The COLD WAR, Explained [APUSH Review]

The Cold War is defined as a state of hostility between two opposing governments, primarily characterized by an ideological struggle rather than open warfare. The major Cold War involved the United States and the Soviet Union, with the US representing democratic capitalism and the Soviet Union authoritarian communism. These universalizing ideologies desired global adoption, leading to inevitable conflict and a perceived threat to each other's existence.

Long-term causes include the US refusal to recognize the communist Soviet state after the Russian Revolution and supporting anti-Bolshevik forces, fueling Soviet resentment and leading to the American Red Scare. Short-term causes involved deep disagreements about the post-WWII future of Germany and Eastern European countries, with Stalin seeking a buffer zone and Truman advocating for independent democracies. Additionally, mistrust grew over nuclear weapons, as the US kept the atomic bomb secret and refused to disarm, while the Soviets felt they bore a disproportionate burden during WWII.

The guiding philosophy for US Cold War policy was 'containment', articulated by George Kennan. This policy argued that Stalin aimed to expand communism globally and must be resisted with firm opposition. Kennan also believed that rebuilding Western European countries economically would prevent them from adopting communism. The Truman Doctrine operationalized containment by providing military and economic aid to democratic countries threatened by communist expansion.

Containment led to the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, a military alliance between the US and Western European democracies against Soviet expansion. The Soviet Union countered with the Warsaw Pact. The Marshall Plan, a significant American effort, provided $13 billion in loans to help Western European countries rebuild and revive their economies, aiming to prevent the spread of communism and foster US influence.

Disagreements over the future of Germany led to a standoff in Berlin. Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak, while the US sought to restore its economic and political strength. Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones; West Berlin prospered under democratic and capitalist policies, while East Berlin suffered under Soviet control. Stalin's blockade of Berlin, in response to Western currency reform, was met by the Berlin Airlift, where US and British planes supplied Berlin for nearly a year until the blockade was lifted in 1949.

The nuclear arms race led to a mutually assured destruction (MAD) scenario, prompting proxy wars where the US and Soviet Union backed opposing sides without direct conflict. The Korean War (1950-1953) was a key proxy war under Truman's administration. Korea was divided into communist North and anti-communist South. When the North invaded the South, Truman deployed troops under UN authorization, resulting in a stalemate. This war marked a significant expansion of executive power for the US President.

The Cold War encompassed periods of intense conflict, such as the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, where the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba brought the world to the brink of nuclear war before diplomatic resolution. There were also periods of détente, notably during Richard Nixon's presidency. In 1972, Nixon visited the Soviet Union and signed a Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) with Leonid Brezhnev, agreeing to limit nuclear weapons.