1. What is a superpower?
When World War II ended, the United States and the Soviet Union became the world’s superpowers
No other country could match their military strength
However, their political ideas were very different

2. How were they different?
United States
Constitutional government
Power is in the hands of the people
Soviet Union
Totalitarian government
Power in the hands of the Communist Party

3. Weren’t they allies in the war?
The US and the Soviet Union worked together in World War II to defeat Germany and its allies…
They disagreed about what should happen to the world after the war was over
United States Wanted to see the spread of democracy
Soviet Union Wanted to see the spread of communism

4. Gaining support of weaker nations through economic and military aid
Did they fight each other?
This war of ideas became known as the COLD WAR
Both nations tried to spread their ideas and influence in the world by using any method other than war
Building up larger supplies of weapons
They competed in other ways, such as
Gaining support of weaker nations through economic and military aid

5. World War I and World War II are both examples of “hot wars”
What is a “cold war”?
cold war – (noun) no direct military action
hot war – (noun) direct military action
World War I and World War II are both examples of “hot wars”
Since the US and the Soviet Union never fought directly, the time from has become known as the Cold War

6. What was the purpose of NATO and the Warsaw Pact?
Essential Question
What was the purpose of NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

7. Did other countries have an opinion?
The split between democracy and communism led to new military alliances
In April 1949 – NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) created Members of NATO supported democratic governments
In May 1955 – Warsaw Pact is created Members of the Warsaw Pact had communist governments

8. Many nations have continued to join the NATO alliance over time
Who were the members of NATO?
Founding member nations included:
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Great Britain
United States
Many nations have continued to join the NATO alliance over time
The NATO alliance still exists to this day to provide defense to its nations from any outside attack – not just communism!

9. Who were the member of the Warsaw Pact?
Soviet Union
Poland
East Germany
Czechoslovakia
Bulgaria
Hungary
Romania
Albania
The Warsaw Pact ended with the Cold War in 1991
Several nations are now members of NATO!

10. Why did the US want to rebuild Germany?
Essential Question
Why did the US want to rebuild Germany?

11. A country controlled by a more powerful nation
Why was communism a problem?
Stalin refused to pull his troops out of Eastern European nations
He turned these nations into SATELLITE NATIONS
A country controlled by a more powerful nation
Stalin feared the rise of anti-communist governments near the Soviet Union

12. How did the US feel about this?
The United States believed that communism needed to be contained, or held back
I promise to stop the spread of communism worldwide
CONTAINMENT became President Truman’s policy
His promise became known as the TRUMAN DOCTRINE

13. What is the Marshall Plan?
June 1947 – Secretary of State George Marshall suggests sending money to Western European countries
13 billion dollars was sent to the region – this policy of rebuilding Europe became known as the MARSHALL PLAN
Marshall believed that poverty would help to stop the spread of communism and aid would help war-torn nations recover economically

14. What about Germany?
After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones
The capital city of Berlin was also divided into four occupation zones

15. What was the goal?
President Truman wanted to reunite Germany and set up democracy…
Stalin was very much against a strong Germany…
A strong Germany might once again attack the Soviet Union
Germany had attacked the Soviet Union in World War I and II
Stalin refused to remove his troops from East Germany

16. What about West Germany?
June 1948 – US, Britain, and France combined their zones in West Germany and West Berlin
They pledged to create a democracy in West Germany
However, the city of Berlin was in the Soviet zone…. this created a problem…

17. President Truman refused to back down
What did the Soviets do?
Soviets closed all routes into Berlin…
No supplies were able to be sent to the German people who needed them…
East Berlin
Stalin hoped that by starving the German people, the Americans, British, and French would give up their plan
President Truman refused to back down

18. What did Truman do? Truman organized the BERLIN AIRLIFT
For a year, cargo plans filled with supplies kept the people of West Berlin alive… …in the end, the Soviets gave up the blockade…

19. Was Germany reunited? Germany remained divided West Germany Democratic
East Germany Communist
Stalin died in 1953, NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV became the new leader of the Soviet Union

20. Guards shot anyone trying to escape the Eastern part of the city
What type of leader was Khrushchev?
1961 – Khrushchev ordered a wall built in Berlin to separate Communist East Berlin from the rest of the city
Guards shot anyone trying to escape the Eastern part of the city
The BERLIN WALL stood for nearly 30 years – it was the most recognizable symbol of the Cold War