UNIT 8

Origins of the Cold War

What is the Cold War?

  • A time period of increased tension between the United States and the Soviet Union

  • Most people in the world believed that the aftermaths of wars will cause another war

    • World War I led to an economic depression which led to World War II which led to an

What is the tension between these two countries?

  • Differing Political Beliefs

    • Communism vs Democracy

  • Different views about how World War II should end

    • How to punish Germany

      • Soviets want to limit how Germany rebuilds to keep them weak

      • United States wants to help Germany rebuild but severely punish them

  • United States thinks a growing economy means world peace

  • Soviet Union thinks strong borders means World Peace

What are America’s Beliefs?

America

  • Bill of Rights: Protects Individuals

  • Free elections

  • Representatives at every level

    • State, Federal, and local

  • Free press

    • Freedom of speech/news to cover the events they want to

  • Military under government control

  • A majority of ownership is private

    • The people own the products

What are the Soviet’s Beliefs?

America

  • Bill of Rights: Protects Individuals

  • Free elections

  • Representatives at every level

    • State, Federal, and local

  • Free press

    • Freedom of speech/news to cover the events they want to

  • Military under government control

  • A majority of ownership is private

    • The people own the products

What is Yalta Conference?

  • Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin meet to discuss the Post-War world

    • Known as the “Big 3”

  • Germany and Japan lost World War II

  • The Yalta Conference will decide their fates and punishments

  • 3 major topics of discussion

    • Poland

    • Freeing Europe from German Control

    • Dividing Germany

What is Yalta Conference Resolutions: Poland?

  • Poland is the only country separating Germany and the Soviet Union

  • Germany has invaded Poland and the Soviet Union 3 times in the course of a few years

  • The “Big 3” must now push German influences out and reestablish Poland’s independent presence

  • Solution: Poland’s government will be set up with the help of the Soviets.

  • This is a compromise between what the United States and Soviet Union want

What is Resolution #2: Europe Declaration of Freedom?

  • Hitler was able to progress through and control various parts of Europe in the build up into World War II

  • The Soviet Union and United States agree that a “Declaration of Freedom” would remove Germany’s control and influence in other areas outside Germany

    • Document states there is German leaders have no influence unless you’re in Germany

  • Solution: The Soviet Union and the U.S are in charge of setting up governments with “Democratic elements” in each area where there was previous German Allegiance

What is Yalta Conference Resolutions: Divide Germany?

  • Germany will be divided into four zones

    • Soviet Union, Britain, the United States, and France will all control one of the zones

  • All four countries would oversee Berlin

    • The Germany’s capital, Berlin, is in the Soviet’s zone

  • Soviet Union wants Germany to pay heavy reparations

  • Solution: Germany would be dismantled as a form of payment. They won’t lose money but they will lose businesses, machinery, transportation systems, etc

Why do tensions increase?

  • Time passes and The Soviet Union does what’s best for the Soviet Union

    • Even if that means they violate agreements that were made with other countries.

  • United States intervene more to ensure the solutions are followed

    • Upsets the Soviet Union 

      • it causes the United States to have more of a direct presence in Europe

  • Soviet Union wants to control as much of Europe as possible

    • Sets up Satellite Nations

      • Countries not led directly by the Soviet Union but still have a very heavy Soviet Union Presence

        • Like Ukraine