida
prepared for a possible invasion.

The whole crisis was finally averted


when Soviet ships decided to sail back.3
Following that, the USSR announced It8
would also remove the missiles from
Cuba.

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis

The USSR had been worried about US missiles in Turkey (an ally
of the USA) due to its proximity to some of the Soviet cities.

Soviet leader Khrushchev felt he should also find allies and build
nuclear missile sites near the USA.

In 1960, the USSR offered to protect Cuba by placing nuclear


missiles in Cuba.

Cuban leader Castro accepted the USSRs offer and formed an


alliance with it.

In 1962, following reconnaissance reports of missiles belonging to


the USSR in Cuba, US president Kennedy ordered a naval and air
blockade of Cuba.

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Causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Putting its army on high alert, the USA warned that it


would attack the USSR if the missiles were not
removed from Cuba.

The crisis was resolved when the USSR promised to


remove all its missiles.

The blockade on Cuba was also ended.

In 1963, US nuclear missiles were removed from


Turkey.

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Better US-Soviet relations


Both sides realised that
they should not risk another
nuclear war. Both also
supported disarmament.
In 1963, the USA, the USSR
and Britain signed a Nuclear
Test Ban Treaty

Led to more stable


superpower relations
Both parties did not start a
nuclear war because they
realised no one could win one.
Due to a possible Mutually
Assured Destruction situation,
both tried to solve problems
without using nuclear
weapons.

Cuba remained Communist


Although the USSR removed its
missiles, it promised to help
Cuba if it was attacked.
The USSR also made the USA
promise that it would not
attack Cuba.

Impact of the
Cuban Missile
Crisis

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Khrushchev's fall from 4


power
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The incident led to
Khrushchev's fall from power.
His decision to remove the
missiles was criticised by
by other Soviet leaders.
In 1964, he was removed
from his post.

Tense Soviet-Chinese
relations
The crisis made SovietChinese relations tense.
China accused the Soviets
for being weak. The quarrel
between China and the
USSR divided the
international Communist
movement into two groups.
Back

Summary
Europe
divided

Germany
divided

NATO
Warsaw Pact

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Marshall Plan
Truman Doctrine

Impact on Europe

Impact outside
Europe

The Cold War

Increasing
mistrust

Alliance
breakdown

Crisis and Conflict: From a World War

Competing
ideologies

Korea

Cuba

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