The Origins of the Cold War Essential ?: Who started the Cold War?

What we will learn today What is a superpower? What was the Cold War? What were the long-term causes of the Cold War?

1. What made the USA and USSR become allies? During World War II (1939–45) each of the major powers was part of an alliance. 1945 1. What made the USA and USSR become allies? 2. Why might the situation change after 1945?

What is a ‘superpower’? A superpower is the term used to describe the most powerful countries. Before World War II there were a number of ‘superpowers’. Britain, France and Germany were all European superpowers before 1945. At the end of World War II, all these countries were in ruins or crippled by the long years of war. The post-World War II world was to be dominated by two superpowers – the USA and the USSR.

Differences between the USA and USSR The USA was a capitalist country, whereas the USSR was a communist country. These countries had very different beliefs. Capitalism Where all factors of production (industry, business and agriculture) are owned by private individuals or firms who run them for their own profit. Communism Where all factors of production (industry, business and agriculture) are owned by the state for the good of everyone.

The USSR’s worries about the West Long-term causes of the Cold War Mutual distrust between two very different countries was the key long-term cause of the Cold War. Why were both sides so suspicious of each other? The USSR’s worries about the West Russia had been invaded during World War I (1914), during its Civil War (1918) and during World War II (1941) – they wanted to stop this ever happening again. Stalin, the leader of the USSR, felt that the West wanted to see communism destroyed. He thought that the West didn’t appreciate the Soviet sacrifices that helped defeat the Nazis in World War II.

The USA’s worries about communism Mutual distrust between two very different countries was the key long-term cause of the Cold War. Why were both sides so suspicious of each other? The USA’s worries about communism The USA thought the USSR was determined to encourage communist revolutions in other countries, and was worried about communism spreading across the world. This was seen as a dangerous threat to the governments and economies in the West. The USA ended its policy of isolationism (which they felt had helped Hitler come to power) and thus was determined to prevent what it saw as ‘dangerous dictatorships’ being created again.

Winston Churchill gave the Iron Curtain speech in 1946 Map of the Iron Curtain

Cold War Doctrines Truman Doctrine-promised military and financial aid to countries resisting communism Communist pressured Greece and Turkey Containment- philosophy of limiting spread of communism Marshall Plan- financial aid to strengthen democratic governments

Division of Germany Divided into four zones Berlin Airlift West Germany free East Germany communist controlled Berlin Airlift Communists forced blockade of West Berlin U.S. , Britain flew in food almost a year.

Cold War Heats Up 1940’s-50’s Hungarian and Czechoslovakian anti-communist revolts forcefully repressed by USSR Beginning of Atomic Age 1949 Soviet Detonation of Nuclear Bomb U.S. begins work on hydrogen bomb Next 50 years arms race between two