ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR
Unit 11 – Topic 1
The Origins of the Cold War
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
What is the United States’ position in the world
after WWII?
With all the other world powers in ruins the US
becomes a world power
Best Years: start to 14:00


Japan was occupied by the US.
Became a democracy and a strong ally of the US.

The Soviet Union (Russia)
occupied most of Eastern
Europe, Central Europe & the
Eastern part of Germany

Germany was partitioned into
East and West
West Germany
•
East Germany
American, British & • Run by Soviets
French sectors
• Communist
• Independent
Democracy

Europe was in ruins so the US
launched the Marshall Plan provided financial support to
rebuild countries so they do not
turn to Communism


The United Nations
was formed to prevent
future wars…
…much like the
League of Nations
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The split between the US and
the Soviet Union brought on
the Cold War which
influenced world foreign
affairs until the 1980's.
Origins of the Cold War


The Cold War lasted from the end of World War II
until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990.
Cold War: competition between the United States
and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
for power; both tried to influence Europe
US and the USSR had different ideals and values.
Political
system
United States
Soviet Union
Democratic government
Totalitarian government
Capitalism (Free market)
Economic
system
Why were
they angry
with each
other?
Communist (socialist)
Capitalism: economic system
in which the factors of
production are owned
individually; different social
classes exist
Communism: economic system in
government makes all economic
decisions; no private property
1. US disliked/feared
Communism
2. USSR dropped out of First
World War
3. USSR signed a pact with
Hitler
1. Allies waited to invade Germany
in World War II
2. Took the US 17 years to
recognize the Soviet
government
3. USSR not invited to Peace
Conferences in World War I
4. US did not tell the Soviets about
the atomic bomb
Events of the Cold War
1945: Truman is president
 Containment: keep communism in the areas where it
already exists, do not allow communism to spread

Truman Doctrine (1947) - support democracies in
Europe to help contain communism
 give
economic and military aid to Turkey and Greece
($400 million)
 1947-1950: $660 million to European countries
More Events of the Cold War
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
Marshall Plan (April 1948): US gives $$$ to European
Countries to help them recover from WWII and to keep
communism out
Development of Competing Alliances
NATO (1949)
North Atlantic Treaty Org.
The Warsaw Pact (1955)
US & Western Europe promise
common defense
USSR & Eastern Europe
promised common defense
If one is attacked, all are
attacked

Europe is divided in a military standoff – Cold War
Play from 14-20 (stop at Berlin)