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The Cold War

• What is it?– It is a bitter state of indirect conflict that existed

between the U.S. and the Soviet Union for more than four decades

– Occurred from 1949 to 1989

• Why is it called a “cold war”?– Hot war is when there is actual fighting– The cold war there was no direct fighting

between the U.S. and the Soviet Union

Origins of the Cold War

• How did the Soviets cause the Cold War?– U.S. is upset that the Soviet Union Set up a

non-aggression pact with Germany– Soviet Union wanted to spread communism

(the U.S. disliked the communist idea)– The Soviets make satellite nations out of the

countries on their western border• Nations that were subject to Soviet domination and

serve as a buffer zone

Origins of the Cold War

• How did the U.S. cause the Cold war?– After the Russian Revolution the U.S. would not

recognize the communist government until 1933– The U.S. waited to open up a second front in

Europe during WWII– U.S. asked Britain for help on the A-bomb and

left the Soviets out– U.S. wants to spread the ideas of liberty,

equality, and democracy

Origins of the Cold War

• What are some other causes of the Cold War?– Argument over Poland

• The Soviets want it to be a communist country

• The U.S. wants to allow Poland to decide for themselves

Declaration of War

• Two unofficial declarations of war– In February 1946 Stalin gives a speech where

he predicted the ultimate triumph of communism over capitalism

– In March 1946 Winston Churchill gave a speech where he said that there was an Iron Curtain that has descended on Europe

Fighting the Cold War

• How does the U.S. fight the Cold War?– Containment, what is it?

• The U.S. will resist any Soviet attempts to form Communist governments anywhere

– Truman Doctrine, what is it?• The U.S. must help nations that are resisting

conquest by armed minorities and help free people to stay free

– How do they work together?• Containment set out the U.S. aim for the Cold War

while the Truman Doctrine gave us justification for what we did

Writing Assignment

• Title: If the Cold War Never Happened– Had the United States and the Soviet Union

been able to avoid the deep split that made them enemies and instead remained allies, what benefits might have resulted?

– 1 full page