The Rise of Superpowers SS6H7 The student will explain conflict and change in Europe to the 21st century. b. Explain the impact of WWII in terms of the Holocaust, the origins of the Cold War, and the rise of Superpowers.

As the Cold War continued, the United States and the Soviet Union increased their area of influence. More countries allied with each. The United States and the Soviet Union had the ability to influence world events and project worldwide power. The countries were evenly matched. The world took sides, communists or democracy, socialist or free market.

The Soviets had a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. They influenced other communist countries and dictatorships around the world. The Soviets occupied the largest country in the world. The Soviet Union had the 3 rd largest population in the world and the 2 nd largest economy.

The former Soviet Union was made up of between 15 and 21 countries. Armenia,Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and of course Russia. There were also countries that were hugely influenced by the USSR that neighbored them, but were not directly governed by it. Although many had communist governments that took orders from the Soviet politburo. Most of these were in the Soviet response to NATO, the Warsaw Pact, which included Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania

The Soviets had military and space technology, a worldwide spy network (the KGB), and one of the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons in the world. (why would this matter today?) Russia is now in a triangular trade agreement with China and Iran. They are trading with a communist country as well as another dictatorship. All three countries could be a threat to the U.S. especially in a time with political forces whose plan is to weaken the U.S. Military.

The 3 rd largest country in the world, the United States also had a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and strong ties with Western Europe and Latin America. (The majority of nations involved at the U.N. are either ruled by dictators, or are socialist, or communist. Many want to see the demise of the United States.)

The 4 th most populated country, the United States supported undeveloped countries and developing democratic ones. The U.S. had powerful military support from NATO, the largest navy in the world, and bases all over the world, even bordering the Warsaw Pact countries.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spent money to spy on the Soviet Union. The United States had a large reserve of nuclear weapons. (A large number of the U.S. nuclear weapons have been diminished under several disarmament agreements.)

The United States also has the Space program called NASA. The acronym "N.A.S.A." stands for: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Even though the U.S. has had the most successful space program in history the program has been cancelled by President Obama. The N.A.S.A. leadership has been mandated to help Muslim nations advance their space programs.

Quiz Yourself 1.As a world superpower, the Soviet Union had a. support from NATO b. the largest navy in the world c. strong ties with Latin America d. a seat on the UN Security Council

2. As a world superpower, the United States had a. the KGB, a spy network b. military bases all over the world c. influence over communist dictatorships d. the 2 nd largest economy in the world

3. Which condition is required to be considered a superpower? a. a space program b. membership in NATO c. democratic government d. influence over world events