Results of U.S. influence
Creation of world monetary and trade systems, like the International monetary fund which offered loans to help nations rebuild, and the creation of NATO for the defence of western european nations
Indian decolonization
Economic miracle
The marshall plan led to an incredible economic recovery. West Germany's GDP was 15-20% higher than in the pre-war years, and west germany was only 1 half of Germany!
When people were allowed to express their opinions, turns out they didn't really like the USSR. A wave of nationalism spread over soviet countries who started demanding their independence.
Marshall plan (1947)
After WWII, Europe lay in ruins. The U.S. hoped strong democratic economies would not easily fall to communism. Western European countries gladly accepted the money, while Soviet satellite states did not.
Hegemony
Unified dominance. Ex: the soviet union's dominance over eastern europe.
Prevented east berliners from fleeing to the economically prosperous west.
2nd wave of feminism
Whereas the main push during the first wave was to secure the right to vote, the second wave focused on societal issues and inequalities women faced including education, marriage laws, and professional careers.
European union
Chechen muslims had profound anti-russian sentiments that stretch back centuries. When the USSR collapsed, they declared independence. They ruled themselves for 3 years until Russia decided to reassert its influence through a series of conflicts that ended in 2017.
Fall of the Soviet Union in 1991
Women's rights
A major push for women's suffrage and other rights after women's contributions to WWI and WWII
Decolonization
It was Wilson's insistence that nations be granted the right of national self-determination that led to calls for independence throughout the world. (14 points)
Hungarian revolution (1956)
Agreement between 6 countries to integrate their coal and steel operations. Was quickly profitable for member nations and the idea was that if nations were tied together economically, they wouldn't go to war with one another.
Perestroika
Cold war
A conflict between the United States and soviet union where neither engaged in direct warfare with the other.
They decided to expand the european coal and steel community to include other industries. Eventually integrated their economies into one larger european economy with its own currency.
Korean war
After Japan was defeated, their former colony Korea was divided into north and south. In 1950, the north invaded the south, and the USSR US each backed opposing sides.
Division of germany
At the end of the war, germany was divided into occupation zones. The west wanted economic recovery for Germany to keep europe stable, but the soviets wanted to keep germany weak, and wanted to extract reparations.
Polish elections of 1989
Poland had alway resited communism. A labor party called solidarity protested any attempt to restrict their freedoms. In that year the soviets legalized their party, thinking they would loose anyway. Solidarity won and started dissolving the bonds between poland and the soviet union.
Growth of social welfare
The idea of social welfare spread throughout europe.
Algerian decolonization
Proxy wars
Although the US and USSR never directly fought, the cold war did turn hot in a couple of proxy wars across the globe.
