Cold War Alliances

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

2

The Origins of the Cold War
LESSON
1
The United States and the Soviet Union
emerge from World War II as two
“superpowers” with vastly different political
and economic systems.

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

3

The Origins of the Cold War
LESSON
1

Former Allies Clash

■Following WWII, the U.S. and Soviet Union emerge as world’s two superpowers.

■Former allies become bitter rivals

Political and Economic Differences

■U.S.: democracy governed by the people; USSR: communist, totalitarian government

–communist party removed czar by force

–U.S. doesn’t recognize Communist government for 16 years

■Economically ideological opposites; USSR has state controlled economy, U.S. free enterprise

Continued…

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was an aim of the Soviet Union?

• balancing U.S. influence in Western Europe

• encouraging self-determination

• rebuilding Eastern European economies

• reuniting Germany

Lesson 1

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

4

Former Allies Clash (continued)

Wartime Tensions

■U.S. suspicious of Stalin because he had been Hitler’s ally

■Stalin resents that U.S. delayed attacking Germany and hid atom bomb

■Stalin does not allow free, multiparty elections in Poland as promised

–bans democratic parties in countries under Soviet control

–arrests non-Communist leaders

■Harry Truman wants access to raw material and markets in Eastern Europe for growing U.S. economy

Soviets Tighten Their Grip on Eastern Europe

■Soviet Union also has great economic, military strength

■Unlike U.S., Soviet Union suffered heavy devastation on own soil

■Installs communist rule in satellite nations, countries it dominates

■1946, Stalin announces war between communism, capitalism inevitable

■Europe divided by “iron curtain” into two political and economically different regions

Continued…

Multiple Choice

Which of the following European countries did not lie beyond the iron curtain?

• Poland

• Bulgaria

• Hungary

• West Germany

Lesson 1

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

5

Former Allies Clash (continued)

Conflict in the United Nations

■ 1945, United Nations established as new

peacekeeping body

■ UN becomes arena where U.S., U.S.S.R. compete

– Structure of UN feeds tensions; General

Assembly and Security Council

– Security Council veto used to block

discussion, creates stalemate

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

6

The Origins of the Cold War
LESSON
1

New Foreign Policies

■Conflict and tension between U.S. and USSR turns into Cold War

■Cold War lasts from 1945 to 1991

United States Establishes a Policy of Containment

■U.S. policy of containment—measures to prevent spread of communism

■Western Europe first region to receive U.S. financial aid

■Later, U.S. sends financial aid and military troops to Asia, Africa, and Latin America

■U.S. intervenes many times in conflicts to support anti-communist forces around the world

United States Creates and Intelligence Community

■National Security Act creates two new intelligence agencies

–National Security Agency to identify potential threats

–Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) gathers intelligence and performs covert operations in foreign
countries

Open Ended

What factors caused tension between The Soviet Union and the United States after World War 2?

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

7

The Origins of the Cold War
LESSON
1

Efforts to Rebuild Europe

■WWII leaves much of Europe in ruins; leads to political and economic instability

The Truman Doctrine

■U.S. replaces British aid to Greece, Turkey; reduce communist threat

■Truman Doctrine—support against armed minorities, outsiders

The Marshall Plan

■Post-war Western Europe in chaos

–factories destroyed; millions of refugees

–1946–1947, harsh weather makes problems worse

■1947, Sec. of State George Marshall proposes U.S. aid to nations in need

■Marshall Plan revives 16 nations; even offers aid to USSR and its allies

–Soviets refuse

–aid helps U.S. build strong ties to Western Europe

Multiple Choice

Which region did the Soviet Union most often use force?

• Eastern Europe

• Western Europe

• the Middle East and North Africa

• Southeast and East Asia

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

8

The Origins of the Cold War
LESSON
1

Superpowers Struggle over Germany

■U.S. and USSR clash over German reunification; Germany divided in 4 zones

■Britain, France, and U.S. combine their zones; West Berlin surrounded by Soviet zone

■1948, Stalin closes all access to West Berlin, only enough food and fuel for 5 weeks

The Berlin Airlift

■Berlin airlift—Britain, U.S. fly food, supplies into West Berlin

■1949, Stalin lifts blockade

■Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), including West Berlin, German Democratic Republic (East Germany), including
East Berlin, are formed

The NATO Alliance

■Fear of Soviet aggression leads to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

■European nations, U.S., Canada pledge mutual military support

■Peacetime military alliance and Cold War end policy of U.S. isolationism.

■1952, Greece and Turkey join NATO; 1955, West Germany joins

Open Ended

How does Truman intend to help other countries resist Communist influence?