differences between Soviet union and USA

Political

USA:Capitalist

Free elections, with a choice of parties from which voters can vote.

• Democratic freedoms - freedom of speech, expression and assembly.

• Individual rights - the right to vote, the right to a fair trial

Soviet union :communist

• A one-party state, with the communist Party as the only allowed party.

• A totalitarian system (dictatorship), with all aspects of life influenced and ruled by the communist government.

• Suppression of dissenting opinions and opposition.

Economic

USA: capitalist

Free enterprise - business, manufacturing, banking etc.

soviet union : communist

State control of money and job creation - no independent enterprise.

Social

USA: capitalist

Free mass media - independent newspapers, radio and television companies not run by the state.

Soviet union : communist

Strict control over the mass media - the government controls and censors all media.

Beliefs

USA:capitalist

People were largely free to hold any religious or political beliefs.

• Freedom of speech was an important feature of American life.

• The rights of ordinary Americans were laid out and protected by a written constitution.

Soviet union : communist

• Millions of innocent people were persecuted during the 1930s and religious beliefs were not tolerated.

• Everyone equal.

• Belief in world revolution, that is, encouraging communism in other countries.

When, Where, How and Why did WW2 come to an end?

Potsdam Conference: 17 July – 2 August 1945 Negotiate terms for the end of WWII Failed to ensure free and independent elections in Eastern Europe Failed to establish new border between Poland & Germany During the Potsdam Conference, Stalin learned about America’s new weapon - the atomic bomb. Stalin already knew about the bombs but pretended that he had not to protect his spies.

Atomic bombs were used at:

• Hiroshima: 6 August 1945

• Nagasaki: 9 August 1945

This led to the Cold War

USA & USSR no longer united against common enemy – Germany

• USA: Atom Bomb

• USSR: weapons & power (but no atomic bomb yet)

When

Officially 2 September 1945

Where

 Pacific Ocean, Japan, Tokyo Bay

Why

 America used 2 atomic bombs on Japan because Japan, after Nazi Germany's surrender and the Potsdam conditions, continued to fight.

How:

 Japan's leader, Emperor Hirohito, after the second bomb fell decided to surrender. It still took a few weeks to complete the official documentation.

Victory days

VE day = Victory in Europe day - May 7, 1945

VJ day = Victory in Japan day - September 2, 1945