The document discusses the origins and outbreak of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union following World War II. Ideological differences and tensions that arose from competing visions of democracy and communism led to distrust between the former allies. As wartime cooperation broke down, the division of Europe and tensions over issues like reparations for Germany exacerbated hostility and marked the beginning of the Cold War era.

1. 1
Was the post-World War II era a
period of stability?
How did the Cold War
Why did the Cold How did the Cold War
affect the rest of the
War break out? affect Europe?
world?
Factors leading to the Cold Ways in which the rest of
Ways in which Europe was
War between the USA and the world was affected by the
affected by the Cold War.
the USSR. Cold War.
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2. 2
In a Nutshell
 A Cold War is defined as a situation of tense relations
and fierce competition between nations.
 There is however no direct confrontation as in an all-out
war.
 Such a situation occurred between 1945 and 1991,
involving the superpowers, the USA and the USSR.
 The superpowers divided Europe into two.
 Eastern Europe was led by Communist USSR while
democratic USA controlled Western Europe.
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3. 3
US Vice-President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev argued
about who had a better life — Americans living in a democratic society or
Russians in a Communist society. The 1956 debate is called the Kitchen Debate
as it took place in Moscow at a kitchen exhibition.
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4. 4
Competing
ideologies
Why did the Cold War
break out?
Feelings of Wartime alliances
mistrust broke down
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5. 5
Competing ideologies
 An ideology refers to a set of ideas about how a society
should be run.
 In many ways, the Cold War confrontation between the
USA and the USSR was a clash between their opposing
ideologies.
Democracy The USA
Communism The USSR
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6. 6
Communism VS Democracy
Who controls the society?
Communism Democracy
The Communist Party rules the people.
Only the Communist Party members can be People choose their government by
in the government. This government is voting for the leaders they want. The
considered a one-party dictatorship. leaders can belong to any party.
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7. 7
Communism VS Democracy
How should people live?
Communism Democracy
The individual has more rights and some
The community is more important than
of these rights are more important than
the individual. So the individual should
the needs of the community. Such rights
put the needs of the community before
his own. include freedom of speech and the press.
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8. 8
Communism VS Democracy
How should the wealth of the society be
created and shared?
Communism
 The country’s wealth is owned
collectively by the society.
 The Communist Party creates
wealth by deciding what to
produce. This is called a centrally
planned economy.
 Everyone should work and should
get an equal share of the benefits
of the society.
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9. 9
Communism VS Democracy
How should the wealth of the society be
created and shared?
 The country’s wealth is created by
private enterprise and trade. Democracy
 Businessmen and entrepreneurs
create wealth by deciding what to
produce. This is called market
economy.
 Some individuals may become
wealthier than others. How wealthy
one becomes depends on the
individual’s skills as an entrepreneur
or how well he invests his resources.
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10. 10
Communism VS Democracy
Democracy Communism
• For supporters of Democracy • Communists, on the other
choosing between hand believed that the
Democracy and Communism workers were not free in
felt like choosing between democratic societies.
freedom and slavery.
• To them the workers in a
• They believed that Communists democratic society, were
had to accept the control of the slaves of the rich
the Communist Party and give landowners, factory owners
up all their freedom. and industrialists.
Back
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11. 11
Feelings of mistrust
 When the Communists came to power in the 1917 October
Revolution in Russia, they lost the trust of the USA and
other Western nations. This was because the Communist
government called for a world revolution.
 Could this mean the end of Capitalism and Democracy?
The West begin to question the actions of the Communists.
 Poor relations existed also because of the involvement of
the West in the Russian Civil War. They provided aid to the
anti-Bolshevik White armies.
 Since then, there had always been tension between the
Communists and supporters of Democracy.
 The USA and the USSR had more power to spread their
ideologies around after they became superpowers at the
Back
end of World War II.
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12. 12
Wartime alliances broke down
 The Soviet Union joined the USA and Britain as one of the
Allied Powers and joined in the fight against Japan, Italy and
Germany.
