1. Standard and Objective
Strand 1: American History
Concept 9: Postwar United States
PO 1: Analyze aspects of America’s post World War II foreign policy:
International Activism
Students will analyze the decisions America made by comparing and contrasting post-war policies.

2. The Origins of the Cold War
Building a New World

3. The United Nations
FDR wanted to make sure that there wouldn’t be a WWIII so he created the United Nations (UN)
There would be a general assembly where each country had one vote
Security council made up of 11 members, 5 of which were: The U.S., England, France, The Soviet Union, and China each of which were permanent and had veto power
Responsible for international peace and security

4. The Yalta Conference
FDR, Churchill, and Stalin met at Yalta -part of the Soviet Union- to plan a postwar world
Some of the agreements reached were the cause of the Cold War
The problem with Poland -Russia had liberated it and put a Communist government into power
Agreement was made that FDR and Churchill would acknowledge the government set up by the Soviets but there would be a few members of the original government and there would be a free election ASAP

5. The Declaration of Liberated Europe
Also part of the Yalta Conference
Asserted “the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they will live… Create democratic institutions of their own choice”
They also created temporary governments that represented “all democratic elements.”

6. Germany is Divided Also part of the Yalta Conference
Germany was split into four zones controlled by France, England, America, and the Soviet Union
Berlin was also split into four zones each controlled by the same counties
Russia wanted Germany to pay heavy reparations

7. Let’s Review
What are the similarities or differences between the League of Nations and the United Nations?
Discuss the steps America took to prevent another war from happening.

8. Rising Tensions
Two weeks after the Yalta conference, Russia pressured the king of Romania into appointing a Communist government
The U.S. accused the Soviet Union of violating the Declaration of Liberated Europe
The Russians also did not follow the agreement on Poland
FDR warned the Soviet Union that their actions were not acceptable

9. Soviet Concerns Soviet Leaders were worried about invasion again
They wanted to make sure the counties between Germany and the Soviet Union were under Soviet control
Believed Communism was superior and that they should encourage it in other countries
They also believed that Capitalists countries would try to destroy communism

10. American Economic Issues
Believed that the Great Depression became so severe because nations reduced trade
They also believed that without the trade, nations were forced to enter into war to gain resources
Believed world trade was the key to peace
They also thought that the free enterprise system -private property rights and limited government interference in the economy was the best route to prosperity

11. Truman Take Control
Believed that WWII had begun because of British appeasement and didn’t want to make that mistake with Stalin
Truman met with Soviet foreign minister Molotov and demanded Stalin hold free elections in Poland

12. The Potsdam Conference
July 1945 Truman and Stalin met at Potsdam near Berlin to work on a deal on Germany
Stalin still really wanted severe reparations from Germany
Truman told him to take reparations out from the Soviet Zone -However their zone was primarily agricultural
Truman offered Stalin a small amount of industrial equipment from the other zones but they had to pay for it with trade
Stalin didn’t like the agreement but Truman hinted at a powerful new weapon they were testing
Soviets had to accept the terms

14. The Iron Curtain Decends
Truman was less successful making the Soviets uphold a stronger commitment to the Declaration of Liberated Europe
The Soviet Army in Eastern Europe ensured that pro-Soviet Communist governments would eventually be established in satellite nations
After watching the Communists takeover in Eastern Europe, Churchill referred to an “iron curtain” falling across Eastern Europe
The Cold War was about to begin

15. In Conclusion What was the Iron Curtain and why is it important?
Why did all of the conferences and agreements ultimately fail?
What were the major disagreements between America and The Soviet Union when it came to Germany?
Objective: Students will analyze the decisions America made by comparing and contrasting post-war policies.