Summary Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (c. 1945 - present)
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Course
AP World History
Institution
Sophomore / 10th Grade
In this unit, you will study the post-World War II world, focusing on the ideological and political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Topics include the spread of communism, proxy wars, and the nuclear arms race. You will also explore the process of decolon...
AP World History: Unit 8 – Cold War and Decolonization (1945–1991) Study
Guide
Unit Overview:
Unit 8 focuses on the geopolitical tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union
during the Cold War (1945-1991) and the decolonization movements across Africa, Asia, and
the Middle East. This period also covers the impacts of the Cold War on global politics, the rise
of independence movements in colonized regions, and the emergence of new nations from
former colonies.
Please use this along with AMSCO for the best results
Key Themes
1. The Cold War (1945–1991):
○ Cold War Origins: The end of World War II left two superpowers: the capitalist
United States and the communist Soviet Union. Ideological differences between
capitalism and communism, along with territorial disputes, led to nearly 50 years
of tension.
○ Division of Europe: After WWII, Europe was divided into capitalist Western
Europe (supported by the U.S.) and communist Eastern Europe (controlled by
the Soviet Union). This division was epitomized by the Iron Curtain.
○ Key Cold War Alliances:
■ NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): A military alliance between
the U.S. and Western European countries to defend against Soviet
aggression.
■ Warsaw Pact: A military alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern
European communist nations in response to NATO.
○ Nuclear Arms Race: Both superpowers stockpiled nuclear weapons, leading to
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), where the use of nuclear weapons by
one side would guarantee the destruction of both sides.
○ Space Race: The Cold War extended into space exploration, with the Soviet
Union launching the first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, and the U.S. landing the first
humans on the moon in 1969.
2. Cold War Conflicts and Proxy Wars:
○ Korean War (1950–1953): The first significant conflict of the Cold War. North
Korea (backed by the Soviet Union and China) invaded South Korea (backed by
the U.S.). The war ended in a stalemate at the 38th parallel, with Korea
remaining divided.
○ Vietnam War (1955–1975): A Cold War conflict in which the communist North
Vietnam (supported by the Soviet Union and China) fought against South
, Vietnam (supported by the U.S.). The war ended with North Vietnamese victory
and the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.
○ Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): A 13-day standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet
Union over Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba, the closest the two
superpowers came to nuclear war. The crisis was resolved peacefully after
negotiations.
○ Afghan-Soviet War (1979–1989): The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to
support its communist government, leading to a long and costly war. The U.S.
supported the mujahideen resistance, leading to Soviet withdrawal.
3. Decolonization (1945–1975):
○ After World War II, European powers weakened, and nationalist movements
gained momentum, leading to the decolonization of many African, Asian, and
Middle Eastern nations.
○ India’s Independence (1947):
■ Led by Mahatma Gandhi and his policy of nonviolent resistance, India
gained independence from Britain. The subcontinent was partitioned into
two countries: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan,
leading to violence and mass migrations.
○ Africa:
■ Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence in
1957, led by Kwame Nkrumah.
■ Other countries, such as Algeria (1962), Kenya (1963), and the Congo
(1960), achieved independence through both peaceful negotiations and
violent conflicts.
○ Middle East:
■ The creation of Israel in 1948, following the UN Partition Plan, led to
conflicts between the new Jewish state and neighboring Arab nations,
sparking decades of tension and wars.
4. Non-Aligned Movement:
○ During the Cold War, some countries refused to align with either the U.S. or the
Soviet Union. This movement was led by countries such as India, Yugoslavia,
and Egypt, advocating for neutrality and independence from superpower
influence.
○ The 1955 Bandung Conference in Indonesia was a key moment for the
Non-Aligned Movement, where leaders from 29 African and Asian nations
gathered to promote peaceful coexistence.
5. Globalization and Economic Developments:
○ In the post-WWII era, the global economy became increasingly interconnected
through trade and economic policies.
○ The establishment of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF)
helped stabilize economies and promoted global development.
○ OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) was created by
oil-producing nations to control oil prices and assert economic power. The 1973
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