COLD WAR CONFLICTSUNIT 9: COLD WAR

CHAPTER 31 SECTION 3

US AND THE USSR

To avoid direct conflict, the US and USSR tried to win the support of other nations

Used military and economic aid

In addition to NATO, the US also formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Org (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Org (CENTO)

SEATO: US, Britain, France, Pakistan, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand

CENTO: Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Britain, US

Major proxy wars during the Cold War: Korea and Vietnam

KOREAN WAR

Japan forced to give up Korea after WWII

USSR and US agreed to divide it into two zones at the 38th parallel

The USSR zone in the north became communist; US zone in the south became anti-communist

1950, N. Korean troops invaded S. Korea

Truman received UN approval to send US troops in defense

US troops crossed 38th parallel; China feared US advance, sent Chinese troops to push back

3 years of war, no victory for either side; armistice signed

Americans happy with containment success; alarmed at communist aggression

38th parallel still remains

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban dictator in 1959

Quickly allied with USSR

US feared a communist regime so close

US President Kennedy (JFK) in tough spot

Direct conflict with Cuba could lead to Soviet retaliation, possible nuclear war

JFK signed off on CIA plan to back revolt against Castro

US funded, armed Cuban exiles to invade Bay of Pigs

Bay of Pigs invasion = disaster; exiles surrendered in 3 days

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

After Bay of Pigs, Khrushchev had nukes placed in Cuba to counteract US nukes in Turkey

“Your rockets are stationed in Turkey. You are worried over Cuba…because it lies at a distance of 90 miles across the sea from the shores of the United States. However, Turkey lies next to us.”

US blockaded Cuba to prevent further nuke deliveries

Khrushchev and JFK made agreement

USSR would remove nuclear weapons from Cuba

US promised not to invade Cuba

World came close to total nuclear war

Both sides terrified; hotline between Moscow and DC set up to allow quick communication

“I don’t know what weapons might be used in World War

III. But there isn’t any doubt World War IV will be fought

with sticks and stones.”

- Albert Einstein

"The nuclear arms race is like two sworn enemies standing

waist deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other

with five.”

- Carl Sagan