The Cold War

New Superpowers WW2 alliances quickly broke apart after 1945 Power structure shifted, with U.S. and Soviet Union as superpowers Competition for world influence Arms race between the two nations

What is a “Cold” War?  State of tension and hostility among nations, without armed conflict between major rivals It was based on ideology – capitalism vs. communism Each superpower sought influence by means short of actual war

Eastern Europe – “Ground Zero” in the Cold War U.S. & Western European countries distrusted Stalin and disagreed with his goals for Eastern Europe Stalin’s goals: Spread communism Create a “buffer zone” of friendly countries to prevent invasion (satellites)

U.S. Response: Containment Truman Doctrine – help countries under threat of communism Marshall Plan – aid program; sent billions of $$ to western European countries U.S. took a leading role in world affairs

New Tensions, New Alliances: NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization – mostly U.S. and Western European countries Warsaw Pact – Soviet Union and its satellites In both alliances, members agreed that an attack on one would be considered an attack on all

The “Iron Curtain”  The Soviet-made barrier that split Europe into 2 parts: * non-communist Western Europe * communist Eastern Europe One example: The Berlin Wall that divided East Berlin and West Berlin

On one side of a separate piece of plain white paper (8 ½ x 11), create a one-page visual & written summary of the information you just read. Include the following elements… A relevant title Important quotations Key terms/people (such as the ones underlined in the reading) Verbal and visual information – words, pictures, symbols Fill up the entire page and use color!