The Cold War (1947-1991)

Damien T.

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The Cold War (1947-1991)

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Cold War, conflict between USSR and USA, nuclear powers, Marshall plan, Czech coup, FRG Federal Republic of Germany, GDR German Democratic Republic, peaceful coexistence, Cuban missile crisis, détente, Vietnam War, communism

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Abstract

The expression used for the first time in 1947 and popularized by the journalist Walter Lippmann is the name given to the international relationships between 1947 and 1991. It was a military and ideological conflict concerning every aspect (economy, ideology, propaganda, science, conquest of space, sports, etc.) that opposed the USSR and their allies to the United States and their allies. This confrontation did not lead to a generalized and direct conflict between the two nuclear powers but used client states or other conflicts. Several periods can be identified during the Cold War.

The Cold War (1947-1962)
1. The Cold War reached its peak (1947-1953)
2. The peaceful coexistence (1953-1962)
The Détente (1963-1975): a more complex world
1. A less tense world
2. Still some conflicts
3. The non-aligned movement and the contestations inside the two camps
The second Cold War and the end of the Cold War (1975-1991)
1. The spread of communism in the '70s
2. ‘America strikes back' (1980-1985)
3. The end of the Cold War (1985-1991)

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[...] In 1946, former PM of GB Winston Churchill used the expression of “iron curtain” (Fulton's speech). In Eastern Europe, USSR was settling “the popular democracy” little by little, and tensions grew in Greece. GB, which couldn't provide support anymore, asked for the help of the United States. In 1947, the American President Harry Truman proposed the “containment doctrine in a speech before the Congress. USSR replied by the Jdanov Doctrine a few months later. I. The Cold War (1947–1962) 1947 is the turning point with the Marshall plan billion) and the two doctrines. [...]

[...] The end of the Cold War (1985–1991) The USSR had economic problems and couldn't compete anymore with the armament of the USA. New negotiations on armaments (START). Some conflicts were settled (Iran-Iraq war for example). South Africa ended Apartheid. Gorbachev, new leader since 1985, couldn't also control the popular democracy (especially in Poland). His policy, Perestroika and Glasnost, led to the end of the popular democracies in 1989 (peacefully except for Rumania, end of the wall in November) and of the Soviet Union (1991). [...]

[...] The Suez crisis (1956): Egypt vs. Israel, GB and France. The USA and USSR made pressions on the western countries to stop the war. Second Berlin Crisis (1958–1961) it led to the construction of the wall (August 1961). Cuban missile crisis (1962) the highest point of the cold war. II. The Détente (1963–1975): a more complex world A. A less tense world The USA and USSR made compromise on armaments with the Moscow Treaty (1963) the nuclear ban Test (1968) or the SALT agreement (1972). [...]

[...] The second Cold War and the end of the Cold War (1975–1991) A. The spread of communism in the '70s Due to the weakening of the USA (Watergate scandal, Vietnam War), USSR had time do spread communism in the world - Asia: with Vietnam (North conquered South), Laos became communist (protectorate of Vietnam). Victory of the Vietnam (pro-USSR) over Cambodia (pro-China) in 1979. - Latin America: Nicaragua became communist and Grenada Island in 1979. - Africa: a lot of African countries were close to USSR (Algeria, Libya, Ethiopia). [...]

[...] The Cold War reached its peak (1947–1953) 1. The two blocks are formed Military and economic alliances are made in the two blocks, especially by the USA (Pactomania). THE USSR THE USA Military alliances Warsaw Pact (1955) Rio Pact (1948) NATO (1949) Baghdad Pact (1955), SEATO (1954) ANZUS (1951) Economic alliances COMECON (1949) OEEC (Organization for European Economic Cooperation 1948) 2. Cold war began in Europe The Prague or Czech coup (February 1948). Tchekoslovaquia became a popular democracy. The 1st Berlin crisis or the Berlin blockade and airlift (June 1948 – Mai 1949) led to the official division of Germany with the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) Asia entered the scene In 1949, China became communist (except Taiwan kept by the nationalists) after the civil war (1946–1949). [...]

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