The United States and the Soviet Union vie for superiority, and both countries extend their control over other nations.

The opposing economic and political philosophies of the United States and the Soviet Union lead to global competition.

Yalta Conference: A Postwar Plan In February 1945, British, American, and Soviet leaders meet at Yalta They agree to divide Germany into zones of occupation when WWII ends Soviet leader Stalin agrees to allow free elections in Eastern Europe

Creation of the United Nations June 1945, 50 nations form the United Nations— an international organization All members are represented in the General Assembly; 11 nations are on the Security Council Five permanent members have Security Council veto power

Differing U.S. and Soviet Goals U.S. and Soviets split sharply after WWII ends U.S. is world’s richest and most powerful country after WWII Soviets recovering from high war casualties and had many destroyed cities

The Ideological Struggle Soviet & Eastern Bloc Nations [“Iron Curtain”] US & the Western Democracies GOAL  spread world- wide Communism GOAL  “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world. [George Kennan] METHODOLOGIES:  Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]  Arms Race [nuclear escalation]  Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy]  “proxy wars”  Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

Soviets Build a Buffer Soviets control Eastern European countries after World War II Stalin installs Communist governments in several countries Truman urges free elections; Stalin refuses to allow free elections In 1946, Stalin says capitalism and communism cannot co-exist

An Iron Curtain Divides East and West Germany is divided; East Germany is Communist, West Germany democratic Iron Curtain—Winston Churchill’s name for the division of Europe

Churchill, Truman, and Stalin at the Potsdam Conference

Fence along the East/West Border in Germany

The nations on the eastern side of the “Iron Curtain” were known as the Eastern Bloc

Preserved section of the border between East Germany and West Germany called the "Little Berlin Wall" at Mödlareuth

Containment Containment—U.S. plan to stop the spread of communism The Truman Doctrine Truman Doctrine—U.S. supports countries that reject communism Congress approves Truman’s request for aid to Greece and Turkey

The Marshall Plan Much of Western Europe lay in ruins after World War II Marshall Plan—U.S. program of assisting Western European countries Congress approves plan after Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia

The Berlin Airlift In 1948, U.S., Britain, and France withdraw forces from West Germany Their former occupation zones form one country Soviets oppose this, stop land and water traffic into West Berlin West Berlin, located in Soviet occupation zone, faces starvation U.S. and Britain fly in supplies for 11 months until the blockade ends

Berlin Blockade & Airlift ( )

The Cold War Cold-War—struggle of U.S. and Soviet Union using means short of war Superpowers Form Rival Alliances In 1949, U.S., Canada, and West European countries form NATO NATO—North Atlantic Treaty Organization—is a defensive military alliance In 1955, Soviets and Eastern nations sign the Warsaw Pact alliance In 1961, Soviets build the Berlin Wall to separate East and West Berlin

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)  United States  Belgium  Britain  Canada  Denmark  France  Iceland  Italy  Luxemburg  Netherlands  Norway  Portugal  1952: Greece & Turkey  1955: West Germany  1983: Spain

Warsaw Pact (1955) }U. S. S. R. }Albania }Bulgaria }Czechoslovakia }East Germany }Hungary }Poland }Rumania

NATO Warsaw Pact and Non-aligned nations

Note: Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia is forced out of the Warsaw Pact in 1948

The Threat of Nuclear War Soviet Union explodes its first atomic bomb in 1949 U.S. and Soviet Union both develop the more powerful hydrogen bomb Brinkmanship—policy of willingness to go to the edge of war Increasing tensions lead to military buildup by U.S. and the Soviets

The Cold War in the Skies In 1957, Soviets launch Sputnik, first unmanned satellite. THE SPACE RACE BEGINS! In 1960, Soviets shoot down American spy plane (a U-2), increasing tensions

A replica of Sputnik 1

U-2 spy plane similar to the one shot down over the U.S.S.R.

Francis Gary Powers with a model of a U-2 spy plane.

Wreckage of Gary Powers’ U-2