The Home Front – USA/USSR Lesson starter: What were the main differences between the USA and USSR?

Today we will… Understand the key differences between the US and USSR

After WWII, the USSR had been destroyed by Nazi invasion USA lost soldiers but their mainland was largely untouched Today we will look at the problems that each of the superpowers had at home

USA Protests and strikes in car, steel and manufacturing industries – workers wanted higher wages Inflation – prices rising quickly (12 eggs were 33cents in 1940, 72 cents in 1948) Unemployment – especially returning soldiers (black soldiers in particular) Racial discrimination widespread – protests etc Women unhappy – had worked during war years and now were expected to go back to being housewives

Detroit 1940s

USSR 20 million Russian citizens dead after WW2 (10% of population) 2,000 cities and towns destroyed Farms, factories, villages wrecked Huge unemployment, homelessness and starvation Ruled by dictator Stalin (who was very old) Opponents of Stalin ‘disappeared’ Secret Police - KGB Ordinary people forbidden to travel outside USSR or make contact with anyone outside

BUT….compared to other nations they were in a better position Huge amounts of land Huge populations & workers Valuable resources – water, timber, petrol, iron, coal Invested in education – free in USSR, grants given to war veterans in USA Both rebuilt their economies (although very differently)

Both built up huge armies and navies This was expensive but created jobs – allowing economy to grow Each nation developed their own ideology CAPITALISM/COMMUNISM They both used propaganda to ‘prove’ to their people that their way was the best What did they have in common?

Task Make a poster with one of the following titles ‘The American Way of Life’ ‘Life in the Soviet Union’

Tasks 1.Which superpower had the most problems after WW2? Give reasons for your answer 4 marks 1.What did the USA and USSR have in common after the end of WW2? Give reasons for your answer 4 marks