Vocabulary 
Term
Knowledge
Connections
Superpower
Satellite state
Definition
Picture
Essential Question
What was the purpose of NATO and the
Warsaw Pact?
What is a superpower?
When World War II ended, the United States and the
Soviet Union became the world’s superpowers
No other country could match
their military strength
However, their political ideas
were very different
How were they different?
United States
 Constitutional government
 Power is in the hands of the people
Soviet Union
 Totalitarian government
 Power in the hands of the Communist Party
Weren’t they allies in the war?
The US and the Soviet Union
worked together in World War II to
defeat Germany and its allies…
They disagreed about what should happen to the
world after the war was over
United States
Wanted to see the spread
of democracy
Soviet Union
Wanted to see the spread
of communism
Did they fight each other?
This war of ideas became known as the COLD WAR
Both nations tried to spread their
ideas and influence in the world by
using any method other than war
Building up larger supplies of weapons
They competed in other ways, such as
Gaining support of weaker nations
through economic and military aid
What is a “cold war”?
cold war – (noun) no direct military action
hot war – (noun) direct military action
World War I and World War II are both
examples of “hot wars”
Since the US and the Soviet Union never fought directly, the
time from 1945-1991 has become known as the Cold War
How are their ideas different?
United States
Soviet Union
Protects individual rights
Establishes rights, but they are not
enforced
Free elections
Government controlled elections
Representative national, state, and
local governments
Party in control of national, state,
and local governments
Police under civilian control
Police under party control, also a
secret police unit to control
dissenters
Free press
Communist controlled press
Military under control of the
representative government
Military under control of the
Communist Party
Private property ownership
Party run business, limited private
ownership
Did other countries have an opinion?
The split between democracy and communism led to
new military alliances
In April 1949 – NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization) created
Members of NATO supported democratic governments
In May 1955 – Warsaw Pact is created
Members of the Warsaw Pact had communist governments
Who were the members of NATO?
Founding member nations included:
 Belgium
 Canada
 Denmark
 France
 Iceland
 Italy
Many nations have continued to join
the NATO alliance over time
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Portugal
 Great Britain
 United States
The NATO alliance still exists to this day to
provide defense to its nations from any
outside attack – not just communism!
Who were the member of the Warsaw Pact?
 Soviet Union
 Poland
 East Germany
 Czechoslovakia
The Warsaw Pact ended with
the Cold War in 1991
 Bulgaria
 Hungary
 Romania
 Albania
Several nations are now
members of NATO!
Essential Question
What was the purpose of NATO and the
Warsaw Pact?
Warsaw Pact
NATO
Gov’t
Type
Major
Nation
Location
of
Members