The document discusses the origins and key events of the Cold War between the United States and USSR from 1945-1948. It focuses on why the US-Soviet alliance broke down in 1945, how the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948, and how the United States reacted to Soviet expansionism, including the consequences of the Berlin Blockade. The document provides background context and specifies content to cover the breakdown of the US-Soviet alliance after WWII, Soviet control of Eastern Europe, the occupation of Germany and Berlin Blockade, and formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances.
The document discusses the origins and key events of the Cold War between the United States and USSR from 1945-1948. It focuses on why the US-Soviet alliance broke down in 1945, how the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948, and how the United States reacted to Soviet expansionism, including the consequences of the Berlin Blockade. The document provides background context and specifies content to cover the breakdown of the US-Soviet alliance after WWII, Soviet control of Eastern Europe, the occupation of Germany and Berlin Blockade, and formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances.
The document discusses the origins and key events of the Cold War between the United States and USSR from 1945-1948. It focuses on why the US-Soviet alliance broke down in 1945, how the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948, and how the United States reacted to Soviet expansionism, including the consequences of the Berlin Blockade. The document provides background context and specifies content to cover the breakdown of the US-Soviet alliance after WWII, Soviet control of Eastern Europe, the occupation of Germany and Berlin Blockade, and formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances.
The document discusses the origins and key events of the Cold War between the United States and USSR from 1945-1948. It focuses on why the US-Soviet alliance broke down in 1945, how the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948, and how the United States reacted to Soviet expansionism, including the consequences of the Berlin Blockade. The document provides background context and specifies content to cover the breakdown of the US-Soviet alliance after WWII, Soviet control of Eastern Europe, the occupation of Germany and Berlin Blockade, and formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances.
Focus Points ● Why did the US–Soviet alliance begin to break down in 1945? ● How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948? ● How did the United States react to Soviet expansionism? ● What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade? ● Who was the more to blame for starting the Cold War: the United States or the USSR?
Specified Content ● The origins of the Cold War: ○ the 1945 summit conferences and the breakdown of the US–Soviet alliance in 1945–46 ○ Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe to 1948, and American reactions to it ○ the occupation of Germany and the Berlin Blockade ○ NATO and the Warsaw Pact
BACKGROUND NOTES
Factors that contributed to the Cold War
Take concise notes on the following
Situation before the Second World War Personal relationships between leaders
Conflicting beliefs of the superpowers War damage suffered by USSR
Stalin’s takeover of eastern Europe Marshall Aid for Europe
The Berlin Blockade Americans successfully test atom bomb
(1945)
Consider, for each factor: Does it point to the USSR being at fault, the USA being to blame, or the inevitability of a conflict?
Peace Conferences: Yalta & Potsdam
Yalta, Feb 1945: When it was clear that Germany was losing the war in Europe, allied leaders met to plan what would happen to Europe after Germany’s defeat
Agreements Disagreements
Japan: Poland:
Germany:
Eastern Europe: Elections:
United Nations:
War criminals:
Potsdam, July 1945: When the Allied troops reached Berlin and Germany surrendered, another conference was scheduled.
Agreements Disagreements
Germany:
Reparations:
Eastern Europe:
Atomic bomb:
Hint: what was different at these two conferences?? These factors clearly led to more, major disagreements and increasing tensions! Stalin’s armies were occupying eastern Europe; there was a new more anti-communist US President, Truman; and Americans had successfully tested an atom bomb (Truman told Stalin at the start of Potsdam).
American and USSR policy in Europe
In note form, explain how the following factors helped the USSR gain control of eastern Europe: a) Cominform b) Comecon c) Agreements at Yalta d) Elections e) Resistance movements f) The Red Army
Explain how events in
a) Greece b) Czechoslovakia affected American policy in Europe.
Aims of the Marshall Plan
Political Economic The Berlin Blockade Fill out the below flowchart Key Vocabulary
