The Cold War - Michelot

The Cold War: The Early Years

Lesson Essential Question:

How did the Cold War impact the United States and the rest of the world?

The Cold War

• Was a 'war' between the USA and the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

• No direct fighting actually occurred between the two countries, but tensions were very high.

The Iron Curtain

• The Iron Curtain was the name for the boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. 

Is the Iron curtain an actual curtain made of iron?

• No, the term symbolizes the efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and non-Soviet-controlled areas.

Iron Curtain Speech

-Winston Churchill made an "Iron Curtain Speech" on a trip to the United States, addressing the lack of transparency of the USSR.

-He famously said "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an "iron curtain" has descended across the continent. 

The Origins of the Cold War

• Differing Beliefs / Ideologies 

• Capitalism vs. Communism

Containment

• Containment was a United States policy using numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism abroad.

• This policy was a response to a series of moves by the Soviet Union to widen its communist influence in Eastern Europe, China, Korea, and Vietnam

Berlin Blockade

• Berlin was in the heart of the Soviet eastern zone of Germany.

• Joseph Stalin (then leader of the USSR) cut off electricity supplies, railroads, canal routes into Western Berlin.

Berlin Airlift

• President Truman responded to the blockade with the Berlin Airlift 

• Allied planes transported supplies to West Berlin around the clock. 

• The airlift prevented the blockade from succeeding. 

Hungarian Uprising

• The Soviet Union established a Soviet Government in Hungary. They were ruled by Communists.

• Hungary asked the UN (United Nations) to recognize them as a neutral country. 

• This would mean that any Soviet Army entering Hungary would be breaking the rules of the UN and so the UN could send the troops to remove them. This was a good strategy but the UN did not intervene.

• The USA said they would support Hungary in some ways but they refused to intervene militarily 

Multiple Choice

As the iron curtain (imaginary line between East and West Germany) fell the _______________ between the United States and the Soviet Union began.

• War of the States

• World War III

• Cold War

• Soviet War

Multiple Choice

After World War II, the Soviet Union established satellites in Eastern Europe primarily to

• promote democracy

• expand its own political power

• prevent the rise of new regimes

• persuade Western Europe to help

Multiple Choice

Why did the USA not help the Hungarians?

• They were already under Russian control so it was not worth helping them

• They were waiting for a bigger war

• They didn't notice what was happening

Multiple Choice

U.S. and Allied airplanes delivered supplies into West Berlin for 321 days! This was known as the _____________ ________________.

• Iron Airlift

• Great Planes

• Operation Airplane

• Berlin Airlift

Multiple Choice

In 1948, the Soviets blocked ALL supplies from getting into West Berlin. How did the U.S. and the other Allies manage to still get supplies into West Berlin?

• train

• boat

• plane

• bicycles

Multiple Choice

When Germany was divided between the Allied Powers and the Soviet Union after World War II, Germany's capital city of _______________ was also divided.

• Prussia

• Berlin

• Austria

• Bismark

Multiple Choice

True or False: The Iron curtain was a huge iron barrier wall that was built between East and West Germany.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A system where the government owns the factories and other natural resources AND controls the production of goods is known as _____________________.

• isolationism

• independence

• communism

• democracy

Multiple Choice

Who was the dictator that controlled the Soviet Union?

• Joseph Stalin

• Winston Churchill

• Benito Mussolini

• Emperor Hirohito

Multiple Choice

Cold War "Containment" means....

• to surround a country with a Navy
• to attack any communist country
• to stop the spread of communism
• to place missiles in Cuba

Multiple Choice

A satellite state is a country that is formally independent in the world, but under heavy political, economic and military influence or control from another country.

• true

• false