Europe and North America
Section 2
Superpower Rivalries
Main Idea
As the Cold War continued, the world’s two superpowers—the
Soviet Union and the United States—competed for power and
influence around the world.
Content Statement:
Analyze how the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. became super powers
and competed for global influence.
Europe and North America
Ch 15-2 vocabulary
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Hydrogen bomb:
Deterrence:
Arms race:
Sputnik (1957):
Bay of Pigs invasion(1961):
Cuban missile crisis (1962):
Nonaligned nations:
Détente:
Section 2
Europe and North America
Ch 15-2 vocabulary
Section 2
• Hydrogen bomb: a nuclear weapon that gets it
power from the fusing together of hydrogen
atoms. More powerful than atomic bomb.
• Deterrence: the development of or
maintenance of military power to deter, or
prevent, an attack.
• Arms race: competition between nations to
gain an advantage in weapons.
• Sputnik (1957): the first artificial satellite;
launched by the Soviet Union
Europe and North America
Ch 15-2 vocabulary
Section 2
• Bay of Pigs invasion(1961): the failed attempt of
Cuban exiles backed by the U.S. to overthrow the
Cuban socialist government of Fidel Castro.
• Cuban missile crisis (1962): confrontation
between the United States and the Soviet Union
over Soviet missiles in Cuba
• Nonaligned nations: nations who refused to ally
with either side in the Cold War between the U.S
and USSR
• Détente: efforts taken by President Nixon in the
late 1960’s and early 1970’s to lower Cold War
tensions. Reduce tensions between superpowers.
Europe and North
America
The
Arms Race Begins Section 2
During the 1950s and early 1960s nuclear war seemed to draw ever closer as
the Soviet Union and the United States raced to develop powerful new
weapons. This rivalry between the world’s two superpowers became
increasingly tense—and dangerous.
1)The Nuclear Arms Race
• 1949, Soviets successfully
tested atomic bomb. Shook
America.
• Great military advantage of
U.S. over Soviet Union gone
1)Hydrogen Bomb
• Atomic bombs used energy
created by splitting atoms
• Nuclear fusion; fusing atoms
together-larger explosion
• 1952, U.S. tested first fusion• U.S. sought to develop even
powered hydrogen bomb,
more powerful weapons
vaporizing island on which
tested
The U.S. technological advantage was short-lived. Less than one
year later the Soviets tested their own hydrogen bomb.
2)Change
in Tactics
Europe and
North America
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Section 2
Both sides forced to change military tactics
Could no longer rely on conventional forces, like troops, tanks
U.S., Soviets increased stockpiles of nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons central to deterrence
2)Strategy of Deterrence
• Deterrence, development of or maintenance of military power to
prevent attack.
• Two superpowers locked in arms race to gain advantage in
weapons
• U.S. had more weapons, but nuclear attack by either side would
lead to terrible destruction
Europe and
North of
America
Causes
WWI and WWII (ColdSection
War) 2
1) Militarism: building up of military weapons
2) Imperialism: expanding territorial claims
3) Alliances: WWI: Triple Alliance (Central Powers) Triple
Entente (The Allies) WWII: Axis Powers (Japan, Germany,
Italy) Allied Powers. Cold War: NATO (U.S), Warsaw Pact
(U.S.S.R)
4) Nationalism: putting the interests of your
nation above the interests of all others.
Section 2
Europe andSoviet
North America
Union Launches Sputnik
3)In October 1957 the arms race took another leap forward with the Soviet
Union’s successful launch of Sputnik.
3) Sputnik Oct. 1957
4)Public Fears
• Sputnik, history’s first artificial
satellite—object orbiting earth
• Growing threat of nuclear war
• Americans always felt we had
technological advantage.
• Built bomb shelters to help protect
from nuclear explosion
• Soviet military technology now
feared to be in the lead
• Schools led air-raid drills to prepare
for possible Soviet attack
• U.S. government established
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, NASA
• Books, movies, comic books had plots
centered on dangers of radiation,
nuclear war
• Agency would eventually return
United States to forefront of space
research
• Significant impact on people
Europe and North America
Section 2
Europe and North America
4) Red Scare
Section 2
Cold War led to so-called Red Scare in U.S.
• Many Americans feared possible Communist
influence in U.S. government
• U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy HYSTERIA!!!
– Prompted congressional committee in effort to
expose Communists in American film industry,
government, late 1940s, early 1950s
– Accused many innocent people of Communist
activities
Europe and North
ColdAmerica
War Around the WorldSection 2
The Korean War showed that Cold War rivalry could lead to conflict far from the
United States or the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, this rivalry led to
struggles for influence in countries around the world.
5) War in Southeast
5)Vietnam Divided
5)American Support
Asia
• End World War II,
France tried to
reestablish control
over Southeast Asia
• Communist rebels
in Vietnam fought
back, forcing French
to give up control
• U.S. supported South
• Peace agreement Vietnam, when revolution
broke out sent military
temporarily
troops
divided Vietnam
in half
• Communists
controlled North,
anti-Communist
regime ruled
South
• We wanted to stop the
spread of communism;
containment
• Eventually North
Vietnamese fought
alongside rebels
• War dragged on until
mid–1970s
Europe and North
America Crisis in BerlinSection 2
6)Another
Crossing Over
• After Communist East Germany, democratic West Germany formed in
1949, tens of thousands of East Germans crossed from East to West
Berlin
• Some wanted to live in free nation, other simply wanted to find work
• West Berlin thrived while East Berlin’s economy suffered after Soviet
purge of industrial equipment
Berlin Wall
• By 1961, up to 1,000 per day made daily trip between homes in East
Germany, jobs in West Berlin. 1st half of 1961, 200,000 had escaped to
West Berlin.
