Causes and Effects of the Cold War
The Cold War began after World War II ended in 1945. Even though the Soviet Union was an important member of the Allied Powers, there was tension between them and the Allies. The Allies were worried about the rule of Joseph Stalin and the spread of Communism. The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. This was an extremely long war that was fought using power and technology. During the Cold War, there was the Arms Race, the Space Race, and Proxy Wars.
The Cold War had many effects of society. In Russia, military spending was cut leaving many people unemployed because most adults worked in the military-industrial area.
Map of the countries behind the Iron Curtain
Soviet Union- 1945 has control of Eastern Europe, beginning
of the Cold War
1991 end of the Soviet Union
Germany-1945 Potsdam Conference partitioned Germany into
four zones
1961 Construction of the Berlin wall
1990 Germany reunited
Czechoslovakia- 1948 Communist takes over Czechoslovakia
1989 Communist government falls in Czechoslovakia
Russia-1949 tested its first bomb
Korea-North Korea invaded South Korea equipped with Soviet
weapons
Vietnam-North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam which falls to
Communist forces
Poland-becomes independent in 1989
Hungary-become independent in 1989
Bulgaria- Communist governments fall in 1989
Romania- Communist governments fall in 1989
Lithuania-becomes independent in 1990
Analysis of the events in the Free World (photographs or images of important events and brief significance of each)
The Cold War touched many parts of American social and cultural
life, including the civil rights movement, Hollywood, and universities. The
nuclear threat and the Communists behind it brought about the National Defense
Education Act, interstate highway system, and doubt of the government by
liberals and conservatives. In some ways obvious, and some not so obvious, the
Cold War left its mark on everything from art and poetry to movies and comic
books. Sporting events also became big places of rivalry.
Hollywood example:
James Bond first appeared in 1953 and they were vaguely based on the Cold War. The Bond movies followed the political climate of the time in their descriptions of Soviets and "Red" Chinese. Although Bond films often used the Cold War as a backdrop, the Soviet Union itself was almost never Bond's enemy, that role being more often left to fictional and apolitical criminal organizations.
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show 1960's cartoon for children and adults was popular. In the show, the villains are Boris and Natasha, who were both Soviets.
Sports examples:
1972 Summer Olympics :
The USSR defeats the United States in men's basketball in a very talked about game!
Hollywood example:
James Bond first appeared in 1953 and they were vaguely based on the Cold War. The Bond movies followed the political climate of the time in their descriptions of Soviets and "Red" Chinese. Although Bond films often used the Cold War as a backdrop, the Soviet Union itself was almost never Bond's enemy, that role being more often left to fictional and apolitical criminal organizations.
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show 1960's cartoon for children and adults was popular. In the show, the villains are Boris and Natasha, who were both Soviets.
Sports examples:
1972 Summer Olympics :
The USSR defeats the United States in men's basketball in a very talked about game!
