Katie-Rose Nunziato 3.30.

11 Western Society and Eastern Europe in the Decades of the Cold War

World History Chapter 31 Outline

Introduction The US tested a nuclear weapon in the Marshall Islands in 1954. A Japanese fishing boat was hit by radioactive fallout, and one died, while many were hospitalized. The US and Soviet Union were testing nuclear weapons above ground, as did France and Britain, too. Many church groups protested these experiments. The governments of countries testing nuclear weapons refused to outlaw these experiments. An initial test ban treaty was created in 1963. Western and Eastern Europe were hit hard by World War II. The Soviet Union recovered fast, and because a rival of the US and its allies. After World War II: A New International Settling for the West Western European countries had lost their colonies after the war. They were secondary players in the cold war. Western Europe was destroyed because of World War II. France and Germany had food shortages and many other complications. Many people after the war In Europe tried to go back to their homeland, or find new homes. This period of time was when the US and Soviet Union grew to power as Europe put itself together again. Europe and Its Colonies Decolonization and the cold war were results of WWII. After the decolonization of many formerly British-controlled countries, the British found that more structured governments and forces were formed, and that the natives were more hostile with their former mother colony. Europeans found that attempting to hold on to colonies was too costly, and they were granted independence. Decolonization occurred in a smoother manner mostly from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s. The Cold War Occurred mainly between the US and Soviet Union. It began around 1945-1947. By the end of WWII, the Soviet Union had occupied most of Eastern Europes countries. In the time span of three years, the Soviet Union created communist establishments over the land they controlled. The US and British policy makers were upset by the Soviet Unions control over Eastern Europe, causing friction between them and the Soviets. The US formed its Marshall Plan, which was to use loans in order to help the Western nations hit hard by the war. The Soviets saw the Marshall Plan as the USs plan to gain economic dominance. The cold war focused in the beginning on Germany, which the Soviet Union wanted to use for itself, but the Allies prevented this. In 1947, the West wanted to help Germany recover economically, which resulted in the Soviets blockading Berlin. Germany was divided into East and West Germany. NATO was formed in 1949; it was to form a pact between countries to defend themselves against the Soviet Union. The Warsaw Pact was formed by the Soviets between Eastern European countries. The cold war caused the US to gain more influence over the world. It was agreed that the only weapon that would be able to defend countries from the Soviets nuclear weapons was more nuclear weapons. When Western Europe lessened concentration on its own military, the US focused on developing its own.

Katie-Rose Nunziato World History 3.30.11 Chapter 31 Outline The Resurgence of Western Europe Western Europe underwent rapid economic growth eventually. This goal to achieve rapid economic growth lessened tensions between different social groups or different sexes. The Spread of Liberal Democracy Communist and socialist rulers accepted democratic methods. Western Europe moved more towards a democratic government. West Germany became a democratic nation. In the 1970s, Spain and Portugal changed their government to democratic and parliamentary systems. The Welfare State There was a need for programs to reduce the impact of economic inequality, and to benefit the lower class citizens. The basic form of the modern welfare state was developed throughout Europe. Europe created many different governmental programs to provide economic relief. The US added to its New Deal legislation, but was more tentative with welfare measures than Europe. Unemployment insurance was improved. State-funded medical care emerged, and many other things were improved, such as family assistance. New branch of bureaucrat: technocrat. Up to 25% of the gross national product of France and Holland went towards welfare programs and purposes. New Challenges to Political Stability Civil rights movement in the US occurred; huge demonstrations occurred in the South. At the big American Universities, campus unrest occurred because of the issue with Vietnam. The young people were the ones expressing more radical or idealistic ideas to change the world. Student uprisings occurred in places like France, and they were granted more rights and reforms were created for them. The Green movement occurred in the 1970s. Feministic ideas were expressed by many students. Britains Margaret Thatcher and the USs Ronald Reagan did not totally undo their welfare states, but reduced its impact. The Diplomatic Context The West addressed problems such as nationalistic rivalry. US guidance was put together with the new modern governments of Europe. By 1947, the leaders of the US wanted to help Europe recover economically. France began to cooperate with Germany once the US and Europe began trying to solve diplomatic problems. The European Union was to form a single economic entity across the national boundaries. The idea of a single government in Europe did not quickly occur. After the cold war and division between the East and West, Europe became a diplomatically docile country. Economic Expansion The economic growth of Europe also came along with political and diplomatic change. By the mid-1950s, Western Europe went into a new economic period of time. In Europe, food production increased greatly, and it was a leading center of weapon production. The population of peasants fell, and immigration increased. Asian and Latin American immigrants flocked to the United States. Tourism occurred more as advertising became increasingly popular. Immigrants received lower wages than natives often.

