1. Why was there conflict between Russia and the US?

2. (1) They believed in different things
Ideology: Ideas that you believe in and act on
The Soviet Union (Russia) and the US had different ideas on how they world should be run

3. Capitalism The US was built on capitalism
Capitalism: When a country’s trade and industry is controlled by private owners for profit
At the end of WWII, the US believed that this is how Europe should be run, particularly Germany

4. Communism The Soviet Union (Russia) believed in communism
Communism: When all property is owned by the community (the government) and work is organised by the community (the government). People do not profit from their individual work.
The Soviet Union believed that this is how Europe should operate after World War II
In Asia, China, North Korea and Vietnam were also communist

5. (2) Power Struggle
Post World War II there was a struggle for power in Europe and Asia
World War II Conferences – as the war was ending in Europe, the allied forces met to discuss how the world would operate
The Moscow Conference (4th) 9 October 1944: Established post war spheres of influence in Eastern Europe
Yalta Conference February 1945: Conditions set for Russia’s entry into the war against Japan, plans for post war Europe
Potsdam Conference July-August 1945: US, USSR and Britain attended. Decided on the partition of Vietnam, the division of Germany and Austria and the future of Poland
Truman Doctrine – In 1947 Truman made it clear that the US would support groups who were rising up against communism

6. (3) They both had access to nuclear power
During the Potsdam Conference, Truman mentioned to Stalin that he had a “powerful new weapon”. Japan was given an ultimatum to surrender or meet “prompt and utter destruction”. They did not surrender and the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

7. Affects of Nuclear Power:

12. Both countries had nuclear weaponry (the US in 1945 and Russia in 1949) so they were careful not to attack each other, however they also didn’t want the other country to be armed with more weapons.
Because the US and USSR believed in different things, but they both wanted power, there was an arms race.
Arms Race: A race to gain the most weapons.