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Cold War

Cold War. Background. Before World War II there were many countries that could qualify as “superpowers” – USA, USSR, Britain, France, Japan, Germany Damage caused by the war left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called “superpowers” – USA and USSR.

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Cold War

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  1. Cold War

  2. Background • Before World War II there were many countries that could qualify as “superpowers” – USA, USSR, Britain, France, Japan, Germany • Damage caused by the war left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called “superpowers” – USA and USSR

  3. Yalta Conference • Big Three (Stalin, Truman, Churchill) met to decide the fate of Germany • Decided to divide Germany into 4 zones • Each zone would be occupied & governed • Allow for free elections • Stalin did not like this • Caused a split between the Soviets and Americans

  4. Potsdam Conference • USA and USSR split even further • Decisions: • Germany should remain a single country, divided temporarily • Germany must be demilitarized • Nazi Party outlawed • German politics rebuilt on democratic ideas • USSR had a problem with this • Individuals involved in war crimes should be put on trial (Nuremberg Trials) • Established the United Nations (world peacekeeping organization)

  5. What is the Cold War? • Period of political tension and military rivalry between the USA and USSR following World War II • War of ideas (communism vs. capitalism) • Did not get violent because that would have led to nuclear war

  6. How Long Did the Cold War Last? Cold War lasted from 1945 – 1991 (a little more than 45 years)

  7. Why did the Cold War Begin? • USSR and USA didn’t trust each other • Disagreed on how to deal with Germany and Eastern Europe after WWII ended • USSR created a “buffer zone” of nations along its border to protect it from invasion • AKA “Satellite Countries” • USA saw this as a threat for expansion and possible domination of Europe • Border between Communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe was called the “iron curtain”

  8. Stalin & the “Iron Curtain”

  9. Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan • USA feared Soviet expansion • Truman Doctrine (1947) • Document declaring communism a threat to democracy • Said the US would provide aid to countries threatened by communist expansion • Enforced the policy of “containment” • Containment = stop the spread of communism

  10. Believed that communism was successful in countries with economic problems • Marshall Plan = Economic Recovery Program • Lent money to countries in need = encourage democracy • Soviets saw this as a way to buy support of countries • Created COMECON to offer assistance to Eastern Europe • Failed because they didn’t have as much money to offer

  11. Division of Germany • Germany & Berlin were both split into 2 zones • Plans to reunify Germany failed • Germany was split into 2 countries: • West Germany – democracy • East Germany – communist • Soviets opposed this split • Blockaded Germany to cut off supplies and force Western Powers out = Berlin Blockade • US responded by bringing supplies to W. Berlin by airplane = Berlin Airlift • USSR eventually gave up • Germany remained permanently split

  12. COLD WAR SPREADS • Communism began spreading throughout Asia • China became communist • 1949 – Arms race begins • 1949 – USSR developed atomic bomb • Early 1950s – hydrogen bomb • Mid 1950s – intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) could sent bombs anywhere • 1957 – Sputnik I, the first satellite, sent into space by USSR

  13. Formation of Alliances • As tensions between the USA and USSR increase, alliances formed: • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – USA and Western European allies • Warsaw Pact – Soviet Union and Eastern European allies

  14. NATO vs. Warsaw Pact

  15. USA also formed alliances against communism in Southeast Asia and the Middle East • SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) • CENTO (Central Treaty Organization • By mid-1950s USA had alliances with over 42 countries

  16. S E A T O C E N T O

  17. Berlin Wall • 1955 – Nikita Khrushchev became leader of USSR • Many people in East Berlin were trying to escape communism and move West • 1961- Berlin Wall built around West Berlin • Built to stop refugees from escaping from east to west • Berlin Wall became a symbol of the Cold War • Symbolized the division of communism and democracy

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