Early days of the cold war(first 4)

Lesson 4 ( 1st part of section 10

When did Japan surrender to the Allies?

August 1945

How did WWII strengthen the United States?

The US army and navy became the most powerful in the world, and Americans contributed to the war effort through factories

Why did Americans distrust Joseph Stalin after WWII?

Stalin installed communist puppet governments in Eastern Europe, creating tension with the US

What was the main goal of the Soviet Union after WWII?

To create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe and prevent future invasions

What was the Cold War?

A global struggle between the US and Soviet Union over democracy vs. communism, without direct large

What was the Truman Doctrine?

US policy to provide aid to democracies threatened by communism and contain its spread

What was the Marshall Plan?

European Recovery Program providing $13.3 billion to rebuild Western Europe and prevent communist takeovers

What was the “iron curtain”?

Churchill’s term for Eastern Europe being closed off under Soviet control and communist governments

What was the purpose of the United Nations (UN)?

To prevent future wars, promote global cooperation, and manage conflicts diplomatically

What is the role of the UN Security Council?

Authorizes major actions like economic sanctions, peacekeeping, or force

permanent members have veto power

Name the six main bodies of the UN.

General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, Secretariat, International Court of Justice

Why did the US fear communism after WWII?

Communism threatened private property, encouraged totalitarianism, and restricted individual freedoms

Which countries fell under Soviet influence immediately after WWII?

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany

What was the policy of containment?

Proposed by George Kennan, it aimed to stop communism from spreading beyond its current borders

What major crises tested Truman’s containment policy?

Crises in Berlin, China, Korea, and Soviet

Who were the Big Three during WWII?

Franklin Roosevelt (US), Winston Churchill (UK), Joseph Stalin (USSR)

What was agreed at the Potsdam Conference regarding Germany?

Germany would be divided into four occupation zones, Nazism purged, and democratic governments established in Western zones

How did the Marshall Plan impact Western Europe?

Industrial production doubled, trade with the US increased, and communist takeovers were prevented

Why was George Marshall awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?

For his leadership in creating the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe

How did the Cold War influence US foreign policy?

It made containment of communism the central goal for nearly 50 years, shaping global engagement and military action