Cold War Unit

U.S. History 11

#1. After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones:

a.Frenchb.Britishc.United Statesd.Soviet Union

·#2. In June of 1948, the French, British and U.S. zones were joined into the nation of West Germany after the Soviets refused to end their occupation of Germany.West

Germany

East Germany

West Berlin

East Berlin

#3 & #4

Improve your knowledge

• The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.

What was the Cold War?

#5. 1945-1991#6. Conflict between the

United States & the Soviet Union (Russia)– War of words & ideas with a few

“hot spots” mixed in– Competition of power between

the two countries– Tension & rivalry

After WWII, 2 superpowers emerged: U.S. & Soviet Union

#7. U.S.: capitalist society with a democratic gov.

#8. Soviet Union: communist country with a dictatorship.

#9. Both wanted to be the most powerful nation in the world.

U.S. Cold War terms

CapitalismDemocracyFreedom

Individualism

Capitalism

•Private ownership of industry/business

•Freedom of competition• Survival of the fittest•Laissez-faire (gov’t keeps hands

off)• Creates different economic

classes

Democracy

• Government by the people• Two forms

–Representative (people elect representatives to carry out govt business)

–Direct (people themselves carry out govt business)

Individualism

•Stresses the need for people to do things on their own

•Competition (the best individuals reach higher levels of power, status or money)

Freedom

•The condition of being free•Highly valued

–Freedom of the press (newspapers)

–Freedom of speech–Freedom to conduct business

Soviet Union Cold War terms

SocialismTotalitarianism

EqualityCollectivism

Socialism

•Govt ownership of industry/business

• Created as a reaction to capitalism

• Goal is to bring economic equality to people

•Classless society

Totalitarianism

•Govt by one or a few•Total control over many

aspects of people’s lives•No freedom of press or

speech

Collectivism

•Stresses the need for people to work together to benefit the whole

•“all for one and one for all”

Equality

•Condition of being equal•Highly valued

–Basic needs, food, housing education, jobs, supplied for all people

Nuclear Tensions

• #11. The U.S. & Soviet Union were in competition with each other to have the best, most powerful weapons in the world – known as the Arms Race.

• The U.S. had shown its atomic power when it exploded the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII.

• The Soviet Union was also developing atomic weapons/bombs.

·#12. The Soviet Union occupied most of Eastern Europe by the end of World War II.

#13. Other countries outside of Europe became communist after WWII.

North Korea (1945)China (1949)Cuba (1959)

#14. Domino Effect• The U.S. did not want communism to

spread any further – they were worried about the domino effect (one country becomes communist, then another, then another etc)

• Soviet Union had a lot of influence over many of the new communist countries (especially those in Europe).

• The U.S. was very worried that this influence was making the Soviet Union & communism more powerful.

#15. In 1946, Winston Churchill correctly warned that the Soviets were creating an “iron curtain” in

Eastern Europe. He was referring to the division between

communist countries & capitalist countries!

Peep under the Iron curtain

March 6, 1946