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The Cold War

The Cold War. The Cold War. After WWII, there was a new kind of war Countries fought this war with words and ideas, not weapons Even though the Soviet Union and the US worked together in WWII, their beliefs later drove them apart- this was known as the Cold War. Soviet Union vs. the US.

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The Cold War

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  1. The Cold War

  2. The Cold War • After WWII, there was a new kind of war • Countries fought this war with words and ideas, not weapons • Even though the Soviet Union and the US worked together in WWII, their beliefs later drove them apart- this was known as the Cold War

  3. Soviet Union vs. the US • The US believed in capitalism which is when ordinary people and businesses control the production of goods and services • The US economy is called a market economy where individuals and businesses make decisions

  4. Communism • In the Soviet Union, people lived under communism • In communism, the government controls production and owns all the country’s resources • The government tells people where to live and work • The government also commands what will be produced

  5. SU vs. US cont. • The US has a democracy where people vote for their leaders • In the Soviet Union, people had no control of who their leaders were • Under communism, citizens had few rights and little freedom • The government arrested people who spoke against communism

  6. The Iron Curtain • After WWII, the Allies shared control of Germany (US-western/ SU-eastern) • Berlin, Germany’s capital was also divided (SU- East Berlin/ US- West Berlin) • SU set-up communist governments • US set-up democracies • It was said that Europe was divided by an “iron curtain”- the curtain was a symbol of the differences between communism and non-communism

  7. The Iron Curtain

  8. NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Truman decided to help other countries protect themselves against communism • Leaders of the United States, Canada, Britain, and most other non-communist countries of Europe formed an alliance called NATO • They hoped the treaty would keep the SU from forcing communism on other countries

  9. The Conflict Continues… • The SU tried to take over the entire city of Berlin • They blocked off all roads that led to West Berlin and hoped it would make the Allies leave the city • The Allies refused to leave! • To get supplies into the city, they used planes • This was called the Berlin Airlift

  10. The Berlin Airlift

  11. The Berlin Wall • Many people tried to escape from East Berlin to go to the western part of the city • Communist leaders tried to stop them! • The Soviets closed the entrances to East Berlin and began to build the Berlin Wall • This wall divided the communist part of Berlin from the rest of the city

  12. The Berlin Wall

  13. Communism Spreads • As you know, Americans were very worried about the spread of communism • The Soviets gave money and supplies to a communist army in China and they succeeded in taking over the country • Now the SU and China were BOTH communist

  14. Nuclear War • The Soviet Union had built their own bomb and the US was scared • The US worked to develop bigger and better nuclear weapons • We were in an arms race! • People feared a nuclear war that could destroy all life on earth • People in the US prepared for attack by building bomb shelters

  15. Bomb Shelters and Drills

  16. The Anti-communism Movement • A movement to stop the spread of communism • Senator Joseph McCarthy was a strong anti-communist • He made many accusations that secret communists worked in the gov’t and were spying for the SU • Although most of the claims were false, some were actually true!

  17. Anti-communism • Members of Congress began to search for communists • Hundreds lost their jobs • A few were found guilty, but most were wrongly accused

  18. Nikita Khrushchev • A Russian politician who served as the general secretary to the Communist Party • Served as the leader of SU after Stalin • Tried to make living better for the people in SU • Was leader during the building of the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis which you will learn about next unit

  19. The UN • The United Nations formed after WWII led by the US • More than 50 nations joined to try and keep peace in the world • One of the UN’s first challenges was with Korea • Korea was divided into two parts- South Korea was a republic supported by the US; North Korea was communist supported by the SU

  20. The Korean War • In June 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea • The US thought that the SU was helping them • The US convinced the UN to help defend South Korea • UN troops succeeded in pushing them out • Then communist China sent troops to help

  21. And the war drags on… • Thousands of American soldiers died • In 1953, both sides agreed to stop fighting • Korea remains divided today

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