 What was the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union like before and during WWII?

Chapter 21, Section 1

 Though they had been allies during WWII against Nazi Germany, the relationship between the Soviet Union and the U.S. had been steadily breaking down since Stalin seized power.  The following 46 year conflict ( ) would become known as the Cold War. It was ‘cold’ because the two countries never engaged in active combat.

 Throughout the 46 years of the Cold War, both countries saw new leaders.  Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush all served during the Cold War.  The U.S. remained militarily with democratic countries such as Great Britain and France. ▪ The Soviet Union aligned with other communist nations such as China, Cuba and North Korea.

 The two countries differed politically and economically.  The U.S. has a democratic gov. believing in free elections, economic and religious freedom, and the ability to own private property.  The Soviet Union had a communist gov. in which citizens could not worship as they pleased, own private property or express their opinions.

 When these government styles are applied to economics, they look as follows:  U.S. (capitalism)  people can own their own business and property; competition is promoted; free market system in which citizens can decide how to spend their money.  Soviet Union (communism)  government has complete control over the economy; gov. controls means of production; few choices and everyone shares goods and services equally.

 Both countries also disagreed at the Yalta conference on how post-war Europe should be structured.  Stalin wanted a divided Germany to keep it weak and for the Soviet Union to occupy Eastern Europe. ▪ These Eastern European nations would become satellite states, or ‘spheres of influence’.  The U.S. and Great Britain wanted a stronger, united Germany and independent nations in Eastern Europe.

 While delivering a speech at Fulton College in Missouri, Winston Churchill remarked that an ‘iron curtain’ had descended upon Europe, dividing democratic and communist countries.  On one side, you had Eastern Europe, the other, Western Europe.

 Eastern Europe, led by the Soviet Union, had a communist ‘sphere of influence’.  They did not allow democratic elections like they had promised at the Yalta Conference.  Western Europe, led by Great Britain with the U.S. as an ally, had a democratic sphere of influence.

 Truman stood by the motto ‘The buck stops here.’ meaning that the president made tough decisions, and thus was accountable for them.  Truman agreed with American diplomat George F. Kennan’s policy of containment to stop the spread of communism in Europe and around the world.  This would require the biggest resource of the U.S.– money!

 Truman’s first response to communism became known as the Truman Doctrine. It stated that the U.S. would supply money to any nation struggling against communism.  Secondly, for the Truman Doctrine to work, the U.S. had to provide the money.  In 1948, Congress approved the Marshall Plan, which gave countries in Europe over $13 billion in aid to stop communism.