1. Origins and Beginnings of Cold War 1946-1949
USHG (Cold War Era) Resource
Origins and Beginnings of Cold War
US History and Geography
8.1.1

2. United States
Promoted individual freedoms (where to live, jobs, natural rights).
Promoted a free market economy
Promoted free elections of leaders
Promoted democracy
Tried to contain communism from spreading, which might threaten these values

3. U.S.S.R. Promoted a command economy. Had right to work and to live.
No control over economic decisions
No control over government officials
Tried to prevent the Western ideals of democracy from infiltrating the USSR’s territory.

4. Yalta
Question: What to do with Germany and its occupations after WWII?
Yalta Conference: Leaders of the “Big Three” met in Yalta (Southern Ukraine) to discuss answers.
They decided to divide Germany into 3 zones.
The following picture was taken at Yalta.

6. Potsdam A conference similar to Yalta, but held in Germany.
Continued restructuring of Germany.
Potsdam Declaration: Gave the stipulations to Japan for their surrender.
Pres. Truman also informed Stalin of a new weapon – the Atomic Bomb.

7. Post WWII Tensions ~ Marshall Plan
United States offered $ to Western Europe after WWII to help with its rebuilding.
United States also offered $ to USSR, but they refused it.
Western Europe quickly recovered from the war and prospered.
Eastern Europe (USSR) did not.

8. Post WWII Tensions ~ Truman Doctrine
The United States offered financial aid to Greece and Turkey for the sole reason of preventing these two countries from falling under USSR control.
Further heightened tensions between the two countries.

9. Differences in ideological, political, and economical goals will create an “iron curtain” between Western Europe, and the USSR controlled Eastern Europe.
This iron curtain will last until almost the 1990’s
This conflict is called the “Cold War.”