Download U5D6- Roots of the Cold War

Chapter 21, Section 1
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Though they had been allies during WWII
against Nazi Germany, the relationship
between the Soviet Union and the U.S.
had been steadily breaking down since
Stalin seized power.
The following 46 year conflict (1945-1991)
would become known as the Cold War. It
was ‘cold’ because the two countries
never engaged in active combat.

Throughout the 46 years of the Cold War, both countries saw
new leaders.
 Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford,
Carter, Reagan and Bush all served during the Cold War.
 The U.S. remained militarily with democratic countries such as Great
Britain and France.
 The Soviet Union aligned with other communist nations such as
China, Cuba and North Korea.
POLITICAL DIFFERENCES (GOV)

The two countries differed politically
and economically.
 The U.S. has a democratic gov. believing in
free elections, economic and religious
freedom, and the ability to own private
property.
 The Soviet Union had a communist gov. in
which citizens could not worship as they
pleased, own private property or express
their opinions.
ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES

When these government styles are
applied to economics, they look as
follows:
 U.S. (capitalism) people can own their own
business and property; competition is
promoted; free market system in which
citizens can decide how to spend their
money.
 Soviet Union (communism) government
has complete control over the economy; gov.
controls means of production; few choices
and everyone shares goods and services
equally.

Both countries also disagreed at the Yalta
conference on how post-war Europe should be
structured.
 Stalin wanted a divided Germany to keep it weak
and for the Soviet Union to occupy Eastern
Europe.
▪ These Eastern European nations would become
satellite states, or ‘spheres of influence’.
 The U.S. and Great Britain wanted a stronger,
united Germany and independent nations in
Eastern Europe.

While delivering a speech at Fulton College in
Missouri, Winston Churchill remarked that an ‘iron
curtain’ had descended upon Europe, dividing
democratic and communist countries.
 On one side, you had Eastern Europe, the other,
Western Europe.

Eastern Europe, led by the Soviet Union, had a
communist ‘sphere of influence’.
 They did not allow democratic elections like they had
promised at the Yalta Conference.

Western Europe, led by Great Britain with the U.S. as
an ally, had a democratic sphere of influence.
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Truman stood by the motto ‘The buck stops
here.’ meaning that the president made
tough decisions, and thus was accountable
for them.
Truman agreed with American diplomat
George F. Kennan’s policy of containment to
stop the spread of communism in Europe and
around the world.
 This would require the biggest resource of the
U.S.– money!

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Truman’s first response to communism
became known as the Truman Doctrine. It
stated that the U.S. would supply money
to any nation struggling against
communism.
Secondly, for the Truman Doctrine to
work, the U.S. had to provide the money.
 In 1948, Congress approved the Marshall Plan,
which gave countries in Europe over $13 billion
in aid to stop communism.