 This alliance was only temporary.
 The feud was resumed after the war ended and when they
found no common enemy to unite them against.
 The leaders of the USSR, the USA and Britain met at Yalta to
discuss what to do with Germany once the war was over.
 It was decided that Germany was to be divided into four
different zones.
 After the war ended, they met at Potsdam to resume the
discussion that was stopped.
 Several misunderstandings arose out of the conferences
which contributed to hostile relations.
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13. 13
The Potsdam Agreement
 What was agreed?
 Details of the zones of occupation of Germany were
finalised.
 Reparations were to be collected in the form of industrial
equipment from own zone. The USSR was to receive
additional money from other zones as its zone was
mainly agricultural and it had suffered the most during
the war.
 The new borders of Poland were confirmed.
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14. 14
The Potsdam Agreement
Stalin Truman
What to do with We should cripple We do not want to repeat
Germany? Germany completely. the mistakes of the
Treaty of Versailles.
Should Germany pay Yes. 20 million Russians We do not want to repeat
for the reparations? were killed in the war. the mistakes of the
Treaty of Versailles.
What to do with We agreed at Yalta that We have to cultivate a
Eastern Europe? these would be under the ‘get tough’ attitude
Soviet sphere of towards Stalin.
influence; with united
Eastern Europe, no one
will dare to move a finger
against them.
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15. 15
The Potsdam Agreement
 Significance
 The USSR was suspicious of the West. Stalin
imprisoned non-Communist Polish leaders and
placed Communist leaders in the Polish
government. Buffer zones were created to make
Communism more powerful.
 The poor relations between the two superpowers
at the Potsdam Conference were a sign that their
wartime alliance had come to an end and that the
Cold War had begun.
Back
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16. 16
Europe was divided
Nato and Warsaw Pact
were set up Germany was divided
How did the
Cold War
affect Europe?
Marshall Plan was put Truman Doctrine was
into action announced
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17. 17
Europe was divided
 Europe was divided into two blocs between 1945 and
1948.
 The East comprised mainly of Communist governments
and the West consisted of democratic countries.
 The USSR expanded its control over Eastern Europe by
setting up Communist governments in these countries.
 The USSR could then influence these Communist
governments to follow policies that were non-threatening
to it.
 The countries with Communist governments were known
as satellite states.
 The West criticised the USSR for setting up such
governments without holding free elections and for their
harsh tactics.
 Such actions further contributed to the bad blood between
the two superpowers.
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18. Europe was divided
18
Back
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19. 19
Germany was divided
 A crisis ensued among Britain, France, the USA and the
USSR over how to administer Germany in 1948.
 Germany was to be divided into four parts and Berlin into
four zones, according to peace talks in Britain.
 In 1948, Britain, France and the USA decided to join their
separate zones in Germany. In order to help the West
German economy recover, they agreed to create a new
currency.
 Afraid that Germany would grow strong and threaten the
USSR, Stalin planned to seize control of West Berlin through
a blockade.
 He had hoped to force the Western powers to leave the city
by blocking all supplies of food to West Berlin.
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20. 20
The Berlin Blockade 1948
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21. 21
Germany was divided
 The USA was determined to support West Berlin as it
represented the democratic system.
 It was afraid that if it did so, the USSR would become
bolder and invade West Germany.
 However keen to avoid war, President Truman ordered
an airlift of food and other supplies into West Berlin.
This lasted for ten months.
 Realising that the West was determined to support West
Berlin, the USSR ended the Berlin Blockade after ten
months.
 The blockade was important in helping us understand
why Germany became two separate countries.
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22. 22
In August 1949, the West set up the German Federal Republic in West Germany.
In October, the USSR set up the German Democratic Republic in East Germany.
Back
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23. 23
Truman Doctrine was
announced
 Following Soviet expansion in Europe, President Truman
decided that the USA must stop Communism from
spreading.
 On 12 March 1947, he announced the Truman Doctrine.
