1. The
Cold War
Begins

2. WWII Officially ends with…
VJ-DAY
Victory in Japan Day
Without the promised Soviet attack of Japan from the West, the United States decides to drop two atomic bombs on Japan
Leads to the unconditional surrender of the Japanese
U.S. ENDS World War II with aid from NO other Allies.

3. At the end of WWII, there were two superpowers:
Post War World
At the end of WWII, there were two superpowers:
Why would these two countries be considered the most powerful in the world?
U.S. & U.S.S.R

4. The U.S. and U.S.S.R. began to compete to be the #1 world power:
This competition is called:
The Cold War

5. Cold War “1945 – 1991”
war fought indirectly (cold) between 2 superpowers (U.S. and U.S.S.R.) over political, economic, and military power
conflicts were fought through “satellite” or dependent countries (ex: Korea & Vietnam)
war of ideologies – communism vs. democracy/capitalism

6. The U.S. allied with other democratic or “western” nations
The USSR allied with communist or “eastern” nations
Domestic & Foreign policy for both the U.S. & U.S.S.R was dictated by this tension
War of ideologies (political/economic)
Competition to see what ideology would dominate the world – who would have a larger “sphere of influence”
Battlefields were undeveloped/weak nations called “satellites”
Both the U.S. and Soviet Union engaged in actions and decisions that contributed to the ongoing tension that lasted nearly 50 years.

7. World was divided into 2 ideologies:
East = communist (allied with USSR)
West = democratic/capitalist (allied with U.S.)

8. There are four major categories of competition:
Military Battles – use of weapons and soldiers to spread ideology
Political Battles – attempt to spread political beliefs to other countries
Economic – use of money to influence other countries
Technological – develop new technology to prove superiority of a nation
Question: After being Allies during WWII, why couldn’t the two nations co-exist peacefully?

9. Because of the fundamental differences between the two countries
Question: Why couldn’t the two nations co-exist peacefully?
Answer A:
Because of the fundamental differences between the two countries

10. Economic Differences The United States “capitalism” Private ownership
Free competition
Little government regulation
Social classes
The Soviet Union
“socialism”
Government ownership
Economic equality
Classless society

11. Political Differences
The United States
“democracy”
Government by the people (elected representatives)
Checks & Balances
Guaranteed freedoms & rights
The Soviet Union
“totalitarian”
Single leader
Government has total control
No freedoms or rights

12. Key Values The United States “freedom”
Government responsibility to guarantee certain freedoms (1st Amendment rights)
The Soviet Union
“equality”
Government responsibility to ensure equality (food, housing, clothing, education, jobs, etc)

13. Social Differences The United States “individual”
Stresses the need for people to do things on their own
Emphasis on competition
Individuals are responsible for own achievement
The Soviet Union
“community”
Stresses the need for people to do things that benefit everyone
“all for one, one for all”
Example: Collective Farm

14. Question: Why couldn’t the two nations co-exist peacefully?
Answer B:
Because of actions and decisions made by both countries that contributed to the rise in tension