Cold War Superpowers

World War II ended in 1945 with an Allied victory. The United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and the Soviet Union (USSR) had defeated the Axis Powers of Germany and Japan. However, despite the fact that

the US and USSR had fought alongside each other as allies, both had a deep mistrust of the other. The US was wary of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s tyrannical rule and Soviet communism. The USSR resented the US delay in entering WWII which resulted in the death of tens of millions of Soviets and how the US refused to recognize the USSR as a legitimate member of the international community. When WWII ended, tension continued to grow, and soon another war began. The Cold War began in 1945 and lasted over 40 years, finally ending in 1991. The primary opponents were the US and USSR, often referred to as the superpowers. Many European countries were struggling to rebuild after WWII ended. However, the US and USSR were two countries that emerged from WWII stronger than before they entered it. Both countries knew Europe would need help to rebuild itself, but the US favored democracy, while the USSR believed in

communism. The USSR occupied eastern Europe, including the eastern half of Germany. The US, UK, and France occupied the western half of Germany. The USSR quickly installed communist governments in the eastern European countries it occupied, including East Germany. Communist countries controlled by the USSR were the Eastern Bloc, while the democratic western European countries, including West Germany, were the Western Bloc. Even Berlin, the capital of Germany and deep inside East German territory, had been divided between democracy and communism. By the start of 1946, Stalin placed the Eastern Bloc under tight restrictions, and it gradually became more difficult for those living in the Eastern Bloc countries to travel or move to other countries. Former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill commented that an Iron Curtain had been drawn in Europe. The Iron Curtain was an imaginary boundary separating the democratic west from the communist east. Stalin did not want Soviet controlled countries to have open contact with the West and non-Soviet controlled countries, while the US did not want communism to spread.

Because the US feared the spread of communism throughout Europe and eventually the world, the US used a policy known as containment. This meant the US tried to prevent the spread of communism and offered support to countries that were in danger of falling to communism. This did not mean the US would fight communism where it already existed. On the other hand, the USSR wanted to further its global influence. Because both countries possessed the capability to create nuclear weapons, they knew a direct war between one another would result in a devastating nuclear war. As a result, neither country declared war on the other. However, the US

and USSR indirectly fought through proxy wars, such as the Korean War and Vietnam War. Both the US and USSR provided aid and troops to the countries engaged in war as a way to further their own agenda. The US supported nations not wanting to fall to communism, while the USSR supported communist nations. Not only did the US and USSR compete with one another in proxy wars, they also engaged in a competition known as the Arms Race. Both countries looked to increase their nuclear stockpile with newer and more powerful weapons. However, neither side wanted to engage in a nuclear war that could destroy much of the world. Both the US and USSR wanted to prove that

they had superior technology and not just on earth. In 1955, another competition between the US and USSR heated up: the Space Race. The Space Race was important because it showed the world which

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Joseph Stalin

Western Bloc

Eastern Bloc

Both the US and USSR detonated nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

The US supported non-communist South Vietnam, while the USSR supported

communist North Vietnam.

Cold War Superpowers

country had the best science, technology, and economic system. It also could also mean that a nuclear weapon could be delivered over far distances. The Soviets placed the first successful satellite into orbit in 1957 and put the first man in space in 1961. However, the Americans placed the first man on the moon in 1969. The Cold War was a time of constant threats, tension, and competition. However, the US and USSR never directly fired upon one another. Hence, the term “Cold” war. Instead both countries sought to gain international power and influence through proxy wars, the race to arms, and the space race. However, the USSR began to collapse in the late 1980s. Its economy was struggling, it had political turmoil, and its people

were unhappy. On December 24, 1991, the USSR dissolved into 15 separate and independent countries. With the collapse of the USSR, the Cold War was over.

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Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, landing on

July 20, 1969. Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space on April 12,

1961.

1- Armenia 2- Azerbaijan 3- Belarus 4- Estonia 5- Georgia

6- Kazakhstan 7- Kyrgyzstan 8- Latvia 9- Lithuania 10- Moldova

11- Russia 12- Tajikistan 13- Turkmenistan 14- Ukraine 15- Uzbekistan

Cold War Superpowers

Name______________________________ Date________________ Period______________

LITERACY CONNECTION Answer the prompt using complete sentences in paragraph form.

Explain three ways the US and USSR were in conflict with one another, even though they never formally declared war. ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

q q

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POLITICAL CARTOONS Use the political cartoon to answer the questions.

t t

This political cartoon represents the Cold War. 1. What is written on each sign? _________________________________ _________________________________ 2. On what type of weapons are the signs hanging? _________________________________ 3. What weapons are the soldiers using? _________________________________ 4. Explain the message of this political cartoon. _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

APPLY: Draw a political cartoon representing either the Space Race or Iron Curtain.