Download 1The Atomic Age

The Cold War
Today we will understand the
mistrust between America and
the USSR
• On 6th August 1945,the
USA dropped an atomic
bomb on Japan
• This ended WWII as Japan
soon surrendered
• Germany had already
surrendered
• USA only gave USSR a few
days notice of bombing
• Many thought the USA did
this to show they were
powerful-more powerful
than their WWII allies –
Britain, France and the
USSR
• Stalin (USSR leader) was
jealous – he wanted his own
atomic bomb – tested his in
1949
Franklin Roosevelt
Josef Stalin
USA
USSR
COMMUNISM
V
CAPITALISM
Why was there a Cold War after 1945?
• Stalin ran a Communist Regime – America hated
Communism
• Stalin tried to spread Communism through
Europe – worried America – Domino Theory
• Only a common enemy had joined them together
– Hitler – he was now gone
• Both were Superpowers – huge countries, huge
population, lots of resources - competitive
• Both had nuclear weapons – power to destroy
one another
• An arms race has started – each power wanted
to have the biggest nuclear arsenal
• This led to mistrust and suspicion between to
two most powerful countries in the world –
neither country trusted the other