Unit IX. The Cold War

A. Balance of Power

A. Balance of Power1. A Divided Europe

a. Western Europe

*With the help of G.B. and the U.S., democracy

and capitalism were restored to the west

b. Eastern Europe

*Occupied by Soviet armies

*Stalin wanted to spread communism throughout the area and create a buffer-zone of friendly gov’ts to prevent attacks -Stalin had promised free-elections-Instead, supported pro-communist gov’ts

c. Iron Curtain: imaginary line that divided Europe between East (Communist) and West (Democratic)

*Term first used by Winston Churchill, 1946

*The iron curtain would both literally and figuratively cut Eastern Europe off from the rest of the world

A. Balance of Power (cont’d)2. Germany and Japan Post-WWII

a. Germany: divided into four zones between

all the Allies

*Armed forces were disbanded and the Nazi Party was outlawed

*Nazi war criminals were put on trial (Nuremburg) and punished*Western Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)

-Allies helped to set up new political parties

-A federal constitution was written, set up a democracy (approved in 1949)

-1949, Allies ended military occupation -Also set up a policy of asylum, or protection from arrest or from being returned to a dangerous political situation

*Germany was deeply shaken by the events of the Holocaust

-Wanted to ensure would never happen again

-Today has very strong ties to Israel and has tried to compensate for the event financially and politically

A. Balance of Power (cont’d)2. Germany and Japan Post-WWII (cont’d)

b. Japan: occupied militarily by Allied forces after WWII, mostly U.S.

*Armed forces were disbanded and war criminals were put on trial *General Douglas MacArthur was the Supreme Commander of

the American military gov’t that ruled post-war Japan

*The American gov’t wanted to end militarism and ensure democratic gov’t in Japan

-MacArthur and his advisors drafted a constitution

•Created a constitutional monarchy (like G.B.), limited the power of the emperor

•Promised Japan would not engage in warfare

•Set up a democratic gov’t: representatives elected to the Diet (Japanese Parliament)

•Basic rights were guaranteed

-The new constitution was accepted and they signed a treaty that took away its overseas empire

-Occupation ended in 1952

A. Balance of Power (cont’d)3. Two Superpowers

a. Decline of Dominant Nations

*After WWII, several powerful nations were in decline

-Germany was defeated and divided

-France and Britain were economically drained and needed to focus on rebuilding

b. The U.S. and U.S.S.R. emerged as the new superpowers

*Superpower: used to describe each of the rivals that came to dominate global politics after WWII

*Many nations would be influenced or come under the control of both nations during the 20th century