1. Europe and Russia POST World War II

2. World War II Ends 1945 Two nations arise as most powerful=Super Powers
1. United States
2. Soviet Union

3. Europe is Split Western Europe—allied with the United States
--democracy
--free market economy
These countries begin to rebuild and prosper
**MARSHALL PLAN--United States gives Western Europe financial support to rebuild ($13 billion dollars over 4 years)
Eastern Europe—allied with the Soviet Union
--communism (single party, authoritarian
government)
--command economy (lowered unemployment,
however, no economic progress)
**The division between Western & Eastern Europe became symbolically known as the IRON CURTAIN.

4. Cold War
Tensions grew between the United States and the Soviet Union
Long standing rivalry between the two (basically democracy vs. communism)
This rivalry lead to:
: NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization) signed
between the U.S., Canada & 10 European countries to
provide collective security against the Soviet Union (fight
against the spread of communism)
2. Aug. 13, East Berlin erects a wall overnight that physically
separates it from West Berlin
3. Space Race
4. Involvement in the Korean War and Vietnam War
(both conflicts of communism vs. democracy)

5. Fall of Communism
Late 1980’s, Early 1990’s (communist countries begin to challenge communism)
Nov. 9, 1989: Berlin Wall is torn down (end of communism in East Germany) END OF THE COLD WAR!!!
1991: Soviet Union communist party loses power and is broken into 15 separate countries

6. Europe Today
During the 1990’s Representative Democracy became more common throughout Europe (as well as free-market economy)
4 Types of Governing:
1. Constitutional Monarchy
2. Parliamentary Democracy
3. Presidential System
4. Semi-Presidential System
** Two most common systems of government in Europe

7. European Union (EU)
Partnership between 27 European countries created to promote peace and economic growth for all members
First began in 1950 with six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg & Netherlands. Has gradually added other countries (some previously communist)
: agreed to open borders so citizens could travel freely among countries (no passport needed)
2002: Began use of the “euro”, a common currency so all countries did not have different currencies

8. Soviet Union Today
With the fall of communism, the Soviet Union broke into 15 countries. What remains of the Soviet Union is now referred to as the Russian Federation.
It moved from a command economy to a market economy.
3 branch democratic government: people elect a president who serves a six year term with a maximum of two terms
Democratic policies in Russia, however, are beginning to deteriorate.