1. The Cold War: Post-WWII Era

2. Political Results of World War II
Germany, Italy & Japan met complete military defeat
Their totalitarian systems were overthrown

3. Political Results of World War II
Great Britain and France declined as world powers & gradually relinquished their empires

4. Political Results of World War II
The U.S. and the Soviet Union emerged as major world powers & soon came into conflict
The Cold War
The Soviet Union acquired an empire of Communist satellite nations

5. Political Results of World War II
Iron Curtain represented Europe’s division into mostly democratic Western Europe and communist Eastern Europe

6. Political Results of World War II
The atomic age created problems of achieving international control of atomic weapons & delivery systems

7. Political Results of World War II
To preserve peace, the Allies formed a new international organization
The United Nations

8. Steps: United Nations Atlantic Charter (1941)
Stated that Britain & the United States:
Desired no territorial gain
Respected the right of all peoples to choose their own government
Believed that nations must abandon the use of force
Seek to establish a system of general security – implying an international organization

9. Steps: United Nations Yalta Conference (Feb, 1945) Decisions
Divided Germany & Berlin into 4 zones
Stalin agreed to free elections in Eastern Europe (but Stalin doesn’t follow through!)
Procedures for voting in the United Nations
Allies to send delegates to San Francisco to prepare the United Nations charter

10. Steps: United Nations San Francisco Conference (April-June, 1945)
Completed the United Nations Charter
The United States would provide the headquarters for the United Nations in New York City

11. Purpose: United Nations
Maintain international peace & security
Use collective action to remove threats & suppress acts of aggression
Develop friendly relations among nations
Promote respect for human rights without distinction as to race, sex or religion
Encourage international cooperation to solve economic, social, cultural & humanitarian problems

12. Organization: United Nations
General Assembly
Consists of all member nations
Totals 193 nations

13. Organization: United Nations
Security Council
Consists of members
FIVE permanent members (original members: United States, Great Britain, France, Soviet Union and China)
TEN non-permanent members
Elected by the General Assembly for 2-year terms
Voting must be approved by 9 members (5 must be permanent)

14. Organization: United Nations
Powers of the Security Council
Investigate disputes that endanger world peace
Make recommendations for peaceful settlement
If necessary, call upon the members of the UN to take economic or military action against an aggressor nation