 The Truman Doctrine provided American aid to Greece
and Turkey in order to prevent the spread of
Communism.
 Turkey controlled the Dardanelles and the Greek
government was fighting against Communism.
 Agreeing with Truman’s sentiments, Congress soon
voted $400 million of aid to Greece and Turkey.
Back
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24. 24
The Marshall Plan was put into
action on 5 June 1947
 Following the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan was
introduced.
 The Plan sought to make Europe rich and strong again
and prosperous enough to resist Communism, by
providing financial help.
 Between 1948 and 1952, 16 countries in Western Europe
received a total of US$13 billion in aid, loans and goods.
 Soviet satellites were forbidden from accepting American
financial aid. Stalin felt that the West was using this to
expand its influence over Europe.
Back
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25. 25
NATO and Warsaw Pact were set up
 The division of Europe into two spheres of influence
forced both sides to set up military alliances.
 In April 1949, the USA set up the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) for collective security against any
Soviet attack.
 Similarly, the USSR set up an alliance known as the
Warsaw Pact in 1955, uniting all Communist countries in
Eastern Europe except Yugoslavia.
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26. Military alliances
26
Back
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27. 27
How did the Cold War
affect the rest of the world?
China joined the The Cuban Missile
Cold War Crisis
The Korean War
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28. 28
China joined the Cold War
 When China turned Communist in 1949, it became
involved in the Cold War.
 The USA felt threatened by the Communist alliance
between China and the USSR.
 The USA feared that the USSR might give China the
technology to produce its own nuclear weapons.
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29. 29
Japan became the USA’s main
anti-Communist ally
 Due to the threat of Communism in China, the USA
strengthened Japan’s economy and introduced
democratic reforms.
 Through this, the USA hoped to turn Japan into its main
anti-Communist ally in the region.
 Other than strengthening Japan by providing economic
aid, new technology and new industrial equipment, the
USA also managed to get Japan to allow it to station its
troops in Japan.
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30. 30
USA‘s One China Policy
 Due to unfriendly relations between the USA and
Communist China, the USA adopted a One China Policy
between 1945 and 1972.
 The USA refused to recognise the People’s Republic of
China’s (PRC) Communist government.
 Instead, it recognised Taiwan (Republic of China) as the
legitimate government of China.
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31. 31
Increased US support for
anti-Communists in Asia
 Due to the rise of Communist China, the USA was eager
to form allies in Asia.
 Other than Taiwan, the USA also sent troops to support
anti-Communist governments in other countries such as
South Korea and South Vietnam.
 Besides, it also formed an anti-Communist alliance in
Southeast Asia (SEATO) in 1954 to oppose Communist
gains in Southeast Asia.
 In the name of giving aid, sometimes cruel and corrupted
governments were supported and maintained.
Back
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32. 32
Case Study 1:
The Korean War
 Korea was divided at the 38th parallel
after World War II.
The USSR North: The People’s
Democratic Republic
The USA South: The Republic of
Korea
 This division was supposed to be
temporary.
 In June 1950, the North Koreans
launched a surprise attack against the
South and the capital Seoul fell in just
three days.
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33. 33
Case Study 1:
The Korean War
 The UN decided to send troops to the
region under its UN flag. The huge bulk
of the troops sent were American and
command of them was given to
General Douglas MacArthur.
 By the end of August 1950 only Pusan
in the south-east corner of South Korea
had not fallen to the North.
 In September, MacArthur took the
huge risk of launching an amphibious
landing at Inchon 200 miles behind
enemy lines and from here he
launched an attack against the North
Koreans.
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34. 34
Case Study 1:
The Korean War
 MacArthur later chose to advance
north towards the Chinese border at
the Yalu River.
 This provoked the Chinese to launch
a massive attack against the UN
forces and South Korea.
 The war became static warfare as
both sides were entrenched in their
positions. Peace talks started at
Panmunjom and lasted for two years.
 An armistice was signed in 1953. The
fighting ended but no peace treaty
was signed.
