Europe: Alliances

Definition: A union or association formed for mutual benefit

Former USSR (1922- 1991)Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Background• 1917: Russian

Revolution ends rule of the czars

• Communism takes over (leaders gain control of all economic decisions)

Life in the USSR• Leader: Joseph Stalin

• Command economy: central government makes ALL economic decision,

• takes control of wealth (land, factories, banks etc.)

• Planners decide products, crops, prices etc.

• Collective Farms: large teams of laborers gathered to work together

Goal: INDUSTRIALIZE

Review: Communism was inspired by what

German philosopher?

Life in the USSR

• Industrial and agricultural production increase HOWEVER –– Millions starve to death from famine– Few benefit from economic changes– Dissenters swiftly punished by brute police

force– More than 14 million die under Stalin’s rule– Many want to defect to western Europe where

capitalism, democracy and standard of living higher

WEST VS EASTNON Communist VS Communist …

What’s different about this map of Europe?

Why use the color red?

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WEST vs EAST (1945 -1989)

Why the split?• After WWII – Stalin installed pro Soviet

(Communist) governments in the Eastern European countries his army had liberated

• Satellite nations: nations dominated by another country

• Western European countries(mostly Free-Market) were OPPOSED to communism

• (COLD WAR)

Life in Communist East

• Communist: gov’t owns factories decides what to produce

• Vast shortages of goods

• Only trade with USSR and other eastern

• Outdated factories = pollution

• Could NOT fully recover from war

Allied vs AxisWorld War II alliances

• Allied – USA-Roosevelt– England- Churchill– Russia-Stalin

• Axis– Germany- Hitler– Italy- Mussolini– Japan- Hiroshito

Axis/ Central Powers

Allied Powers

Neutral Countries

NATO

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization- 1949-today

28 members

“NATO’s fundamental role and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means.”

Military

political

• An attack against one member of NATO is considered an attack against ALL members!

UN: United Nations

UN: United Nations

• Founded in 1945 after WW1 by 51 Nations

• Goal: to preserve peace, prevent war and provide a place for countries to “talk it out”

United Nations Today

• 193 Member States• Functions:

• Peacekeeping, conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance

• sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament

• promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women

• governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production

• And the list goes on…..

Who are the members of the UN?

• Easier to say “who isn’t?”– Vatican City ( The Holy See)– Taiwan– Kosovo

European Union

European UnionToday

• 27 member countries• Member Benefits:

– Peace– Prosperity– Increased SOL– single European

currency– free trade market– Travel freely between

member countries

History:• Why did it form?

– Post WWI, Europe must rebuild nations’ shattered economies and prevent new conflict

– 1951: 6 countries unify to achieve these goals

***What is the North American counterpart of the EU??

East vs. WestEU members vs. non-EU

Richest 5th

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