Cold War Conflicts
Cold War Conflicts. The Korean War. Recall that the Cold War involved the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1950, the Cold War turned violent in Korea. After WWII, Korea had been split in half—North Korea and South Korea. The Korean War.
Cold War Conflicts
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Presentation Transcript
The Korean War • Recall that the Cold War involved the United States and the Soviet Union. • In 1950, the Cold War turned violent in Korea. • After WWII, Korea had been split in half—North Korea and South Korea.
The Korean War • North Korea was communist and had the support of the Soviet Union. • North Korea invaded South Korea in hopes of uniting the whole country under a communist government. • South Koreans did not want to be communists.
The Korean War • The United Nations told North Korea to remove its troops, but the invasion continued. • President Truman sent the US in to help protect South Korea because he did not want another country to fall under Soviet contol.
The Korean War • Fifteen other countries from the UN joined America as they forced North Koreans back. • China (also communist) joined North Koreans in the fight. • The sides continued to fight for two years and neither side could take control of the entire country.
The Korean War • Dwight D. Eisenhower became President and worked to end the Korean War. • It ended in 1953—still divided into two nations! • Even though the US kept North Korea from taking over, we paid a high price—33,000 soldiers died in the Korean War.
Divided Korea • The US saw how aggressive North Korea and China were during the Korean War. • They pledged to help protect South Korea and sent guards in to protect the borders.
Continuing Tensions • Leaders of free countries feared that communism would spread into South East Asia. • They came up with a treaty to protect SE Asian countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. • The alliance was SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organization).
Red Scare at Home • Some parts of communism sounded good and this caused many Americans to become scared that communism may spread to the US. • Red was the official color of the Communist Party and members were often called “reds.” • The Red Scare was the phrase used to describe this panic in the US.
Red Scare at Home • Laws were passed so that no one could overthrow the US government and some communists were arrested. • People worried about spies too. • War meant spies, and the Cold War was not an exception.
Red Scare at Home • Fears were confirmed when a Senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy, announced that there were hundreds of communists in the United States. • News spread and everyone focused on McCarthy because they wanted him to find those communists.
Red Scare at Home • Although innocent people were investigated, many spies were found. • After the Korean War, many people lost interest in the hunt for communists. • Many thought that McCarthy did not handle his role as Senator responsibly so when the Red Scare was over, so was his career.
The Arms Race • As the Cold War continued, the arms race continued. • An arms race is when countries compete to build more and better weapons than their enemy. • Both nations began with building atomic bombs.
The Arms Race • Both countries developed hydrogen bombs, or H-bombs. • The H-bomb was 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb that was used during World War II. • Due to nuclear weapons, the nations also built undercover bomb shelters.
The Cuban Missile Crisis • In 1959, Fidel Castro led a successful revolution in Cuba with the support of the Soviet Union and became communist. • This alarmed Americans, including John F. Kennedy (JFK), because this was the first country in the “west” to become communist.
The Cuban Missile Crisis • Like Truman and Eisenhower, Kennedy spent much of his time as President dealing with Cold War conflicts. • The most dangerous of these was the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Cuban Missile Crisis • In 1962 American spy planes discovered the Soviets setting up their nuclear missiles in Cuba—just 90 miles away from Florida. • JFK told Americans on the news one night of this frightening news. • He insisted that the Soviets remove their missiles from Cuba.
The Cuban Missile Crisis • He sent US Navy to block Soviet ships from bringing any more weapons to Cuba. • For the next few days people watched the news with fear as they saw the two superpowers in action. It looked like a nuclear war could break out at any time.
The Cuban Missile Crisis • Finally, the Soviets turned back and agreed to remove their missiles from Cuba. • The crisis was over, but everyone knew that the US and the Soviets had come very close to a nuclear war.
The Arms Race Continues • Distrust between the two superpowers continued and the Cold War continued. • Communism continued to show its disregard for personal freedoms with such actions like the building of the Berlin Wall.
The Arms Race Continues • The Berlin Wall was made of concrete, stone, and barbed wire. • It prevented people from East Berlin fleeing into non-communist West Berlin. • Those who tried to escape were shot!
The Arms Race Continues • Communism was as tough as ever before. • America knew that they had to remain strong with words and weapons.
