2. This was not a typical war, but more of a disagreement
and competition between the two countries.
The Cold War describes the conflict between the
United States (U.S.) and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.).
The Cold War
conflict: a serious disagreement or argument
3. During the Second World War, the U.S. and
the U.S.S.R. teamed up to help stop Japan
and Germany from invading other countries.
WWII Ends
invading: enter by military force to gain control
Once they were able to defeat
those countries, they disagreed
on how the countries should be
run going forward.
4. The Soviet Union believed their area of Germany
should reflect the values of their country, while the
United States wanted Germany to be modeled on
American values.
In trying to help redevelop Japan and Germany
after the war, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. had two
very different ideas about how these countries
should be run.
Disagreement Between Countries
redevelop: to make things better
5. The U.S. believed capitalism would be best for the
citizens in the countries they were helping to redevelop.
Capitalism is when individual people strive to do the
best they can for themselves and their families.
Capitalism and Communism
The U.S.S.R. believed communism would be best for the
citizens in the countries they were helping to redevelop.
Communism is when people work together for the good
of everyone in that country.
This is just one of the things the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. did not agree on.
Both countries wanted to have the greatest influence in government and
world affairs. So, they also competed with each other in those areas.
6. During the Cold War, the U.S.
and the U.S.S.R. never
physically attacked one
another. Both countries had
nuclear weapons, but both
knew using these weapons
would be catastrophic.
The Arms Race (1945)
Instead, the countries competed
with each other to develop the
most damaging weapons. This
competition was called the
Arms Race.
7. Another competition between the United States and the Soviet Union
was the Space Race. Both countries wanted to be the first to reach outer
space and land on the moon. The U.S.S.R. successfully launched the first
manmade object to orbit the Earth on October 4, 1957.
The Space Race
This inspired the U.S. to try to be the first
country to put a man on the moon. They
were successful when Neil Armstrong
became the first man to walk on
the moon on June 20, 1969.
8. Following WWII, Germany was
divided into four zones. The Soviet
Union controlled East Germany, while
the United States, Great Britain, and
France controlled West Germany.
The capital city of Berlin was also
divided, even though geographically
it was in East Germany.
East Germany was communist, and
West Germany was capitalist.
Germany Divided
West Germany
East Germany
Berlin
Cold War Germany.svg by W. B. Wilson is licensed under CC BY 2.0
9. People in West Germany enjoyed more freedom than people in East
Germany. Many people wanted to escape East Germany and
communism. As a result, several million people moved to West Germany
from 1948-1960. This worried the East German government.
Berlin Wall
In August of 1961, East Germany began constructing a wall that would
keep people from defecting to the West. This was the Berlin Wall. It was
almost 27 miles long. The wall was heavily guarded with guns, land
mines, and attack dogs.
defecting: to leave a cause or country to go to an opposing one
10. The Space Race and the Arms Race
were very expensive for the United
States and the Soviet Union.
Eventually, the U.S.S.R. began to
face economic trouble and many
people were unhappy.
The Cold War Ends (1991)
As a result, they lost control of
East Germany on November 9,
1989, and the German people tore
down the Berlin Wall. The U.S.S.R.
broke up into different countries
and the Cold War ended.
The Cold War lasted from 1945 until 1991.
West and East Germans at the Brandenburg Gate in 1989.jpg by Unknown photographeis licensed under CC BY 2.0
