Today’s Standard(s) SS6H7 The student will explain conflict and change in Europe to the 21st century. b. Explain the impact of WWII in terms of the Holocaust, the origins of the Cold War, and the rise of Superpowers.

Intro to our Essential Questions... How did the differing philosophies of the United States and the Soviet Union after WWII lead to the Cold War?

R37 The Soviet Union & Causes of the Cold War

Post-World War II After World War II, Europe was ravaged. The power that once existed in Europe had been destroyed by two world wars.

Post-World War II This created a polarized world in which two nations (USA & The Soviet Union) had the most power. Each of those nations had opposite ideologies, or beliefs, about government and economy.

East Against West After the war, Europe was divided down the middle. The nations of the east were under the influence of Soviet Russia. The nations of the west, headed by the United States, were fairly independent. This situation set the stage for much tension in Europe.

East Against West The political differences between the east and west created an imaginary, invisible wall dividing the continent. This symbolic and imaginary wall would come to be called the “Iron Curtain” "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.“ –Churchill 1946

East Against West After the mess from the war had been cleaned up, the people living on the western side of the “Iron Curtain” lived fairly comfortable lives and experienced many freedoms. Those on the eastern side of the “Iron Curtain” lived under the thumb of Soviet-influenced governments and had less freedom and opportunity to make money.

The Strongest Nation in Europe The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR, was the official name of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, under the leadership of Stalin, had made an alliance with Hitler. Hitler broke the terms, invaded Russia, and forced the Soviet Union into WWII.

The Strongest Nation in Europe The Soviet Union aligned itself with the Allied Powers in order to defeat Hitler. They didn’t agree on many things, but they all wanted Hitler destroyed.

The Strongest Nation in Europe When Germany was defeated, this left the Soviet Union as the most powerful nation in Europe. On the world stage, the only country who could compete with the USSR was the USA.

Communism After the war, the Soviet Union was quick to help set up governments in the nations it occupied in eastern Europe. The Soviets made sure that the governments established were both communist and loyal to the USSR.

Soviet Control in Eastern Europe The USSR basically controlled these countries as puppet governments. “Puppet Governments” are governments that do what they are told by an outside power or nation.

Soviet Control in Eastern Europe With the Soviet Union pulling the strings, the people in eastern European countries did have the right to vote, but they could only choose from candidates associated with the Communist Party. All other political parties were outlawed. This is known as a “One Party System”

Soviet Control in Eastern Europe Citizens in nations controlled by the Soviet Union could not complain about the government. This kind of behavior might land you in prison……. or worse.

Joseph Stalin ( ) Joseph Stalin took over power in the USSR after the death of Lenin. Lenin was the head of the Bolshevik party that overthrew the czar. He controlled the Soviet Union with an iron fist and was feared by many.

Five Year Plans In order to strengthen the Soviet Union, Stalin put forth a series of economic plans called the Five Year Plan designed to improve the Soviet Union. He had factories and roads built. The Soviet government would decide what types of goods to produce and how many.

Soviet Agriculture Stalin took control of the country’s agricultural capabilities. During the 1930’s, peasants in the Soviet Union were forced to move to collective farms. “Collective farms” were government-owned and employed large number of “employees.” Over 3 million Ukrainians died of famine on Stalin’s collective farms. Ukrainians call this the “Holodor”.

The Cold War After World War II, the world was divided between the communist and non- communist world. They didn’t work together and considered each other enemies.

The Cold War The members of NATO – the alliance of western democracies, and the nations in the “Warsaw Pact”- the alliance of eastern European countries behind the iron curtain-refused to trade or cooperate with each other (Voluntary Embargo). N.A.T.O. North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The Cold War The countries never actually fought, so this period of political non-cooperation is called the “Cold War” Both the nations of the Warsaw Pact and those of NATO didn’t want war to erupt because both sides had nuclear weapons.

Return to our Essential Questions... How did the differing philosophies of the United States and the Soviet Union after WWII lead to the Cold War?