• To stop exodus, East Germany erected barrier between two halves of city
Communist Brutality
• Barrier, Berlin Wall, heavily guarded
• Anyone attempting to cross risked being shot by East German guards
• Succeeded in slowing flight of East Germans, became symbol of Communist
system brutality
Europe and North America
Section 2
Europe and North America
Section 2
Europe and North America
Section 2
Europe and North America
Berlin Wall
Section 2
Europe and North
7)America
Communism in Cuba Section 2
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1959, rebels led by Fidel Castro overthrew Cuba’s dictator
Installed Communist government
Centrally planned economy, (command economy)close ties with Soviets
Actions worried United States; Cuba near Florida coast
Cuba’s alliance with Soviet Union brought Cold War close to American
territory
8)Bay of Pigs
• U.S. government secretly trained
invasion force to overthrow Castro
• April 1961, force came ashore at
Cuba’s Bay of Pigs
• American officials believed invasion
would start uprising against Castro
• Instead 1500 invaders quickly
defeated
• U.S forced to pay $52 million in food
and medical supplies to Cuba.
8)Cuban Missile Crisis
• 1962, Cuban missile crisis, two week
confrontation between U.S., Soviet
Union over installation of nuclear
missiles in Cuba
• US starts blockade; Soviets take firm
stand Soviets turn back
• After standoff missiles removed; U.S.
agreed to remove missiles from
Turkey, not attack Cuba
• Both sides agree to talks to ease
tensions red phone
Europe and North America
Section 2
9)Other
Conflicts US vs. USSR everywhere
Section 2
Europe
and Cold
NorthWar
America
Suez Canal
• 1956, Egypt angered West by taking over Suez Canal, had been
controlled by Britain and France.
• Britain, France, Israel attacked Egypt; Soviet Union threatened to take
Egypt’s side
• U.S. demanded Western allies halt attack; conflict came to end
The Congo
• Ending of European colonial rule in Africa brought superpower
involvement
• 1960 Belgium ended control of Congo; U.S., other western countries
supported military dictator Joseph Mobutu as good ally against Soviet
Union
Angola
• 1975, Angola won independence from Portugal
• U.S., Soviet Union supported opposing sides in ensuing civil war
which lasted until 1991
Europe and North America
The Americas
10)Central and South America
• U.S. supported efforts to
overthrow regimes allied with
Soviet Union in Central, South
America
Section 2
10)Nonaligned Nations
• Many countries sought to
avoid being caught up in
worldwide rivalry between
superpowers
• 1970s, U.S. secretly supported • Beginning in 1950s, number
opposition to Chile’s socialist
of nations refused to support
leader Salvador Allende, who
either side
was overthrown in 1973
• So-called nonaligned
• 1983, U.S. forces ousted
nations sought to use
Communist regime on island of
combined strength to promote
Grenada
interests of poorer countries
Europe and North America
Section 2
Europe and North
Americaat Arms ControlSection 2
Attempts
While relations between East and West were largely hostile throughout the Cold
War, some attempts at cooperation were made.
11)Early Arms Control
• Eisenhower proposed
open skies treaty with
Soviet Union
• Each side could fly over
other’s territory, gather
accurate weapons
information
11)Test Ban Treaty
• Soviet leaders proposed TOTAL
nuclear disarmament
• United States rejected idea
• President Kennedy favored limited
nuclear weapons tests. Slow
development of new, more deadly
technology
• Cuban missile crisis convinced both
sides important to make arms control
• With accurate information,
progress
neither side would have to
imagine worst about
enemy
• Soviets rejected proposal
• 1963 U.S., Soviets agreed on Test Ban
Treaty outlawing nuclear testing in the
atmosphere, outer space and under
water.
Europe and North America
SALT I and SALT II
Section 2
12 )SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks)
• U.S. President Richard Nixon sought détente, reduced tension between
superpowers; started negotiations called Strategic Arms Limitations Talks
• SALT I talks led to agreements limiting nuclear weapons held by each side
12)ABM Treaty
• Also led to Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, preventing development of
weapons designed to shoot down nuclear missiles
• Meant to ensure each side remained vulnerable to other’s nuclear weapons
• Vulnerability key to deterrence, which many felt was an important factor in the
prevention of nuclear war.
12)SALT II
• Vulnerability important element of principle of deterrence
• Two sides began new round of talks called SALT II
• Talks resulted in arms control treaty in 1979: never ratified by U.S. Senate
Europe and North America
13)The 1980s
Reagan Presidency
Section 2
Arms Reduction Talks
• Reagan took aggressive
position against Soviet Union
• Idea of system seemed to
violate spirit of ABM Treaty
• Wanted to develop missile
defense system
• Began arms reduction talks
with Soviet leader Gorbachev
INF Treaty
• 1988, two countries ratified
Intermediate-Range Nuclear
Forces (INF) Treaty
• Called for elimination of
certain types of missiles
Improving Relations
• After many years of conflict,
relationship between U.S.,
Soviet Union began to improve