EFFECTS of the Cold War [AP World History] Unit 8 Topic 3 (8.3)

Summary

This video delves into the Cold War's impact, highlighting military alliances, proxy wars, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It covers the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, two major alliances formed by the U.S. and Soviet Union. The video explores key proxy wars in Korea, Angola, and Nicaragua, where the superpowers indirectly fought for influence. Finally, it examines the Cuban Missile Crisis and the subsequent Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, emphasizing the global tension surrounding nuclear weapons. The content provides a clear and engaging overview of how the Cold War shaped world events.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Cold War was marked by the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, but did not involve direct fighting between the two powers.
• 😀 Military alliances formed during the Cold War included NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the Warsaw Pact, with NATO being a Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact being a Soviet-led alliance.
• 😀 The Cold War led to proxy wars, where the U.S. and Soviet Union supported opposing sides in conflicts in various parts of the world, such as Korea, Angola, and Nicaragua.
• 😀 In the Korean War, North Korea, supported by the Soviets and China, invaded South Korea, leading to a U.N. intervention that primarily involved U.S. forces. The conflict ended in a stalemate.
• 😀 The Angolan Civil War, which began in 1975, became a Cold War battleground, with the U.S. backing one faction, the Soviets backing another, and South Africa supporting yet another group.
• 😀 The Contra War in Nicaragua in the 1980s saw the U.S. backing anti-Sandinista contras against the Sandinista government, which was supported by the Soviet Union.
• 😀 The buildup of nuclear weapons, or nuclear proliferation, was a significant aspect of the Cold War, with both superpowers developing and stockpiling nuclear arsenals.
• 😀 The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was a pivotal moment of the Cold War, where the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a tense standoff between the two superpowers.
• 😀 During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. set up a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent the delivery of more missiles, which brought the world close to nuclear war.
• 😀 The Cuban Missile Crisis ultimately ended without missile launches, but it underscored the dangers of nuclear proliferation, leading to the creation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968 to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Unit 8 in AP World History?

The main theme of Unit 8 in AP World History is the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

What are some of the effects of the Cold War mentioned in the video?

The Cold War led to new military alliances, proxy wars, and the buildup of nuclear weapons.

What military alliances were formed during the Cold War?

Two major military alliances formed were NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1949, which included the United States and several Western European countries, and the Warsaw Pact in 1955, formed by the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations.

What was the purpose of NATO and who were its members?

NATO was a military alliance formed to counter the Soviet threat. Its members included the United States, Great Britain, France, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Portugal, Iceland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

What countries were part of the Warsaw Pact, and why was it created?

The Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe, including Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Albania, and Bulgaria, as a response to NATO.

What is a proxy war, and how did it occur during the Cold War?

A proxy war is a conflict where two powers support opposing sides in a local war without directly engaging each other. During the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union often took opposing sides in wars in countries like Korea, Angola, and Nicaragua.

What happened during the Korean War, and how was it a proxy war?

The Korean War, which began in 1950, saw North Korea invade South Korea. The U.S. and United Nations supported South Korea, while the Soviet Union aided North Korea with weapons. China also intervened, creating a stalemate by 1953.

How did the Cold War influence the Angolan Civil War?

The Angolan Civil War, which began in 1975, became a Cold War proxy conflict. The United States supported one faction, the Soviet Union supported another, and South Africa backed a third faction.

What was the Contra War in Nicaragua, and how did the U.S. get involved?

The Contra War in Nicaragua occurred in the 1980s when the U.S. backed the Contras, an opposition group against the socialist Sandinista government. The Soviet Union supported the Sandinistas, making it another proxy conflict in the Cold War.

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis, and how did it relate to nuclear proliferation?

The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was a tense standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. This event highlighted the dangers of nuclear proliferation and led to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968.

What was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and why was it created?

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, created in 1968, aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. It called on nuclear powers to prevent non-nuclear nations from developing nuclear weapons.