1. Post-WWII Europe

2. Introduction of Two New Superpowers
United States
Soviet Union
Political System and Rights
Democracy – the people have rights – Constitution
Communism – totalitarian government with no individual rights
Economic System
Mixed Economy – free markets
Command Economy – the gov’t controls all of the economy and makes all decisions
Alliance – Empire
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
Warsaw Pact
Goals
Contain communism – US was interested in promoting the economic recovery and growth of western Europe
Soviet Union was interested in protecting itself and spreading communism
Confrontation – Berlin
Berlin Airlift
Berlin Blockade

3. Potsdam Conference July 16-August 2, 1945
United States, Britain, and Soviet Union
Stalin ignored previous agreements and worked to establish communist dictatorships throughout Eastern Europe

4. Occupation Zones “Iron Curtain” coined by Churchill
A symbolic division of Europe into two separate areas
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an ‘iron curtain’ has descended across the Continent”
Germany was split into Western and Eastern Germany (Soviet Union controlled the eastern half and western powers controlled the western half)
The city of Berlin was also split into occupation zones

6. City of Berlin

7. Containment US policy developed by George Kennan, a US diplomat
Keep communism within its pre-existing boundaries
Prevent further Soviet aggressive moves

8. Berlin Airlift
The Soviets created a blockade of West Berlin, which prevented western Europe from getting supplies into the city
1948  American and British forces flew in food and other supplies to West Berlin
May 1949  Soviets lift the Berlin blockade after the success of western powers getting supplies into the city

9. Warsaw Pact
1955  Soviet military alliance including the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania
Soviet reply to the formation of NATO involving western Europe and the United States

10. Brinkmanship
Willingness to go to the very edge of war in order to achieve a desired outcome
Example: Cuban Missile Crisis

11. U-2 Incident
May 1, 1960
Soviet pilot shot down a US spy plane, known as a U-2, over Soviet territory
US initially denied any spy activity, but was later forced to admit the plane’s role in covert surveillance

12. Arms Race
Soviets and Americans race to create the most up to date weapons
Nuclear weapons became more destructive as each nation raced to build deadlier bombs
Both sides believed that an arsenal of weapons would actually prevent war

13. Space Race
Americans and Soviets race to be the first to reach the next advancement in aerospace achievements
September 1957 Sputnik I, first satellite launched into space
1960  the United States launched its own satellite