8.1 Heimler Notes

Two Superpowers arise

• Cold War→ A state of hostility that exists between two states characterized by an ideological struggle rather than open warfare

  • Between the Soviet Union and the US

  • Allied powers were affected economically due to the WWII

  • Two Global Powers emerged as a result→ The United states and the Soviet Union

• Economic and technological advantages

  • The reason why US and USSR emerged as global powers

Economic advantages

• United States

  • WWII affected the economy as more women were involved in the work force

  • The US avoids geographical and economic damage outside of Pearl Harbor due to its distant geographical location

  • Marshall Plan→sent money in aid for economic recovery in war-torn nations which lead to those nations experiencing a revival

  • Balance of power shifts to the USA

• Soviet Union

  • Economy was heavily directed by the state

  • Command economy draws skepticism from free market minded folks+ in years leading up to WWII, the soviet economy grew rapidly, growth led to suffering and death of Soviet citizens

  • Soviet Economy

    • Natural Resources

      • Enormous territory

    • Large population

    • Investment before WWII

      • infrastructure was already in place

Technological Advances

• US develops most advanced + devastating weapon→ Atomic Bomb

  • Deployed two on Japan ending war in the Pacific Theatre

  • The US was high on the scale of most advanced military tech

• The Soviet Union refuses to be intimidated and begins to advance their own weapon art and tech

• Arms Race→ A lot of money was invested into developing bombs

  • Nuclear and Hydrogen bombs

Decolonization

• WWs create the stage for this

  • Colonies had to fight for the imperial parents against their will in hopes that their sacrifice would be honored with indépendance

• Woodrow Wilson→ Insisted on self-determination for all nations

  • vetoed and Mandate system was enacted instead

• Mandate system→ Divided the colonies of world into a hierarchical system with varying degrees of self-rule based upon their ability to sustain themselves

  • Did not follow through leading to the Colonies becoming infuriated

• WWII

  • Massive anti-imperial movement broke out due to no effort being made toward indépendance after fighting for others outside colony

  • Due to the WWs draining European powers from resources and military, the rebellions were more successful