After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were the world’s strongest nations. They were called superpowers. They had different ideas about economics and government. They fought a war of ideas called the Cold War. The Soviet Union was a communist country. In communism, the government controls production and resources. It decides where people live and work. The United States is a capitalist country. In capitalism, people and businesses control the production of goods. People decide where they live and work. The Cold War began in Europe after World War II. The Soviet Union won control of Eastern Europe. It controlled half of Germany and half of Germany’s capital, Berlin. The United States, Britain, and France controlled western Germany and West Berlin. In June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked roads and railroads that led to West Berlin. The United States, Great Britain, and France flew in supplies. This was called the Berlin Airlift.
After World War II, Korea was divided into North and South Korea. North Korea became communist. South Korea was a capitalist country. North Korean army invaded South Korea. The United Nations sent soldiers to help South Korea. China sent soldiers to help North Korea. The war ended in 1953. Neither side won. Korea is still divided. The United States and the Soviet Union were in a nuclear arms race. In 1959, Cuba became a communist country and the Soviets secretly put missiles there. President Kennedy was afraid the Soviet Union would attack the United States. He sent warships to surround Cuba. He hoped a blockade would force the Soviet Union to remove its missiles. This conflict was called the Cuban Missile Crisis. For six days, nuclear war seemed possible. Then the Soviet Union removed the missiles.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the United States fought wars to stop communism. Vietnam had been a French colony since the 1880s. The Vietnamese fought for independence and won in 1954. The country was split into communist North Vietnam and non-communist South Vietnam. Communists in South Vietnam were called the Vietcong. In the early 1960s, they tried to overthrow the government. North Vietnam helped the Vietcong. The United States sent military advisers and supplies to help South Vietnam fight the Vietcong. In 1965, the U.S. sent soldiers to Vietnam. The U.S. troops had better technology and weapons. They had jet bombers, tanks, and helicopters. The Vietcong fought in small groups that hid in the jungle. They controlled most of South Vietnam. The U.S. was spending billions of dollars on the war. Many American soldiers were dying. On television people saw soldiers fighting dangerous battles and the terrible results of U.S. bombs on Vietnamese people. Some people thought the United States had to fight communism everywhere. Others thought the United States should stay out of a war between North and South Vietnam. The government drafted young men into the army. Many did not want to fight in a war they believed was wrong. People had antiwar demonstrations in many parts of the country. In 1969, Richard Nixon was elected President. He started bringing soldiers home. But U.S. planes also increased bombing of North Vietnam and started bombing Cambodia, a country west of Vietnam. In 1973, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the United States agreed to a cease-fire. U.S. soldiers went home. The North Vietnamese won the war in 1975. Over 55,000 Americans died in the war. Communism was not stopped in Vietnam.
After World War II, a division occurred in Europe. An invisible wall known as the Iron Curtain separated Western Europe from the Soviet-controlled countries of Eastern Europe. People could not pass freely from the West to the East. The Soviet Union set up Communist governments in Eastern Europe after the war. These governments did whatever the Soviet leaders said. Most Eastern Europeans could vote, but they had no choices. Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union during World War II. He created sets of economic goals. For example, Stalin believed that farming could make the Soviet Union stronger. In the 1930s, he forced peasants to move to collective farms. These farms were owned and controlled by the government. Stalin had Russians who spoke out against the government arrested by the police. The police also arrested those whom Stalin did not trust. Millions of these prisoners were sent to slave labor camps in Siberia.
For many years after World War II, the members of NATO refused to trade with members of the Warsaw Pact, an Eastern European alliance. This period is called the Cold War.The war stayed “cold” because neither side wanted to start an actual war. Such a war might have involved nuclear weapons. Instead, it was a period of non-cooperation between the West and the East. The United States and Western Europe were afraid of the influence the Soviets might have in other countries. The Soviet Union was also worried. It wanted to protect itself against invasion. Tension remained on both sides of the Iron Curtain for almost 40 years.
- eduplace.com
State Standards:
8.2 Explain how international crisis has impacted international politics (e.g., Berlin Blockade, Korean War, Hungarian Revolt, Cuban Missile Crisis, OPEC oil crisis, Iranian Revolt, etc.).
8.3 Analyze the “new” balance of power and the search for peace and stability in terms of how each has influenced global interactions since the last half of the twentieth century (e.g., post WWII, Post Cold War, 1990s Globalization, New World Order, global achievements and innovations).
8.4 Analyze scientific, technological and medical innovations of postwar decades in terms of their impact on systems of production, global trade and standards of living (e.g., satellites, computers).
Essential Questions:
1. Why is the Cold War referred to as cold? How cold was the cold war? 2. Can strong nations maintain their power and influence without interfering with other nations’ development? 3. Under what circumstances and to what extent should nations become involved in the affairs of other nations?
Major Learning Points:
1. Global affairs during the post-WWII era signified a major shift in geopolitical affairs dictated largely by two key ideological superpowers, USSR & USA.
2. The basic tenets of major foreign policy programs of the U.S. and other superpower nations were developed during the Cold War. International conflicts challenge political power structures and give rise to new balances of power throughout the world. Scientific and technological advancements are utilized by nations to develop new products leading to increased economic growth and competition.
3. Conflict between Israel and its Muslim neighbors resulted in increased global tension between the West and the Muslim world.
4. The post-WWII order shifted power to two major superpowers (US v. USSR) who competed for global influence across the world: Yalta & Potsdam Conferences, Bipolar world: US v USSR/democracy v. communism, sphere of influence, Brinkmanship, heightened sense of feeling on the brink of major global conflict
5. Southeast Asia/China-Rise of Maoist China and escalation of conflicts in Vietnam and Korea: Maoism, Great Leap Forward in China represents a cultural revolution whereby new trends and ideas clashed with the established system, Proxy Wars of Vietnam and Korea
6. Middle East (video)-Establishment of the state of Israel & rise of tensions between Arab countries & Israel: Establishment of Israel (1948), Six Day War (1967), Munich Hostage Crisis (1972), Oslo Accords (1993), Invasion of Afghanistan by USSR (1979-1989), OPEC
7. Europe-Establishment of policy of containment to prevent the spread of Soviet influence into Western Europe: Truman Doctrine, Containment, Iron Curtain (video of Churchill speech, text of speech), Marshall Plan/Berlin Airlift, Warsaw Pact/NATO
8. Fall of Communism in Russia (1989-1991)-Economic and territorial decline of the Soviet Union
*** As you enter into the end of the 9th grade year with this unit, it will slowly start to have more of an American History feeling (mixed in with World History) as you get ready to go to 10th Grade American History, best of luck***