How did America become a superpower?
 You will learn eight key Cold War terms to help you understand how
contrasting valued led to tension between the United States and the
Soviet Union during the Cold War?
 You will finally be able to answer the question of “who cares if they
want to be Communist over in Russia?”
 TODAY’S GOAL…
 CAN YOU LEARN EACH OF THE 8 COLD WAR TERMS AND
CONNECT THEM TO ONE OF THE SUPERPOWERS, USA OR
RUSSIA?
 1. With your group, review the Cold War Terms and their definitions using the
textbook.
 2. Examine the worksheets, with their illustrations, written information, and
quotations at your station.
 3. Discuss which term fits best with your card.
 Record the number A.1-A.8 next to the term you select
 Write a brief explanation next to your choice
 Identify the quote you believe best represented the term and copy it on to your
handout.
 4. CHECK with my to make sure you are correct before moving to the next station!
1. You and your group will explain ONE of
the key terms to the class.
As I put up that visual, you can stand at
your seats and explain the connection.
2. Decide where your term fits on the
spectrum of MOST LIKELY TO PRODUCE
A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY.
Condition of being equal
Meeting basic needs, such as food,
housing, education, and jobs.
Everyone gets one!
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
 Equality of opportunity and
 Equality of condition was essential
equality before the law are
both needed for a happy and
healthy society
 Giving necessities without
working for it would
undermine the quality of a
work ethic
 US moved towards equality and
opportunity before the law
during the Cold War
for a healthy society
 Society MUST share material wealth
 No one should have an unfair
advantage
 During the Cold War, Soviets
provided education, health care,
and other basic necessities
 Never fully achieved in Russia
Governing by the people through voting
Two forms:
Representative
Direct
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
Best system of
 Cannot promote democracy and
government
American makes
decision by majority
rule
capitalism at the same time
 Democracy = economic system that
rewards equality
 Few take advantage of the many
 Misery and poverty stem from this
 Poverty rate in the US during the
Cold War was an example as it
rose
Private ownership of industry
Freedom of competition
Survival of the fittest
Laissez-faire government
Various economic and socioeconomic classes
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
 Offers people the opportunity
 Flawed economic society
to better themselves through
hard work
 Incentives
 Better products and
production rates
 Better work ethic
 Goods at a lower price
 Brings out the best in people
 Emphasis on competition
breeds selfishness and
undermines cooperation and
community
 Argued poverty and
oppression in the world were
the result of capitalism!
People working together to benefit
the whole
The greater common good
“all for one, and one for all”
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
 Violates human nature
 Shared ownership of all
 Doomed to failure
 Violated the
individuals right to own
property
property is only way to
create fair society
 In USSR, society owned
every factory, business,
and farm COLLECTIVELY
 Fruits of society’s labor is
fairly distributed
Individual pursuits and achievements
are highly valued and sought after
People working in their own best
interest to reach their highest level of
achievement which will in turn benefit
society
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
 Peoples lives are determined
Produces winners
by inner fortitude
 Human nature is to be
 Individualistic
 Competitive
 Society benefits more when
each individual is reaching
their highest potential
 Competition is a positive thing
and losers
Results in a society
full of inequality
Government ownership of industry
End Goal is economic equality for all
people
Classless society
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
 Threatens one of America’s
 Response to the inequalities of
most basic rights, the
individual right to own and
control property
 Inhibits individuals desire and
ability to achieve for the
betterment of society
 US Constitution provides for
protection of private ownership
of business enterprises
the Capitalist system
 Government ownership
provided a means by which
wealth in society could be
evenly spread
 Only shared ownership can
prevent the abuses of
capitalism
The condition of being free at all times
Freedom of the press, freedom of speech,
freedom of religion, and freedom of
business and work is a highly valued
entity
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
 At the core of a happy and
 People are not free unless they
productive society is
freedom
 Fought for freedom in the
American Revolution, Civil
War, World War 1, and
World War II
share of the countries wealth
can cover their basic needs
 Redistribution of wealth was
essential and government must
control the press and industry
to prohibit anyone from
exploiting and denying
freedom to the working class
Government by one or a few people
Total control over many aspects of people’s
everyday lives
No Freedom of speech or press
American Perspective
Soviet Perspective
 Unacceptable in America,
 Required to transform an
threatens out basic human
needs such as freedom of
the press, freedom of
assembly, etc
 A healthy and productive
society can only be
achieved when people are
able to express their views
unequal society into one in
which wealth is evenly
distributed
 Protecting the interests of
society against a few
selfish people’s desires
requires governmental
powers to silence dissent
Tell me another example of a word that
means something to you, but something
totally different to someone else.
Please write your answer on the back of
your paper.