Cold War Context

Before we start, what do you know about the Cold War? Share anything you know. Or take a guess at what it was.

What do you think makes the Cold War "cold" as opposed to a "hot" war like WWII?

Why was WWII so costly for so many countries?

• There was a jobs shortage and mass unemployment during the war.

• Countries has to both fund the war effort as well as the destruction from the war.

Predict: Based on what you know about the United States and the Soviet Union, why do you think these two states came into such intense conflict once they emerge as superpowers after WWII?

Compare the economic advantages of the United States and Soviet Union after WWII. How were they similar? How were they different?

Why is the development of the atomic bomb such a powerful technological advantage? Why do you think the Soviet Union wanted to have access to this technology after 1945?