Questions!
Write down everything you know about
the period of American history referred
to as the “Cold War.” What is a cold War?
The Cold War Begins
Aim: How did post WWII tension lead to the Cold
War?
Overview
 The United States and the Soviet Union had cooperated
to win WWII.
 After the war, however, conflicts in ways of thinking led
to mutual suspicion, hostility , and eventually to indirect
conflict that lasted for over 40 years.
 This period is referred to as the cold war.
 In 1948, JournalistWalter Lippman first used the term Cold
War, borrowing from a French phrase, to refer to a “constant war
of nerves” between the Soviet Union and the United States.
I. Superpowers
 After WWII several powerful nations of the past were devastated.
(Which ones?)
 The Soviet Union and the United States emerged from WWII as
the worlds greatest powers.
 Superpower: Powerful country that plays a dominant economic,
political, and military role in the world.
II. Post WWII Europe
 Both Germany and Japan were devastated socially, economically,
and physically by the war.
 In both countries the army was disbanded and trials were held to
punish people responsible for war crimes.
 The victorious allied powers occupied the two countries.
III. Division of Europe (1945)
 Yalta Conference: Before the end of WWII the US,
England and Soviet Union met to outline division of
Germany after the war. (Stalin first agrees to have free
elections in Poland, Bulgaria, Romania but later goes
back on his word)
 Potsdam Conference: Big three formalize the
decision to divide Germany into four zones of
occupation.
 Truman walks away from the conference believing the
USSR was planning “world domination.”
IV. Divided Europe
 After WWII democratic governments were restored in
Western Europe.
 Eastern Europe was occupied by the armies of the
communist Soviet Union.
 Iron Curtain: Imaginary line that divided
Europe after WWII between communist and
democratic nations.
Soviet goals vs. American goals
Soviet
 Keep Germany weak and
divided
 Eastern Europe under
Soviet control
 Spread Communism
 World Domination
America
 Germany stronger and




united
Eastern Europe –
Independent Nations
Stop spread of
Communism
Support free peoples
resisting subjugation
Containment
V. Growing Distrust
 After WWII the Soviet Union was viewed as a threat to
security of noncommunist world.
 Containment: U.S. Foreign policy in which US attempted
to limit communist expansion.
 Full commitment of the American economic, military and political power
US Cold War Policies
Truman Doctrine 1947
Marshall Plan 1948
 Support free peoples
 $13 billion in aid to
resisting subjugation
European countries
Berlin Airlift
Lasted about a
year.
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Satellite States
 Countries/States controlled by the Soviets
 Poland
 Czech Republic
 Hungary
 Romania
 Bulgaria
Activity #1
 Cold War Terminology
 Go Over Definitions!
 HOMEWORK: Pgs 510-516
 Questions: 1 & 4, 5, 6
Democracy
 Democracy is a form of government by the people in which
citizens choose who will govern them through voting.
 American Perspective: From the American perspective, democracy is the best system of
govt. In the US, decisions on everything from who should be president to what to watch
on TV are made by majority rule. During much of the Cold War the US frequently
violated democratic principles. African Americans could not vote in the south until the
60s and the US govt. supported dictatorships around the world.
 Soviet Perspective: The Soviets argued the US was hypocritical to promote democracy
and capitalism at the same time. True democracy they argue, can only be secured in a
system that rewards everyone equally.
Equality
 Equality is the condition of being equal.
 American Perspective: Equality can be defined in on e of three ways. Equality
of opportunity, equality before the law, and equality of condition. Americans
argued equality of opportunity and before the law are necessary for a healthy
society but equality of condition is not. Many Americans believe that providing
guarantees for basic necessities, such as helth care and employment, regardless
of a person’s effort or work undermines work ethic and adversely affects
society.
 Soviets Perspective: Soviets argued that equality of condition was essential for a
healthy society. They argued that a society must share its material wealth to
ensure that no one has an unfair advantage.
Capitalism
 Capitalism is an economic system that stresses the
private ownership of industry, freedom of competition,
and the acceptance of economic classes.
 American Perspective: From the American perspective capitalism is an
economic system that provides the opportunity for individuals to better
themselves through hard work and individual initiative.
 Soviet Perspective: Soviets believe capitalism is an evil economic system. They
argued that the capitalism emphasis on competition breeds selfishness and
undermines cooperation and community. They urged workers of the world to
overthrow capitalist governments.
Individualism
 Individualism is the belief that people working on their
own to reach their highest level of achievement produces
the best results for individuals and society.
 American Perspective: Americans believe that the outcome of people’s lives are
determined not by outward circumstances, which can be overcome, but by
inner fortitude. They argued that basic human nature is individualistic,
competitive, and acquisitive.
 Soviet Perspective: Soviets believed that a society built upon individualism
produces some winners and many losers. Soviets argued that individualism
results in a society full of inequality and exploitation where winners take
advantage of losers.
Collectivism
 Collectivism is the belief that people working together
produce better results for individuals and society than
people working on their own.
 American perspective: Americans believe collectivism violates basic human
nature, which they believe is competitive. They argued that by calling for
sharing and teamwork collectivism works against human nature and is doomed
to failure. It also violated the rights of individuals to own property.
 Soviet Perspective: Soviets believed cooperation and caring are the finest parts
of human nature, and a society based on cooperation among people is possible
in spite of humans’ nature. They argued that American emphasis on the
individual resulted in exploitation of a large part of society. Fairness=shared
ownership of property. In the soviet system every factory and business was
owned collectively by all members of society.
Socialism
 Socialism is an economic system that stresses govt.
ownership of industry, economic equality, and a classless
society. The government stipulates how people work
together to produce goods and distributes the profits
equally to the workers.
 American Perspective: Socialism threatens one of Americans’ most basic rights-
the right to own and control property. Abe Lincoln “Property is the fruit of
labor”
 Soviet Perspective: The soviets adopted socialism as a response to the evils of
the capitalist system. They believed government ownership provided a means
by which the wealth of a society could be evenly distributed to all the people.
Totalitarianism
 Totalitarianism: A totalitarian government is one in
which a few people have total control over the populace.
Freedom of the press, speech, and religion are denied.
 American Perspective: Americans believe that totalitarianism is equivalent to
dictatorship. They believe totalitarianism violates the basic human rights.
 Soviet perspective: Soviets believed that totalitarianism was required to
transform society from an unequal one to one in which wealth was evenly
distributed.
Freedom
 Freedom is the condition of being free to express or do
whatever one pleases.
 American Perspective:
 Soviet Perspective:
Activity
 Defining Cold War Terms