The Cold War
Christensen 2017
Rivalry

U.S.: Capitalism

U.S.S.R.: Communism
War of Ideologies
What was America
afraid of?
 Marxism was
about global
Revolution
 Stalin is spreading
communism and
trying to destroy
democracy!
 USSR would NUKE
them
What was USSR
afraid of?
 Capitalists
rebuilding Europe
and Japan to
expand its markets
 US would use its
money to destroy
communism!
 US would NUKE
them




Stalin forced all countries in
east Europe to be communist
U.S. began containment –
preventing communism from
expanding
Cold War is really the U.S.
and USSR threatening each
other, but never fighting
directly
Proxy Wars
Germany




Split up into 4
zones
½ Democratic,
½ Communist
City of Berlin
was split in two
USSR blockaded
roads into Berlin
Berlin Airlift




For 11 months, supply
planes landed every 3
minutes.
Germans grew to
appreciate Americans.
Blockade was a disaster
for USSR.
East and West Germany
became separate
countries.




1000s of East
Germans snuck into
West Berlin
E. Germany built the
Berlin Wall in 1961
Wall was a symbol of
Cold War and an
embarrassment to
the Soviets
Wall stood until 1989
FACT
UNLV defeated the Soviet National Team
in basketball in November 7, 1989…2 days
later, the Berlin Wall fell. Coincidence..?
Nuclear Threat





Cold War triggered an
arms race - build up of
weapons
Nuclear war could destroy
the world
Both superpowers spent
trillions on weapons
Fear of that war directed
every move the govt.
made
Mutually Assured
Destruction
NATO




Because of Berlin, Western countries
formed North Atlantic Treaty
Organization.
An attack against one country is
considered against them all.
NATO countries begin to build up
weapons.
USSR matches with its own Warsaw Pact.
Space Race





Oct 4, 1957 Russia launched Sputnik,
the first ever satellite.
Americans were shocked the
Russians had bested them
U.S. poured money and focus into
Math and Science education
April 12, 1961 Russia sent the first
astronaut into space (Yuri Gagarin)
Pres. Kennedy declared the U.S. goal
to have a man on the moon by the
end of the decade