Origins of the Cold War

4/24 and 4/25

Warm-Up - Mon. 4/24 and Tues. 4/25

● Pick up the map and notes at the front table● Begin working on the Cold War map… you can use your

phone!○ That is on the back of the Capitalism v. Communism

Agenda - Mon. 4/24 and Tues. 4/25

● Look at Cold War maps● Topic 1: Origins of the Cold War notes● Communism versus Capitalism worksheet

The Origins of the Cold War (the Best Years start-14:00)● What is the United States’ position in the world after

World War II?● With all the other world powers in ruins, the United

States becomes a world power.

B.● Japan was occupied by the United States.● Japan will become a democracy and a strong ally of the

United States.

C & DThe Soviet Union (Russia) occupied most of Eastern Europe, Central Europe and the Eastern part of Germany.

Germany was partitioned (separated) into East and West.

West Germany

● American, British, and French sectors

● Independent Democracy

East Germany

● Run by the Soviet Union● Communist

What problems do you think might occur with this

plan?

E.

Europe was in ruins so the United States launched the Marshall Plan

● The Marshall Plan provided financial support to rebuild countries so they do not turn to Communism.

F.

The United Nations was formed to prevent future wars…

… much like the League of Nations.

G.The split between the US and the Soviet Union brought on the Cold War which influenced world foreign affairs until the 1980s.

Origins of the Cold War

● The Cold War lasted from the end of World War II until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990.

● Cold War: competition between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) for power; both tried to influence Europe.

The US and USSR had different ideals and values.

● The US and USSR never directly confronted each other during the Cold War

● Battle of world supremacy ○ Communism versus Capitalism

● The little battles were fought like a game of chess with the smaller, third-world countries as the game pieces (pawns)

Political System & Government

United States - Democratic government

The Soviet Union - one-party Socialist Republic; totalitarian

Economic System

United States - Capitalist (free market)

Economic system in which the factors of production are owned individually; different social classes exist

Soviet Union - Communist (socialist)

Economic system in government makes all economic decisions; no private property

Why were they angry with each other?

United States

1. US disliked/feared Communism (remember the first Red Scare post-Russian Revolution in 1917?)

2. USSR dropped out of World War I3. USSR signed a pact with Hitler

(Germany) - the Non Aggression Pact 1939

Soviet Union

1. Allies waited to invade Berlin & Germany in WWII

2. Took the U.S. 17 years to recognize the Soviet Union (1933)

3. USSR was not invited to Peace Conferences in WWI

4. U.S. did not tell the Soviets about the Manhattan Project (atomic bomb)

What’s going on in the US?

● Post-war life = positive○ Growth of suburbs, end of the Great Depression, a consumer society

● Era of conformity ○ Social conformity○ Political conformity - mostly fearing communism

● Threat of a nuclear war at home○ Duck! And Cover.○ McCarthyism and a second red scare○ Atomic Bomb Time Lapse (1945-1998)