The Cold War: International Influence

1947: Movie makers in Hollywood were encouraged to make movies that spread American patriotism and anti-Communist messages.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1948: The Marshall Plan was signed into effect by the United States, promising money to struggling countries in Europe.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1949: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed and included many countries who wanted to resist the spread of Soviet influence. They agreed to defend each other in case of attack.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1950: The Soviet Union and China signed an agreement. It said that they will defend each other in case of attack. In June, China backed North Korea in their invasion of South Korea.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1951: The Mutual Security Act went into affect. It stated that the U.S. would provide military aid for “free peoples” around the world.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1953: The Korean War ended with an armistice agreement, but no formal peace treaty was signed. The peninsula remains divided between North and South Korea.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1954: The South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) was founded by Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Founded as a defense pact, SEATO funded many educational and cultural programs.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1955: The Warsaw Pact was founded, forming the Eastern Bloc. It included East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. Like NATO, it was a defense agreement.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1956: The Suez Crisis saw the intervention of Britain, France, and Israel in Egypt. This event was a significant geopolitical conflict during the Cold War era.

• Capitalist

• Communist

1960s: As rock 'n roll music spread throughout the world, the Soviet Union did its best to jam radio stations and block the music. The Soviet Union saw rock 'n roll as a Western influence.

• Capitalist

• Communist