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Post-WWII Europe Introduction of Two New Superpowers United States Soviet Union Political System and Rights Democracy – the people have rights – Constitution Communism – totalitarian government with no individual rights Economic System Mixed Economy – free markets Command Economy – the gov’t controls all of the economy and makes all decisions Alliance – Empire NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Warsaw Pact Goals Contain communism – US was interested in promoting the economic recovery and growth of western Europe Soviet Union was interested in protecting itself and spreading communism Confrontation – Berlin Berlin Airlift Berlin Blockade Potsdam Conference • July 16-August 2, 1945 • United States, Britain, and Soviet Union • Stalin ignored previous agreements and worked to establish communist dictatorships throughout Eastern Europe Occupation Zones • “Iron Curtain” coined by Churchill • A symbolic division of Europe into two separate areas • “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an ‘iron curtain’ has descended across the Continent” • Germany was split into Western and Eastern Germany (Soviet Union controlled the eastern half and western powers controlled the western half) • The city of Berlin was also split into occupation zones City of Berlin Containment • US policy developed by George Kennan, a US diplomat • Keep communism within its preexisting boundaries • Prevent further Soviet aggressive moves Berlin Airlift • The Soviets created a blockade of West Berlin, which prevented western Europe from getting supplies into the city • 1948 American and British forces flew in food and other supplies to West Berlin • May 1949 Soviets lift the Berlin blockade after the success of western powers getting supplies into the city Warsaw Pact • 1955 Soviet military alliance including the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania • Soviet reply to the formation of NATO involving western Europe and the United States Brinkmanship • Willingness to go to the very edge of war in order to achieve a desired outcome • Example: Cuban Missile Crisis U-2 Incident • May 1, 1960 • Soviet pilot shot down a US spy plane, known as a U-2, over Soviet territory • US initially denied any spy activity, but was later forced to admit the plane’s role in covert surveillance Arms Race • Soviets and Americans race to create the most up to date weapons • Nuclear weapons became more destructive as each nation raced to build deadlier bombs • Both sides believed that an arsenal of weapons would actually prevent war Space Race • Americans and Soviets race to be the first to reach the next advancement in aerospace achievements • September 1957 Sputnik I, first satellite launched into space • 1960 the United States launched its own satellite