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World History Chapter 31 Outline

Cold War Allies: The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand The US took up a new position as a military superpower. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand tightened their links with the US for protection and more contacts throughout the world. The Former Dominions Canada was at the top with its welfare policies after WWII. The Canadian government took measures to limit the influence of the US over Canada in 1980. The US and Canada signed a free-trade agreement in 1988. Many Asians were moving into Canada. New Zealand blocked US nuclear-armed vessels in 1985. Australia became Japans chief raw-materials supplier (not oil). By 1983, 60% of Australias immigrants were from Asia. The US Century? The US demobilized its troops shortly after the war in the hopes of world peace. With the Soviet taking over eastern Europe, and Britain unable to control the Western world, the US had to take an active position in the world. The US had taken a stand against communism. The CIA was formed in order to further protect our country. The US had troops in Japan that were sent to Korea in order to help the South Koreans. The US forced the Soviet Union to take off its missile sites on Cuba. The US began bombing North Vietnam in 1965. The Vietnamese War did not end in a win or lose for either side After the cold war, the US came out as the worlds only superpower. Culture and Society in the West Changes in gender relations occur. Consumer culture was expanded as the years went on. The West was the 1st example of an advanced industrial society. Social Structure Economic growth and improvement eased some social tensions in the West. Social mobility was increasingly possible. Unskilled labor jobs were left for the immigrants of a country. The differences between social classes, however, could still be seen clearly. Race riots occurred in Britain, Germany, and the US. The Womens Revolution Children attended more years of school. Women received factory and clerical jobs; this trend was on the rise. Women started receiving earlier educations in order to qualify for better jobs. Teenage employment dropped, since they went to school still. Women were paid less than men. Women in Western Europe gained the right to vote. More birth control methods were developed, and abortion laws were not as strict. An increasing amount of European children were being sent to day-care centers. Feminist protests were on the rise. Family goals became less important than before.

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World History Chapter 31 Outline

Western Culture The economy and social structure underwent some new problems. The US became a nation where great minds met to discuss, share, and research information. Patronage became increasingly important. Francis Crick and James Watson discovered DNA (actually, Rosalind Franklin did). Genetics was a booming field in the scientific world. The development of art continued; modern genre created. Abstract figures became popular, not neat and precise drawings. Films were created after the development of film. Fragmentation happened in the social sciences. Western Europe and the US underwent a period of great technological discoveries. A Lively Popular Culture US pop culture affected other countries, Soft drinks, gum, blue-jeans, and films became increasingly common and popular. American television seemed to be more popular and intriguing than European TV. Europes pop culture also influenced the US. The Beatles were originally from Europe, and were one of the most popular figures in the music industry in the US. Punk hairstyles in the 70s became popular. Sex was no longer just for the sake of building a family; it was sought out more for the sake up pleasure. Sex before marriage became more common. Eastern Europe After World War II: A Soviet Empire Soviet Russia spread out its empire. They had certain political controls. The Soviet Union as Superpower The Soviet showed an interest in playing an active role in European diplomacy. Aided communist countries such as North Korea and China. They gained an ally in Vietnam, where it received naval bases. The Soviet Union affected places such as the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Latin America. It became a world power with its great military and technological developments. The New Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe The Soviet Union developed as trade increased. The Soviet Union pushed its barriers onwards into Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe had been under the control of the Nazis for a long time. The Soviets kicked Germany out and took over. The Soviet attacked rivals such as the Roman Catholic Church. Education and propagandas were quickly developed. Peasants could not own property. The military was used to guard against the Germans and US, as NATO had formed in Western Europe. The formation of the Berlin wall occurred in 1961. The Soviets slowly allowed some political freedom (Poland allowed to have more well-liked leader). Their control over Eastern Europe slightly lessened as time went on. Independent labor movement happened, called Solidarity. Military presence in Europe still occurred for fear of invasion.

Katie-Rose Nunziato World History 3.30.11 Chapter 31 Outline Evolution of Domestic Policies The Stalinist form of government remained after the war at first. The war caused an increase in nationalism and loyalty to the country. Because of fear of the USs aggressiveness, they agreed to keep Stalins government in place to protect the country. Party members were few, purposely. New candidates for rule had to be voted in by at least three party members. Soviet Culture: Promoting New Beliefs and Institutions A lot of industrialization occurred, changing eastern Europe significantly. Relationships with Western culture and Eastern Europe grew in tension. The Soviet government did what many tsars could not do: industrialize. Economy and Society The Soviet Union was a fully industrial society between the 1920s and 1950s. Urban populations and manufacturing were on the rise. They needed to create an industry that would rival the USs. The industrialization of the Soviet Union created environmental damage. Communism failed to solve the problem with agriculture. A large amount of Eastern Europes workers were in the agriculture industry. Sports efforts were boosted, as well as tourism. The birth rates dropped, but so did death rates. Children underwent similar situations as the West. Russia was a male-dominating world still. De-Stalinization Stalin died in 1953. Stalins way of cultural isolation was gradually loosened, but not completely abandoned. A ruling committee was formed that balanced interest groups for fair rule and stability over the Soviet. Nikita Khrushchev gained primary power, but was different than Stalin, and attacked the ideas of Stalinism. Critics of the regime were no longer executed, but more likely to be sent to mental institutions. Economic growth steadily occurred throughout the process of de-Stalinization. Transitions between leaderships occurred smoothly. The Soviets had bragged to the West that they would be ahead of the world like the West never has been before. Under Khrushchevs rule, Sputnik was sent up as the first space satellite in 1957. The Soviets developed many rockets and developments for space. They cultivated a sports program that earned them more victories in the Olympics. The Soviet Union had a lot of foreign policy problems. They had a growing rift with China. The Soviet Unions government was deteriorating, even after decades of success. Global Connections: The Cold War and the World Competition between the Soviet Union and the West greatly affected the world from 1945 to 1992. Decolonization and nationalism emerged from the war. Western imperialism no longer completely dominated the world. Western and Soviet influences did not completely differ from each other. Both societies concentrated on science, challenged the old ways, and sold weapons around the world. The actions of these nations caused hostility at different points.