Today we started the Cold War Unit.
Cold War - A political, strategic and ideological struggle between the US and Soviet Union. Spread throughout the world-Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Democracy - The citizens vote for the leaders.
Communism - Military ruling with one leader.
Capitalism - People own the businesses. Free enterprise.
Socialism - Government controls the businesses.
Causes of the Cold War:
- Different political systems
- US is based on democracy, capitalism, and freedom
- USSR is based on dictatorship, communism, and control
- BOth thought their system was better and distrusted the others intentions
- Stalin despised capitalism
Causes of the Cold War:
- Stalin breaking his promise to allow free elections at the Yalta Conference
- American fear of a communist attack (Red Scare) and USSR's fear of a US attack
- USSR's fear of the atomic bomb
- USSR's actions in their German zone
- USSR's goal to spread communism around the world
- This feeling of suspicion lead to mutual distrust and this did a great deal to deepen the Cold War
Post WW2/Cold War Goals for US
- Wanted to promote open markets for US goods to prevent another depression
- Promote democracy throughout the world, especially in Asia and Africa
- Stop the spread of communism
Post WW2/Cold War Goals for the USSR
- Wanted to create greater security for itself
- Lost tens of millions of people in WW2 and Stalin's purges
- Feared a strong Germany
- Established defensible borders
- Encourage friendly governments on its borders
- Spread communism around the world
Yalta Conference
- Before the end of the WW2, Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt met at Yalta to plan what should happen when the war ended. They agreed on many points
- The establishments of the United Nations
- Germany divided into four zones
- Free elections allowed in the states of eastern Europe
- Russia promised to join the war against Japan
Key Terms
- Iron Curtain Speech - Given by Winston Churchill (1946). Talking about the split between Europe (East and West). These were Communist and Free.
- Domino Theory - Something that affects one country will begin affecting other countries. (Like communism in Europe)
- Policy of Containment - US policy to prevent spread of communism without nuclear war. (George Keenan)
- Truman Doctrine - Truman said that the US would back (and help with money and military supplies) Greece and Turkey from falling into communism. 1947
- Marshall Plan - 1947. George C Marshall. Called for European Recovery Program. $13 billion was given to European countries to get their confidence back (so they didn't go to communism.
- Brinkmanship - Going to the brink of war without actually going to war.
- Before the end of the WW2, Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt met at Yalta to plan what should happen when the war ended. They agreed on many points
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