Essential Idea Tensions between emerging superpowers United States and Soviet Union result in a Cold War that will last decades.

Opposing Goals UNITED STATES  Encourage democracy/prevent rise of communist governments  Gain access to raw materials and markets  Rebuild European governments  Reunite Germany and stabilize it SOVIET UNION  Encourage communism in other countries  Rebuild economy using Eastern Europe’s industrial equipment and raw materials  Control Eastern Europe  Keep Germany divided

Yalta Conference Who: FDR (US), Churchill (GB), Stalin (SU) Where: Soviet Black Sea resort of Yalta When: February 1945 (prior to the end of the war)

Outcomes of the Yalta Conference  Divide Germany into zones of occupation  Germany pays Soviet Union to compensate for loss of life and property  Soviet Union joins war against Japan  Stalin assures Eastern Europe will have free elections

United Nations What: U.S., Soviet Union, and 48 other countries organized together to protect members against aggression

United Nations- Structure  General Assembly  Security Council 11 members 5 permanent- can veto any Security Council Actions ○ U.S. ○ G.B. ○ S.U. ○ China ○ France

Iron Curtain  Countries along Soviet Western border  Stalin sees as a necessary buffer against foreign invasion  Installs/secures communist governments

Potsdam Conference Who: Truman, Stalin, Churchill Where: Potsdam, Germany When: July 1945 Outcome: Truman pressed for free elections… Stalin refused

East Germany and half of Berlin- Controlled by Soviets- German Democratic Republic West Germany and half of Berlin- Controlled by Allies- Federal Republic of Germany Europe Divided

Berlin Airlift The Problem: Soviets blockaded E. Berlin in response to Allies’ plan for reunification The Solution: Berlin Airlift- U.S. and G.B. flew food and supplies for 11 months Effect: Soviet’s admitted defeat and lifted blockade

Cold War What: Struggle over political differences carried on by means short of military action or war Who: U.S. and Soviet Union How: Spying, propaganda, diplomacy, secret operations

Containment  Policy directed at blocking Soviet influence and stopping spread of communism Forming Alliances Helping weak countries resist communism

Truman Doctrine  Foreign aid ($) for countries that reject communism  Controversial Marshall Plan  Provide food, machinery & other materials to rebuild Western Europe  Huge Success- Countries broke from Soviet Union

Rival Alliances NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)  10 Western European nations, Canada, U.S.  Formed in 1949 Warsaw Pact  Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania  Formed in 1955

Berlin Wall- symbolized a world divided

Threat of Nuclear War Event: Soviet Union explodes atomic weapon in 1949 Reaction: U.S. develops the H Bomb in 1952 Reaction to THAT: Soviets develop H Bomb in 1953

Brinkmanship: willingness to go to the brink (edge) of war Requires: reliable source of nuclear weapons and planes to deliver them Result: Arms Race for decades

Event: Soviets launch Sputnik in 1957 Reaction: Americans felt they had fallen behind in science and technology

The U-2 Incident What: Soviets shoot down a U-2 spy plane and capture pilot Francis Gary Powers Result: Heightened Cold War tensions