The Cold War:
The Cold War was a sustained state of political and military tension between powers in the Western Bloc (the United States with NATO and others) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its allies in Warsaw Pact). Historians have not fully agreed on the dates, but 1947–1991 is common. It was "cold" because there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two sides, although there were major regional wars in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Spread Of Communism
U.S. after World War II:
- The end of WWII in 1945, marked a turning point in the U.S. history by taking an active role in the worlds affairs.
- The United States became leader of the United nations and the world bank.
- The United States helped rebuild japan after WWII.
- The United States helped found Israel as a Jewish nation in the middle east.
Cold War:
- The most important Change in U.S. foreign policy after WWII Was the beginning of the cold war.
- The cold war was an era of distrust and hostility between the U.S. and the Soviet Union from 1945-1991.
- It was an era of competing ideologies: The USA prompted democracy and capitalism while the Soviet union tried to spread communism.
Capitalism
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Communism
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Causes of the Cold War:
- Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution in 1917.
- The US sent troops to fight the "Red Army" during the Russian Civil War.
- In the 1920's, Americans feared the spread of communism during the "Red Scare".
- After Lenin's death in 1924 Joseph Stalin became dictator of the Soviet Union and started his 5 year plan.
- During WWII the USA and the USSR worked together to defeat the Axis Powers, but...
- WWII increased hostilities between the USA and the USSR.
- The United States and the Soviet Union emerged from the war as rival superpowers.
- The development of the atomic bomb gave the US a monopoly on nuclear weapons.
- In 1949, the US found the north atlantic Treaty organization (NATO).
The Berlin Blockade:
- In 1948, the USSR responded to containment by cutting off all traffic to berlin in East Germany.
- The USA began the Berlin Airlift to bring food and supplies to keep west Germany fro turning to communism.
- The standoff lasted 2 weeks.
Interesting facts about the Cold War
- It costed the United States 8 Trillion Dollars.
- It was predicted by Hitler.
- Its first casualty was a Christian Missionary.
- One of the reasons it ended was because of apple.(the Company)
- At one point, the U.S. had more communists on its side than the USSR.
- Thanks to the cold war there are way more nuclear weapons than there would have been.
- The Soviet Union absorbed many smaller countries which have since become their own nations again. Much of the political situations there that may or may not affect Americans date back to the Cold War.
- the US felt threatened during the space race because the Soviet Union were the first to send up a satellite.