The Cold war (1 ene 1947 año – 1 ene 1991 año)

Descripción:

The Cold War was a battle between the United states and the Soviet union, and all other countries effected, fought over the will to convert the world to democratic/capitalist nations and totalitarian/communist nations respectively. Both powers tried as much as they could to keep/convert other countries, as seen below.

Both sides claim weapons=deterrence to prevent other side from using theirs

MAD=mutually assured destruction. If either side used their weapons, the whole world would be destroyed

Background (China):
In the Chinese Revolution of 1911, China becomes more westernized under Sun Yat-sen. His successor establishes the KMT (Kuomintang party) as the ruling party of China. However, Japanese Empire invades Manchuria, and the Chinese communists ally with Russia in the north
○Communists join KMT against Japan, but turn on them immediately afterwards and drives them all the way into Taiwan by 1949.
○Taiwan now=the Republic of China, and mainland China=people's republic of China, both claim to be real China
○U.N. recognizes people's republic of China as China in 1973
○New leader, Mao Zedong, collectivizes culture and introduces "the great leap forwards", which actually leads to local govts. lying about their crop output--> starvation of 20 million people
○Soviet Union withdraws its support of China, wanting full control over its communist states, leaving China in disarray and forcing Mao to focus on building military
○In 1966, Mao implements cultural revolution, discouraging a privileged ruling class and intending to rid China of all western influences by shutting down universities, killing political dissidents and sending educated members of the public to farms for "agricultural retraining". When universities reopened, they taught many ideas from "the little red book".
○This fails miserably in advancing China socially or economically, and for this reason they decide to transform their economy to adopt some elements from western capitalism by allowing limited business and property ownership to stimulate hard work+innovation
○China's economy grows rapidly, but they remain politically communist, resisting social reforms (Tiananmen square massacre)



The Cold War's effect on individual countries:

By late 1940s, East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Hungary= Soviet Bloc, and Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, West Germany, Greece+Turkey=Western Bloc

Germany:
○Split into 4 regions: France, America, Britain and Russia, however French American and British sides eventually merge and form Democratic West Germany (1948)
○Russia takes control of surrounding states (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania)
○Western Bloc wants half of Berlin, as it is the capital, but Russia refuses (Berlin Blockade) --> Western Bloc flying in food+fuel to trapped western half (Berlin Airlift)
○Russia relents, and a wall is put up

Korea:
○After WW2, Korea occupied by U.S.+soviet Union. In 1950, the North attacked the South to unite under communism, but large forces of U.S. + British troops led by general MacArthur push up to Chinese Border
○When North Korea is almost defeated, China enters the war, and both sides battle until armistice in 1953
○Today, both nations=separate and U.S. maintains large military presence in South
○NK has largely ignored U.N. + 6 party talks

Vietnam:
○After WW2 French try to hold on to their colony, Indochina, but nationalist Vietminh fight back
○In 1954, French sign accord in Geneva, dividing nation in 2. Communist north led by Ho Chi Minh, and Ngo Dinh Diem=president of democratic south
○North Vietnam tries to reunify as a communist state--> war
○France+ U.S. come to aid of south, but U.S. withdraws in 1975, and North Vietnams army+ communist vietcong fighters take control of south, reuniting as a communist state
○World witnessed defeat of a superpower by a small nation

Cuba:
Platt Amendment= after Cuba won independence from Spain, U.S. remains involved in Cuban affairs
○Invests heavily in Cuban business and plantations, but only make the rich wealthier
○1939-1959 U.S. supports Batista dictatorship, which continued to benefit the rich--> peasants revolt under Fidel Castro
○Cuban revolution: Guerrilla warfare--> success, Batista flees in 1959
○Castro takes control of govt. and establishes communist dictatorship--> U.S. imposes economic embargo, which strengthens their ties with the Soviet Union
○In 1961, U.S. sends small force of Cuban exiles, fails (Bay of Pigs Invasion)--> Soviet Union mobilizes to defend Cuba
○In 1962, the U.S. detects installation of missiles and Kennedy establishes a naval blockade. If missiles launched from Cuba, U.S. would retaliate against Russia (Cuban Missile Crisis)
○In October, Soviets promise to remove missiles if U.S. doesn't invade Cuba
○When the soviet Union collapses in 1990s, Cuba loses main financial backer and economic conditions deteriorate sharply

Latin America:
○U.S. maintains heavy involvement in Latin America
○Large issue=export economy (reliance on exports--> weak economy, reason for mercantilism) --> out immigration
○However, in the beginning of the 21st century tremendous growth occurred in Latin America (new industries, trade agreement, rising oil prices)
○Chile+ Brazil now the fastest growing economies in the world


The fall of communism in Europe:
East Europe's massive state run industries couldn't keep up with the innovations of the west, and the growing divide between rich west and poor east--> revolts in Eastern bloc. Revolters wanted a better economy and democracy

Poland:
○In 1980 a solidarity movement began under Lech Walesa, and despite initial resistance is legalized under new ruler Rakowski in 1989
○Tadeusz Mazowiecki becomes first PM in first open election since end of WW2
○In 1990, communist party falls in Poland. Economics improve swiftly and they join NATO in 1999 and European Union in 2004

Germany:
Decline of communism--> reunification of Germany as free-market democracy
○Berlin wall torn down in 1989, signaling the fall of east Germany
○Many East Germans flee to West, and business in East continues to struggle because of outdated machinery+corporate structures
○Unemployment high in both halves on the nation, but govt. did not abandon reconstruction program, and pressed forwards, modernizing Eastern Germany and establishing nation-wide communication
○For these reasons, Germany=leading economy in Europe

Collapse of the soviet union:
○Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power in 1985 and institutes policies of glasnost (openness) and urged a perestroika (restructuring) of soviet society
○Passes legislation to add elements of private enterprise to the economy, signs nuclear arms treaties with the U.S. and denounces the Great Purge (systematic depression of suspect individuals under Joseph Stalin)
○Within 6 years, Poland+6 others declare separation from USSR, and the soviet union declares independence in 1991
○Russia becomes a country, Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia become independent nations
○It was relatively peaceful, besides "ethnic cleanings" in the balkans which prompted UN involvement. Also some guerrilla warfare within Russia
○In many former soviet countries democracy is taking a foot hold. By the end of 1991, the Cold war is over, the Warsaw pact is disbanded, and the U.S.=the only superpower



Authoritarian rule and democracy in Russia:
○Russia reformed under 1933 constitution, is large, has lots of recourses and corrupt politicians
○Boris Yeltsin tasked with reforming state+society, and resigns in 1999, making Putin (former KGB) head of Russian state. Putin limits opposition candidates and gets rid of free press, and has been leading ever since. While there has been conciderable economic growth, there have also been conflicts with NATO, placement of missiles in Eastern Europe, and the sale of technology to Iran.

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