Transcript The Cold War:

The Cold War:
Superpowers Face Off
Setting the Stage
• During WWII the United States and the Soviet Union
had joined forces to fight against Germany.
• Even though they were allies the two countries did not
get along; many because of their different political
believes.
Allies Become Enemies
• When the Soviets and Germany signed the nonaggression
pact the United States got mad.
• Stalin was upset allies didn’t invade German occupied land
sooner.
Yalta Conference: A Postwar Plan
• Before WWII ended the United States, Britain, and Soviet
Union met at the Soviet Black Sea resort of Yalta.
• At this meeting they agreed:
1. To divide Germany into zones and control it with their
armies.
2. Germany would pay the Soviet Union for damaged
property and loss of life.
3. Stalin would help fight Japan
4. Stalin would have free elections (Churchill was skeptical
about this)
Creation of the United Nations
• At the end of WWII the U.S. and Soviet Union attempted to put
aside their differences and joined 48 other countries in forming
the United Nations.
• The purpose was to protect members from aggression and it
was to be based in NY.
• How does it work?
• Each UN member can cast a vote on issues
• 11 member body called the security council had real power
to investigate & settle issues.
• 5 permanent members-US, France, Britain, China & Soviet
Union could veto actions.
Differing U.S. and Soviet Goals
• Despite their agreement at Yalta & Security council meetings, the US
and Soviet Union had different goals.
• The Soviets had 50x the amount of soldiers killed and Soviet cities
were destroyed leading to political & economic differences.
• Meanwhile, the US had become the most rich and powerful country
in the world.
Discussion Question
Why did the United States and the Soviet Union split after the war?
Eastern Europe’s Iron Curtain/ Soviets
Build A Buffer
• A major goal of the Soviet Union was to shield itself from another
invasion from the west.
• Russia had no natural borders to protect them
• At the end of World War II their troops occupied a strip of countries
along the Soviets own western border.
Soviets build a buffer
• Stalin viewed these countries as a necessary wall of protection
and installed Communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland & Yugoslavia.
• Stalin’s refusal to allow free elections was a clear violation of
the Yalta meeting.
• Stalin & US President Truman met in Germany in July of 1945.
Truman pressed Stalin to allow free elections, but Stalin
refused.
• Stalin states the communism & capitalism could not exist in the
same world.
An Iron Curtain Divides East and West
• Europe was divided into two parts, east & west.
• Germany was split into two.
• The Soviets controlled the east including half of the
Capital of Berlin.
• It’s turned into a communist government and was called
the German Democratic Republic.
• The west being the Federal Republic of Germany
• Churchill called this the Iron curtain- Cold War boundary
separating the Communist nations of Eastern Europe
from the mostly democratic nations of Western Europe.
Discussion Question
Why might Winston Churchill use “iron curtain” to refer to the division
between Western and Eastern Europe?
United States tries to contain Soviets
• In response, Truman adopts containment- US policy directed at
blocking Soviet influence and stopping the expansion of
communism including help weak countries to resist the Soviets.
(forming alliances)
• Truman Doctrine- US policy of giving economic & military aid to
free nations that rejected the spread of communism.
• Marshall Plan- US program of economic aid to European
countries to help them rebuild after World War II. Provided
food, machinery and other goods.
The Berlin Airlift
• The US and its allies clashed with Russia over Germany.
• Soviets wanted to keep Germany weak and divided.
• France, Britain & US wanted to withdraw forces and allow
Germany to form one nation.
• The Soviets cut off water and supplies to western Europe, but
the allies flew food and supplies into West Berlin for 11 months
to help defeat the Soviet Union who lifted the blockade.
Discussion Questions
What was Truman’s major reason for offering aid to other countries?
What Soviet actions led to the Berlin airlift?
The Cold War Divides the World
• These conflicts marked the start of the Cold War between the United
States and Soviet Union.
• Cold War- struggle over political differences carried on by means
short of military action of war.
• Instead they used spying, propaganda, diplomacy, and secret
operations.
Superpowers Form Rival Alliances
• Most of the world was allied with either the US or the Soviet Union.
• NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a defensive military
alliance formed by 10 western European nations, Canada & the US.
Any attack on a NATO member would be met by attack from all
member nations.
• Warsaw Pact- military alliance formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union
and 7 Eastern European countries.
• 1961- The Berlin wall was built to separate East & West Berlin
symbolizing a divided world.
The Threat of Nuclear War
• Events will lead to brinkmanship- a policy threatening to go to war in
response to any enemy aggression.
• The US and Russia developed nuclear weapons creating fear thus
leading to a military build up by both nations known as the arms race.
• The countries competed with each other on everything.
The Cold War in the Skies
• Sputnik- first unmanned Soviet satellite made the US feel like they
were falling behind in science & technology forcing the US to pour
money into science education.
• The U.S. begins to send U-2 (spy planes) to scope out Soviet territory.
• May 1960, Soviets shoot down Francis Gary Powers U-2 plane which
heightens the Cold War tension.
Discussion Question
How did the U.S. policy of brinkmanship contribute to the arms race?
COLD WAR ACTIVITY
• Time Line!
Summary of the Sides
The West
• Players:
• USA – Truman
• UK – Churchill
• Gov’t:
• Capitalist / Democratic
• Supranational Organization:
• NATO
The Rest (East)
• Players
• USSR – Stalin
• China – Mao
• Gov’t:
• Communist
• Supranational Organization:
• Warsaw Pact