 Ideological conflict between the US and USSR ◦ Disagreement on beliefs ◦ Which economy was better?  Communism vs. Capitalism ◦ Who was more powerful? ◦ Which government was better?  Dictator vs. Democracy

 US upset over Nonaggression Pact ◦ Also no help w/Japan  USSR wanted US aid sooner in war

 The Big Three ◦ Churchill, FDR, Stalin  Nov 1943  Plan to end war ◦ American-British invasion of France ◦ USSR would liberate eastern Europe ◦ Agreement over partition of Germany

 February 1945 – Big Three meet in Southern Russia  Western powers feared Soviet control of Eastern Europe ◦ 11 million soldiers

 Stalin suspicious of the Western powers ◦ Wanted a buffer to protect USSR from invasion  FDR wanted self-determination ◦ Liberated Europe have free elections

1. Agree to divide Germany into zones 2. Germany has to pay USSR reparations 3. Eastern European countries would have free elections

 New peacekeeping organization  USA and USSR join (48 others)  New York City  Security Council ◦ Power to investigate and settle ◦ 5 permanent members  GB, China, Fr., US, USSR  Veto power

US USSR  Encourage democracy  Gain access to raw materials and markets  Rebuild gov’ts to promote stability  Reunite Germany to stabilize it and increase security  Encourage communism as part of worldwide workers’ revolution  Rebuild economy using industrial equipment and raw materials from E. Europe  Control E. Europe to protect borders  Keep Germany divided to prevent war

 July 1945  Harry Truman replaces FDR ◦ Demanded free elections in Eastern Europe  Stalin felt threatened ◦ Free elections would threaten goal of controlling Eastern Europe

 Allies do agree to Nuremberg Trials ◦ Leaders of Nazi Party ◦ Committed war crimes against humanity during war

 USSR wants buffer from invasion  Installs communist gov’t ◦ Albania ◦ Bulgaria ◦ Hungary ◦ Czechoslovakia ◦ Romania ◦ Poland ◦ Yugoslavia  Truman protests  Stalin ignores

 Eastern and Western Europe split  Germany divided into East Germany and West Germany ◦ Berlin (in E.G. is split)  “Iron Curtain” ◦ Churchill ◦ Democratic West ◦ Communist East

 Containment ◦ Blocking Soviet influence ◦ Stopping expansion of Communism ◦ Forming alliances ◦ Aiding weaker countries resist

 Truman Doctrine ◦ $500 million to Greece and Turkey  Marshall Plan ◦ Assistance program to rebuild Western Europe

Berlin Airlift –USSR held W. Berlin hostage –Hoped Allies would surrender –11 months Allies flew in supplies –May 1949 Soviets admit defeat Lift blockade

 NATO ◦ Western Alliances ◦ Attack one was attack on all

 Warsaw Pact ◦ Eastern Alliance  Berlin Wall (1961)

 1949 – USSR explodes atomic bomb  Sets off race to create deadlier weapon ◦ 1953 – Hydrogen Bomb created

 John Foster Dulles ◦ US Secretary of State under Eisenhower  Willingness to go to the brink of war ◦ US strengthened air force and stockpiled nuclear weapons ◦ USSR responded in same way ◦ Begins arms race