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35. 35
China
China showed that it was Japan
Korea
a major military power with Japan became a key US
The war cost the lives of
its entry into the war. partner in Asia and a model
about 2.5 million Koreans.
China grew confident and of US democracy. The Korean
Many families were
demanded a seat in the UN War also helped Japan’s
separated because of the
in 1971. economy as it was the main
division at the 38th parallel.
supplier of South Korea.
Impact of the USA
Global impact
Following the Korean War,
The war also showed Korean War the USA was eager to form
that smaller countries
alliances in Asia. This
were not always controlled
included ANZUS (with
by superpowers. In the
Australia and New Zealand)
case of Korea, both the
and SEATO in Southeast
North and South used the
Taiwan Asia.
superpowers to achieve
Fearing China might use the
their aim of uniting Korea
Korean War as a chance
to attack Taiwan, the USA
sent military support to
Taiwan. Back
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36. 36
Case Study 2:
The Cuban Missile Crisis
 Trouble began in 1962 when the USA found out that the
USSR had missiles in Cuba which could hit most of the
major American cities.
 Furthermore, the Soviets had 40,000 troops in Cuba.
 More than 100,000 US soldiers were stationed at
Florida, the American state closest to Cuba.
 The US forces around the world were also placed on
high alert.
 Soviet submarines that were armed with nuclear
weapons were also on their way to Cuba.
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37. Case Study 2 : The whole crisis was finally averted
when Soviet ships decided to sail back.
37
The Cuban Missile Crisis Following that, the USSR announced It
President Kennedy ordered a US would also remove the missiles from
naval blockade of Cuba to stop Cuba.
supplies from reaching Cuba.
Trouble began in 1962 when the
USA found out that the USSR had
missiles in Cuba which could hit
most of the major American cities.
Following that, the USA sent more
than 100,000 soldiers to Florida
prepared for a possible invasion.
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38. 38
Causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis
 The USSR had been worried about US missiles in
Turkey (an ally of the USA) due to its proximity to some
of the Soviet cities.
 Soviet leader Khrushchev felt he should also find allies
and build nuclear missile sites near the USA.
 In 1960, the USSR offered to protect Cuba by placing
nuclear missiles in Cuba.
 Cuban leader Castro accepted the USSR’s offer and
formed an alliance with it.
 In 1962, following reconnaissance reports of missiles
belonging to the USSR in Cuba, US president Kennedy
ordered a naval and air blockade of Cuba.
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39. 39
Causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis
 Putting its army on high alert, the USA warned that it
would attack the USSR if the missiles were not
removed from Cuba.
 The crisis was resolved when the USSR promised to
remove all its missiles.
 The blockade on Cuba was also ended.
 In 1963, US nuclear missiles were removed from
Turkey.
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40. 40
Cuba remained Communist Khrushchev's fall from
Better US-Soviet relations Although the USSR removed its power
Both sides realised that missiles, it promised to help The incident led to
they should not risk another Cuba if it was attacked. Khrushchev's fall from power.
nuclear war. Both also The USSR also made the USA His decision to remove the
supported disarmament. promise that it would not missiles was criticised by
In 1963, the USA, the USSR attack Cuba. by other Soviet leaders.
and Britain signed a Nuclear In 1964, he was removed
Test Ban Treaty from his post.
Impact of the Tense Soviet-Chinese
Led to more stable Cuban Missile relations
The crisis made Soviet-
superpower relations Crisis Chinese relations tense.
Both parties did not start a
nuclear war because they China accused the Soviets
realised no one could win one. for being weak. The quarrel
Due to a possible Mutually between China and the
Assured Destruction situation, USSR divided the
both tried to solve problems international Communist
without using nuclear movement into two groups.
weapons.
Back
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41. Summary
41
Europe NATO Marshall Plan Korea
divided Warsaw Pact Truman Doctrine
Impact outside
Germany Cuba
Impact on Europe Europe
divided
The Cold War
Increasing Alliance Competing
mistrust breakdown ideologies
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