COLD WAR

INTRODUCTION
• American journalist Walter Lippmann was the first to coin the
term ‘‘cold war’’ in a 1947 book by that name.
• Cold war was fought between USA and Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR) between mid 1940s to the end of
1980s
• Cold war is defined as, ‘an atmosphere when there is no
armed struggle, but the rivals continue to maintain their
peace time diplomatic relations along with their hostility’.
 ALLIES
• The principal allies of the United States during the Cold War
included Britain, France, West Germany, Japan, and Canada.
On the Soviet side were many of the countries
of Eastern Europe—including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Poland, East Germany, and Romania—and, during
parts of the Cold War, Cuba and China. Countries that had no
formal commitment to either bloc were known as neutrals or,
within the Third World, as nonaligned nations ( see
Nonaligned Movement ).
 RELATION BETWEEN USA AND USSR
• USA and USSR continued to treat each other with diplomatic
relations and not resort to overt clashes but treated each
other with hostility. This led to the division of the world into
two power blocs. One led by the USA and the other led by
USSR.
 THE CAPITALIST BLOC
• The bloc led by USA was also called the ‘Western bloc’ or the
‘American bloc’
• It comprised Britain, France, Belgium, Italy, Canada,
Australia, the Netherlands, Greece, Pakistan, Turkey etc.
• These countries did not agree with USSR’s ideas of
communism as they thought it left no space for individual
liberty and Parliamentary democracy
• They projected USSR in a bad light
• America tried to influence many countries by aiding them
financially and took it upon itself to stop communism from
spreading
 THE COMMUNIST BLOC
• The communist bloc is also known as ‘the USSR’ and the
‘Soviet bloc’
• They considered USA’s capitalist democracy shallow and
only meant for the rich and the upper middle class. They
wanted equality and a change in the world. That’s why,
they promoted communism.
• To maintain its communist idea in the world, USSR
established governments in the countries which owed
allegiance to Moscow. Thus, Poland, Hungary, Romania,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Albania were on
USSR’s side.
 CAUSES
• SUPREMACY BETWEEN USA AND RUSSIA –
After the Second World War, England, France, Germany, Italy
were completely destroyed and Japan was devastated due to
atom bombs. That is why, only USA and Russia could influence
the world.
• COMMUNISM IN RUSSIA –
The revolution in Russia after the second world war gave
emergence to Karl Marx’s communist theory. USA and other
Europian capilatist countries, saw this communist theory as a
huge hindarance to their capitalist economy.
• DIFFERENCES IN PHILOSOPHICAL THINKING –
The industrial revolution in Europe led to the origination of an industry
oriented culture. So workers became more important. Karl Marx, in his
books ‘Das Kapital’ and ‘Communist Manifesto’ said that the workers,
labourers and deprived should come together and fight against Capitalism.
He said that they should come together and establish equality in the
society. America and the western powers wanted free economy and thus,
did not like this.

• RUSSIA DISOBEYED THE YALTA AND THE BALKAN TREATY –

The Yalta treaty was signed between the heads of America (Franklin
Roosevelt), Russia (Joseph Stalin) and Great Britain (Winston Churchill).
They agreed to have open elections in Poland but Stalin broke the
conditions.
The Balkan treaty stated that England would empower the Balkan nations
in Russia but Stalin created worker’s dictatorship in Romania, Greece,
Hungary and Yugoslavia leaving Britain upset.
• POISONOUS CANVASSING OF MEDIA –
The capitalist and communist countries begun using
newspapers, radio and speeches to fight each other.

• ARM RACE –
America signed NATO, SEATO and CENTO whereas Russia signed
the Warsaw treaty.
 PROGRESS OF THE COLD WAR
• BERLIN’S BLOCADE AND DIVISON OF GERMANY –
Russia being upset, blockaded Berlin in 1948 resulting in the creation
of Republic of Germany by America, Britain and France in the western
part of Germany. Thus, Russia created Russian Democratic Republic in
the eastern part of Germany.

• NATO Treaty –
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was a treaty formulated on
the basis of economic and defence policy signed between America,
Canada, England, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Ireland on 4th April 1949.
• THE RISE OF COMMUNIST CHINA –
Communist China was founded under the leadership of Mao-Tse-
Tung on 4th October 1949. USA strongly opposed China’s
membership in the UNO due to this. This lead to bitter
relationships between USA and Russia.

• NUCLEAR TEST OF RUSSIA –

Russia had a nuclear test after Stalin’s death in 1953. The two
countries had a space competition. Therefore, America was
upset.
• SEATO Treaty –
The SEATO treaty was signed between 8 nations, America,
England, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines
and Thailand on 8th September 1954 to stop China from
spreading communism.

• Warsaw Treaty –
The Warsaw treaty was signed between Russia, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, East Germany, Romania and
Poland in Poland, Warsaw between 11th to 14th May 1955 to
promote communism.
 END OF COLD WAR
In the late 1980s, USSR president Micheal Gorbachev tried
to make an ally of America to solve the world problem and
eliminate nuclear weapons. But, this wasn’t possible
because the American president didn’t listen. This created
difference of opinions in the soviet union as to what he
should do. Due to this the soviet union begun fighting
internally and collapsed.
After the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, USSR broke intro
smaller fragments of Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Georgia.
The eastern part of Europe returned to capitalism. In this
way, the cold war ended.
 EFFECTS OF COLD WAR
THE WORLD DEVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS - There was
a thought provoking war between America's Capitalism
and Russia's communism which divided the world into
two groups.

GROWTH IN WEAPONS COMPETITION - Both the

countries tried to make their supporting countries
strong in different section of forces.
AN INSPIRATION TO NUCLEAR WEAPON COMPETITION -
After the cold war, the competition in the world got
motivated and the world was on the verge of ruining.

DISCREDIT OF UNO - UNO's Security Council failed to

achieve its motive of peace when their moto was ''The
Whole World Is One Family''.
GROWTH OF NON ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT - this
movement was signed by many countries including
India, which didn't want to be involved with any of
the groups competing.
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