The Origins of the Cold War The roots of the Cold War are planted firmly in the end of WWII.

End of WWII Feb. 1945: Yalta Conference August 1945: Russia entered war against Japan, atomic bombs used, Japan surrendered After WWII, the U.S. and the USSR entered into a competition for international power known as the Cold War. The Soviets rebuilt and influenced E. Europe; the U.S. rebuilt and influenced the West and attempted to “contain” communism.

The Iron Curtain Winston Churchill gave the Iron Curtain speech in 1946; Europe was divided into two “Spheres of Influence” Map of the Iron Curtain

An example of containment. The Truman Doctrine, 1947 President Truman outlined the Truman Doctrine to a joint session of Congress in March of 1947; focused on aid to Greece and Turkey. An example of containment.

A map showing how the plan’s $20B was distributed by country The Marshall Plan, 1947 Provided aid to W. Europe after WWII; rebuilt it and strengthened it against Soviet influence A map showing how the plan’s $20B was distributed by country

Berlin Blockade June 1948 through May 1949: Berlin Airlift Candy Bomber story

NATO Treaty, 1949. Warsaw Pact, 1955. North Atlantic Treaty Organization “Three Musketeers” mentality: an attack on one is an attack on all

“Rise” of Communism 1949: Mao Zedong, a Communist, took control of China 1949: Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb

Wider Context: Add these, either in timeline or at bottom of page May 1948: Foundation of Israel August 1947: Pakistan and India separated Between 1950 and 1960: 23 African states achieved independence from European colonizers

Central Historical Question Who started the Cold War?