Changes

Technology played a key role in the Cold War.  The United States developed the atomic bomb in 1945.  Using secrets stolen from the United States, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb in 1949.  To stay one step ahead, the United States developed the far more powerful hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) in 1952.  This used nuclear fusion and is called a “thermonuclear weapon.”  The Soviet Union by itself developed its own H-bomb nine months later.  Both nations began to develop huge inventories of these bombs, and advocated a policy of “brinkmanship” or the willingness to do whatever was necessary to defend their interests.

Technology played a key role in the Cold War.  The United States developed the atomic bomb in 1945.  Using secrets stolen from the United States, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb in 1949.  To stay one step ahead, the United States developed the far more powerful hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) in 1952.  This used nuclear fusion and is called a “thermonuclear weapon.”  The Soviet Union by itself developed its own H-bomb nine months later.  Both nations began to develop huge inventories of these bombs, and advocated a policy of “brinkmanship” or the willingness to do whatever was necessary to defend their interests.

Spying between the nations took advantages of improvements in space technology.  First both the United and States developed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to shoot each other with nuclear arms.  Then the Soviet Union launched the first unmanned satellite, known as Sputnik I, into outer space in 1957.  This greatly alarmed Americans, and the United States responded by launching its own satellite in 1958 and later initiating a mission to land on the Moon.

Spying between the nations took advantages of improvements in space technology.  First both the United States and Soviet Union developed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to shoot each other with nuclear arms.  Then the Soviet Union launched the first unmanned satellite, known as Sputnik I, into outer space in 1957.  This greatly alarmed Americans, and the United States responded by launching its own satellite in 1958 and later initiating a mission to land on the Moon.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on trial, and an embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, which the Soviets ultimately did.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on trial, and an embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, which the Soviets ultimately agreed to.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

==China==

==China==

The Japanese devastated China during World War II.  The Nationalist Chinese led by Chiang Kai-shek received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong .  After the war, the communists  attempted to conquer the Nationalists .  Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949.  Due to many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949.  Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China.  Chiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and renamed it the Republic of China (Taiwan), which the United States supported.  By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists.  Fear gripped the free world.

The Japanese devastated China during World War II.  The Nationalist Chinese led by Chiang Kai-shek received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong.  After the war, the communists  attempted to conquer the Nationalists.  Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949.  Due to many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949.  Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China.  Chiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and renamed it the Republic of China (Taiwan), which the United States supported.  By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists.  Fear gripped the free world.

Chairman Mao quickly extended communist control to Inner Mongolia and Tibet in 1950-51, causing the Daili Lama to flee to India in 1959.  Tibet attempted a revolution that year, but the Chinese brutally repressed the revolution and Buddhism.  India received many refugees and, after a 1962 border dispute, has been on tense terms with China ever since.

Chairman Mao quickly extended communist control to Inner Mongolia and Tibet in 1950-51, causing the Daili Lama to flee to India in 1959.  Tibet attempted a revolution that year, but the Chinese brutally repressed the revolution and Buddhism.  India received many refugees and, after a 1962 border dispute, has been on tense terms with China ever since.

That single maneuver turned certain defeat into certain victory, as the North Korean army was then stuck without supplies.  But a month later communist Chinese began flooding into North Korea by the hundreds of thousands to help the fellow communists.  General MacArthur wanted to defeat them also, but President Truman refused and fired MacArthur.  In July 1953, a ceasefire was signed reestablishing the 38th parallel as the dividing line.  A demilitarized zone on both sides exists to this day.

That single maneuver turned certain defeat into certain victory, as the North Korean army was then stuck without supplies.  But a month later communist Chinese began flooding into North Korea by the hundreds of thousands to help the fellow communists.  General MacArthur wanted to defeat them also, but President Truman refused and fired MacArthur.  In July 1953, a ceasefire was signed reestablishing the 38th parallel as the dividing line.  A demilitarized zone on both sides exists to this day.

The North Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, ruled the country for decades and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong Il, who recently alarmed the world by saying he has nuclear weapons.  South Korea, meanwhile, has grown with capitalism far stronger than North Korea.  South Korea had its first free elections in 1987.

The North Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, ruled the country for decades and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong Il, who recently alarmed the world by saying he has nuclear weapons.  South Korea, meanwhile, has grown, with capitalism, far stronger than North Korea.  South Korea had its first free elections in 1987.

Repeated attempts to reunite North and South Korea have been total failures, as North Korea remains completely communist (like China and Cuba) while South Korea is one of the most Christian and free enterprise nations in the world.  The Korean electronics company Samsung has risen to dominance in the computer video market, and the Korean car company Hyundai has also been successful in competing against the Japanese and American companies.

Repeated attempts to reunite North and South Korea have been total failures, as North Korea remains completely communist (like China and Cuba) while South Korea is one of the most Christian and free enterprise nations in the world.  The Korean electronics company Samsung has risen to dominance in the computer video market, and the Korean car company Hyundai has also been successful in competing against the Japanese and American companies.