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The Cold War Day 3
Objective: Summarize the causes and
effects of the arms race and proxy wars in
Africa, Asia, Latin America, & the Middle
East.
Korea
● The Soviet Union supplied North Korea with tanks,
planes, & money to overtake the entire peninsula.
● South Korea asked the UN for help, & the US sent
Douglas MacArthur.
● After years of fighting, the North and South signed a
cease-fire agreement, and drew the border at the
38th parallel.
o A demilitarized zone separates the 2 countries.
● North: Communists; South: Democracy
Vietnam - A French Colony
● Ho Chi Minh asked the communists for help to
overthrow the French.
o WWII happened and Japan took over Vietnam.
o After WWII, France assumed Vietnam would be
returned.
● Domino Theory: the fall of one nation to communism
would lead to the fall of its neighbors → The US
justification to help France regain Vietnam.
● Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel
o North: communists
o South: anti-communists → Vietcong that had the
French chosen Ngo Dinh Diem assassinated.
The US Gets Involved
● The US did not want South Vietnam to fall to
the communists so LBJ sent troops.
o A guerilla war in unfamiliar terrain.
o The government they were defending
was really unpopular.
● The was protested in the US due to the
tremendous loss of life.
● Vietnamization: Nixon’s plan to withdraw
troops from South Vietnam.
o The North eventually took over the
South.
Cambodia
● Communist rebels, the Khmer Rouge, set up
their own government under Pol Pot.
o He slaughtered 2mil people → 25% of the
population.
● Vietnamese forces invaded and overthrew the
repressive government.
o They withdrew in 1989.
o 1993: the UN established a democratic
constitution.
The Third World
● Developing, often newly
independent nations, who
were not aligned with either
the US or the Soviet Union.
o Located in Latin
America, Asia, &
Africa.
o Economically poor and
politically unstable.
o Lacked technology &
education systems due
to colonialism.
Nonaligned Nations
● “Third Force”
● These nations wanted to remain neutral (ex. India & Indonesia).
Cuba
● Fidel Castro overthrew the government
with a revolution.
o brought social and economic
reforms :)
o suspended elections, executed
opponents, and controlled the
press :(
● Nationalized the economy & seized US
owned sugar mills and refineries.
o Eisenhower ordered and embargo
on trade with Cuba.
o Castro asked the Soviet Union for
military/financial aid.
Castro & Khrushchev
Cuban Missile Crisis
● The US trained anti-Castro Cuban exiles to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs
(exiles lost).
o In response, the Soviet Union built missile sites in Cuba.
o JFK demanded the Soviet Union remove the missiles.
 The Soviet Union agreed to leave if the US agreed not to invade
Cuba.
● Castro now owed the Soviet Union a favor → help support Latin American
Communist revolutions.
Nicaragua
● The US & the Soviet Union gave aid to the
Sandinistas (communists).
● The Sandinistas gave aid to other communist
nations (El Salvador).
o The US gave aid to the anti-communists in
El Salvador.
● The Sandinistas were overthrown in free
elections in 1990 which ended the civil war.
Sandinistas supporters.
Iran
● Iran’s leader, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, supported westernization.
o Iranian nationalists did not, and united under the Prime Minister,
Muhammed Mossadeq.
● The US stepped in and restored the Shah to power, and helped westernize
Iran.
● Religious opposition came from Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini.
o Overthrew the shah & established an Islamic state.
o Anti-US sentiment because of our support of the Shah.
o Encouraged Muslim radicals to overthrow their states.
● Iran vs. Iraq (Saddam Hussein - westernized/secular) → US gave
assistance to both sides, and the Soviet Union helped Iraq.
Afghanistan
● A revolt against the communist
government led to a Soviet invasion in
1979.
● Anti-communist forces (mujahideen →
holy warriors) were supported by the
US.
o The US stopped grain shipments to
the Soviet Union to force their
withdrawal (1989).
Mujahideen Rebels in Afghanistan.
The Congo
● Upon receiving their independence from Belgium, the Congo requested aid
from the Soviet Union.
o Soviet Union provided tanks and reinforcements.
● The US devised a plan to assassinate the new (communist loving) leader,
but failed to follow through.
Lumumba asked
USSR for help.