Cold War: Superpowers Face Off

How did the Cold War develop?

United States Soviet Union

Impact of the war After the difficulties of the Great Depression,
the war shifted the United States into a highly
productive and full employment economy. A
nation used a decade-long hardship, quickly
moved into a time of prosperity, producing
50% of the world’s goods and services by the
end of the war.
Lessons of the War Despite the economic strength of the United
States, Pearl Harbor shattered their sense of
safety. The two-ocean barrier (Atlantic and
Pacific) no longer appeared sufficient, leading
the US to develop a global network of military
bases. They likewise felt that they must
dominate with military strength, especially
regarding the atomic bomb. Finally, they felt
that the industrial strength of Europe should
be protected from any threat.
Formula for peace The American formula for peace was focused
on free trade supported by the establishment
of two global bodies, the International
Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.
The recent German occupation of a large
portion of Russia left factories demolished,
land destroyed and livestock slaughtered. Yet
this was just the latest war that had cost
Russia millions of lives. They had suffered
under World War I and further back under
Napoleon’s attack.
The Soviet Union vulnerable to future attacks
from the Polish corridor and the Pacific
planned to develop strong and friendly nations
along its borders, particularly in Eastern
Europe.
They were focused primarily on rebuilding
their nation, looking to German reparations
and promises from the United States for
support. They also wanted to be recognized as
an equal player on the global stage.

1. What agreements were made at the Yalta Conference?

2. What actions did Stalin take in Europe?
3. How Winston Churchill describe the division that was taking shape in Europe?
4. What policy did Truman take in response to the Soviet Union?
5. What is the Truman Doctrine?
6. How did the Marshal Plan support the policy of containment?
7. What Soviet actions led to the Berlin airlift? Why was Berlin significant?
8. What military alliances were formed after the Berlin blockade?
9. How did the arms race escalate?
 1. What agreements were made at the Yalta Conference?

At Yalta the leaders of the United States, Britain and Soviet Union, decided upon what should happen after the war.
They agreed to a division of Germany and German reparations, free elections would be conducted in occupied areas,
and the Soviet Union would support the US in fighting Japan.

2. What actions did Stalin take in Europe?

The Soviet Union more concerned about creating buffer states to prevent another future invasion, ignored the
agreement about conducting free elections. He set up communist governments in the Eastern European countries,
forming the Eastern bloc.

3. How does Winston Churchill describe the division that was taking shape in Europe?

His “iron curtain” speech describes how Eastern European countries are coming under the influence of the Soviet
government, which is creating a division between the Eastern communist countries and Western democratic countries.

4. What policy did Truman take in response to the Soviet Union?

Truman concerned that Soviets planned to spread communism further responded with a policy of containment.

5. What is the Truman Doctrine?

The Truman Doctrine was his plan to support countries who reject communism.

6. How did the Marshal Plan support the policy of containment?

The Marshall plan planned to provide monetary assistance to needy countries for rebuilding after the war. It
encouraged countries to reject communism.

7. What Soviet actions led to the Berlin airlift? Why was Berlin significant?

The Soviets hoping to keep Germany weak wanted to keep Germany divided. Berlin was divided into different occupied
areas like Germany, but it was located in the Soviet occupied area of Germany. The Soviets moved to occupy the whole
of Berlin by blocking ground travel to the West Berlin, but the US, Britain and France organized an airlift until the Soviets
gave up.

8. What military alliances were formed after the Berlin blockade?

The fear of Soviet expansion and aggression prompted Western countries to form a defense alliance—NATO. The
Eastern bloc countries responded by forming their own alliance called the Warsaw Pact.

9. How did the arms race escalate?

The decision by Truman to build a thermonuclear bomb set of an arms race. This escalated into a competition for
armaments, but also technology. The development of a rocket by the Soviets to launch a satellite into space continued
to push science education and the space race.