2. had defeated the Axis Powers.
September 2, 1945
The Allied Powers UK US
USSR
had defeated the Axis Powers.
Germany
Japan

3. Two countries emerged from WWII as international powers.US
USSR
WHY? HOW?
*Click on the video. The video is a link to Kahn Academy at
The video is about the origins of the Cold War. It is about 12 minutes long.
Both had:
independent economies
remained largely undamaged from the destruction of war
strong militaries
capability to produce nuclear weapons

4. Each country had severe distrust of the other.
The former allies became engaged in a 45 year long conflict lasting from
Each country had severe distrust of the other. US
USSR
worried about Soviet communism spreading
resented the US delay in entering WWII, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of Soviets
concerned about leader Joseph Stalin’s tyrannical rule of his country
upset the US would not recognize the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community
*Click on the video, The video is a link to Kahn Academy at
The video is an overview of communism. It is about 15 minutes long.
*Click on the video. The video is a link to Kahn Academy at
The video is the crash course about the Cold War. It is about 12 minutes long.
Communism is a political and economic system in which the government owns all production resources such as businesses and farms. The government then distributes the resources and wealth according to individual need.
Joseph Stalin

5. Germany was divided into 4 zones.
Germany was devastated by WWII and lacked a stable government.
The Allies knew Germany needed help.
Germany was divided into 4 zones.
Each of the Allies occupied, or controlled, one zone.
The capital of Berlin was deep in USSR controlled territory.
But it was still divided into 4 zones, with the Allies each occupying one zone.

6. The US favored democracy. The USSR favored communism.
After WWII, the US and USSR knew that Europe would struggle to rebuild itself.
But US President Harry Truman and Soviet dictator Stalin disagreed on how to help Europe.
The US favored democracy.
The USSR favored communism.
Western European countries, including West Germany & West Berlin, had democratic governments.
The democratic countries, including the US, became the Western Bloc.
Neutral countries are designated by the gray shading. These countries were not part of either Bloc.
The USSR occupied several east European countries after WWII.
The USSR instilled communist governments in these countries.
The communist countries, including East Germany & East Berlin, became the Eastern Bloc.

7. Citizens could no longer move or travel freely.
By the start of 1946, Stalin placed the Eastern Bloc under tight restrictions.
Citizens could no longer move or travel freely.
Former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to the line that divided the Western and Eastern Blocs as the Iron Curtain.
Stalin did not want Soviet controlled countries to have open contact with the West and non-Soviet controlled countries.
The leaders of the Western Bloc were fearful that communism would spread.
They wanted to contain, or prevent the spread, of communism.
*Click on the photo. The photo is a link to an audio at the History Channel at
It is about 20 seconds long, and it is of Former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressing the Iron Curtain.
Tensions increased between the US and USSR.

8. US nuclear missile rising from the ocean.
The US used the policy of containment to prevent the spread of communism.
The US did:
The US did NOT:
offer aid and troops to countries that were in danger of falling to communism
fight communism where it already existed
Both the US and USSR competed to be the stronger country and expand global influence.
Arms Race
US nuclear missile rising from the ocean.
Space Race
Sputnik I
Proxy Wars
US troops in Vietnam.

9. Instead, they fought each other through proxy wars.
The US and USSR wanted to increase their stockpile of nuclear weapons.
They wanted to outdo the other.
Both countries detonated nuclear weapons to show the other its strength.
*Click on the video. The video is a link to a page with several video clips of nuclear weapons being detonated at
However, neither country wanted to use its nuclear weapons.
They knew a direct war with nuclear weapons could destroy the earth.
Instead, they fought each other through proxy wars.

10. Korean War Vietnam War The US and USSR battled each other indirectly.
Each supported an opposing side involved in a war.
They provided aid and troops.
The US and USSR wanted to further their own agenda.
Korean War
The US supported South Korea, while the USSR supported North Korea and instilled a communist government.
Vietnam War
The US supported non-communist South Vietnam, while the USSR supported communist North Vietnam.
*Click on the video. The video is a link to the History Channel at
The video is an overview of the Vietnam War. The video is about 3 minutes long.

11. The Soviets put the first man-made satellite into orbit in 1957.
Not only did the US and USSR compete with one another for the most powerful nuclear weapons, they also competed for the best space exploration and technology.
Sputnik I was launched on Oct. 4, 1957.
The Space Race began in 1955.
The Soviets put the first man-made satellite into orbit in 1957.
Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space on April 12, 1961.
The Soviets put the first man in space in 1961.
Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, landing on July 20, 1969.
*Click on the video. The video is a link to the History Channel at
The video is about the Space Race. It is about 3 minutes.
*Click on the video. The video is a link to the History Channel at
The video is about the Space Race. It is about 4 minutes long.
The Americans landed the first man on the moon in 1969.

12. With the collapse of the USSR, the Cold War came to an end.
The Cold War came to an end on December, 24, 1991, when the USSR dissolved.
Its economy and government were struggling, and its people were unhappy.
15 independent and separate countries emerged, with Russia being the largest.
*Click on the video. The video is a link to the History Channel at
The video is an overview of how the USSR dissolved. It is about 3 minutes.
With the collapse of the USSR, the Cold War came to an end.

13. Fonts, Photos, & Clipart KG Fonts
© Brainy Apples/Heather LeBlanc, LLC