Start of the Cold War

Differences Between US & USSR 1. communism 1. communism 2. totalitarian dictator 2. totalitarian dictator 3. government ownership of all property 3. government ownership of all property 4. wanted satellite nations in Eastern Europe as a buffer 4. wanted satellite nations in Eastern Europe as a buffer 5. largest army in world 5. largest army in world 1. democracy 1. democracy 2. capitalism 2. capitalism 3. private ownership of property 3. private ownership of property 4. has nuclear weapons 4. has nuclear weapons 5. wants free elections in Eastern Europe 5. wants free elections in Eastern Europe

Characteristics of Leaders 1. dictator 1. dictator 2. doesn’t allow opposition 2. doesn’t allow opposition 3. paranoid= purges of own people 3. paranoid= purges of own people 4. doesn’t honor WWII conference commitments 4. doesn’t honor WWII conference commitments 1. seen as average man 1. seen as average man 2. no college education 2. no college education 3. stubborn 3. stubborn 4. decisive 4. decisive

Satellite Nations Communist Eastern European countries that are controlled by the USSR in order to be a buffer between Germany and the democratic west. Communist Eastern European countries that are controlled by the USSR in order to be a buffer between Germany and the democratic west.

Winston Churchill Churchill was the former Prime Minister of Britain. Churchill was the former Prime Minister of Britain. He described the tension between democratic and communist nations in Europe as the “Iron Curtain” He described the tension between democratic and communist nations in Europe as the “Iron Curtain”

Containment US foreign policy in which the USA promised to block the spread of communism worldwide by creating alliances with democratic & capitalist countries US foreign policy in which the USA promised to block the spread of communism worldwide by creating alliances with democratic & capitalist countries

Cold War The state of hostility & distrust between the USA & USSR after WWII without any direct military action between its start & the fall of the Soviet Union in The state of hostility & distrust between the USA & USSR after WWII without any direct military action between its start & the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989.

Truman Doctrine Statement by Truman in 1946 saying the US would support democracies & oppose the spread of communism anywhere. Statement by Truman in 1946 saying the US would support democracies & oppose the spread of communism anywhere. Opponents in the Senate worried the US military would be spread too thin, allowing the USSR to attack us. Opponents in the Senate worried the US military would be spread too thin, allowing the USSR to attack us.

Marshall Plan Plan to give money to European nations to rebuild after WWII in order to prevent the USSR from helping/containing communism from spreading into western Europe by making nations owe us their loyalty. Plan to give money to European nations to rebuild after WWII in order to prevent the USSR from helping/containing communism from spreading into western Europe by making nations owe us their loyalty.

Germany At the end of WWII Germany was split into 2 parts for reconstruction: At the end of WWII Germany was split into 2 parts for reconstruction: Eastern Germany= rebuilt by USSR so it became communistEastern Germany= rebuilt by USSR so it became communist Western Germany= rebuilt by the US, Britain & France= democratic & capitalistWestern Germany= rebuilt by the US, Britain & France= democratic & capitalist Punish Germany severely & divide it so Germany could never attack the USSR againPunish Germany severely & divide it so Germany could never attack the USSR again Rebuild Germany & ensure it becomes a democracyRebuild Germany & ensure it becomes a democracy

Berlin Blockade The USA wanted to reunify Germany & Russia wanted to keep it weak & divided. The USA wanted to reunify Germany & Russia wanted to keep it weak & divided. USSR decided it did not want Berlin to have democracy so it blockaded the city & tried to starve the people into surrendering & becoming communists USSR decided it did not want Berlin to have democracy so it blockaded the city & tried to starve the people into surrendering & becoming communists

Berlin Airlift To break the Berlin Blockade, the US flew in food & supplies to west Berlin for 327 days until the USSR lifted the blockade. To break the Berlin Blockade, the US flew in food & supplies to west Berlin for 327 days until the USSR lifted the blockade.

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization: North Atlantic Treaty Organization: 10 western democratic/capitalist European countries joined with the US & Canada for a defensive military alliance– promised an attack on one is an attack on all– to prevent the spread of communism into Europe

Fear 1. Russian Revolution 1. Russian Revolution 2. Spreading communism in Europe 2. Spreading communism in Europe 3. Spies trying to overthrow gov’t 3. Spies trying to overthrow gov’t 4. Communists stealing plans for the a-bomb 4. Communists stealing plans for the a-bomb 5. Fear of invasion by communists 5. Fear of invasion by communists

HUAC House Un-American Activities Committee– Congressional commission led by Joseph McCarthy charged with investigating potential communists working for the US gov’t House Un-American Activities Committee– Congressional commission led by Joseph McCarthy charged with investigating potential communists working for the US gov’t “Blacklisted” suspected communists who then could not get a job “Blacklisted” suspected communists who then could not get a job

McCarthy Joseph McCarthy= Senator from Wisconsin who led the HUAC meetings & accused people of being communists Joseph McCarthy= Senator from Wisconsin who led the HUAC meetings & accused people of being communists “McCarthyism”= accusing someone of something with no evidence “McCarthyism”= accusing someone of something with no evidence

Alger Hiss State Department employee who was accused of giving plans for the atomic bomb to the Soviets. State Department employee who was accused of giving plans for the atomic bomb to the Soviets. Convicted of perjury (lying under oath) Convicted of perjury (lying under oath)

Rosenbergs American citizens convicted & executed for being communist spies American citizens convicted & executed for being communist spies Stole plans for the atomic bomb & passed them on to Hiss Stole plans for the atomic bomb & passed them on to Hiss

Arms Race Started in 1949 when the USSR exploded its first atomic bomb. Started in 1949 when the USSR exploded its first atomic bomb. It escalated when the USSR exploded the first hydrogen bomb It escalated when the USSR exploded the first hydrogen bomb

Warsaw Pact USSR created the Warsaw Pact in response to NATO= alliance of all communist satellite nations in Eastern Europe. USSR created the Warsaw Pact in response to NATO= alliance of all communist satellite nations in Eastern Europe. Also said an attack on one = attack on all. Also said an attack on one = attack on all.

Khrushchev Nikita Khrushchev took command of the USSR after Stalin died. Nikita Khrushchev took command of the USSR after Stalin died. He was less harsh on Russians & tried to ease tensions until the Hungarian Rebellion. He was less harsh on Russians & tried to ease tensions until the Hungarian Rebellion. He then crushed any rebellions. He then crushed any rebellions.

Sputnik Sputnik was the 1 st Soviet satellite in space. Sputnik was the 1 st Soviet satellite in space. It started the “space race” because it scared people that if the USSR controlled space, they could bomb us. They also felt the Soviets were smarter than us & had better schools It started the “space race” because it scared people that if the USSR controlled space, they could bomb us. They also felt the Soviets were smarter than us & had better schools It led to the creation of NASA & increased funding of math & science programs in schools It led to the creation of NASA & increased funding of math & science programs in schools