After WWII, the US and Soviet Union emerged as superpowers with opposing ideologies, leading to distrust and a rivalry known as the Cold War. Each sought to spread its political system and stockpiled weapons, and engaged in a space race for prestige. The division of influence created an "Iron Curtain" across Europe. In the late 1980s, reforms under Gorbachev and economic troubles in the Soviet Union weakened its control over Eastern Europe and led to the reunification of Germany. Ultimately, the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, bringing an end to the Cold War.

1. Cold War, Super Powers, & Space
Race
Mrs. Sample
Social Studies

3. After WWII
• During World War II, the United States and the
Soviet Union set aside their differences.
• As they moved toward victory in 1945 (near
the end of the war), these two powerful
nations began to disagree about what the
world was to be like after the war.

4. WWII
• At the end of the war, Allied helped to free all
nations formerly conquered by Germany.
• The Allied Forces helped the countries form
new governments
• Allies gave countries in Europe money to
rebuild their infrastructure and buildings.
• Then... They left!

5. Super Powers
• The U.S. and Soviet Union emerged as the
world’s two Superpowers.
• Both had the military and the political
strength to influence worldwide events.
• Distrust developed between the two
countries.

6. Different Positions
• The United States took the position of
spreading democracy and promoting growth
through world trade by way of a free market
economy or free enterprise.
• Soviet leaders wanted to spread communism.
• Soviet Union moved into countries like
Poland, Romania, Hungry, & East Germany
after WWII (Creation of the U.S.S.R.- United
Soviet Socialist Republic)

8. Cold War
• The U.S. didn’t like the way in which the
Soviets were expanding their territory.
• Both countries began to stockpile weapons in
case of war.
• The distrust began to grow into tension called
the “Cold War”
• The Cold War never involved actual fighting.
• Tensions rose even higher when Cuba allowed
the Soviet Union to place Nuclear Missiles in
Cuba and point them at the U.S.

9. Space Race
• In addition to military might, the Cold War
also involved competition in science.
• The Soviet Union and the United States raced
to be the first country to explore space.
• Both countries also raced to put the first
person on the moon.
• Soviets were the first in space with Sputnik- a
Satellite.
• The U.S. put the first man on the moon, Neil
Armstrong

10. Space Race

11. Iron Curtain
• “Iron Curtain” – a name referring to the divide
between communist Europe & democratic
Europe.
• The eastern half of Germany was run as a
communist state tied to the Soviet Union.
• Many east Germans would try to flee to west
Germany. (Most were educated workers)
• To prevent people leaving, the Soviets built a
wall separating East and West Berlin.
• Armed guards watched over the borders.

13. Iron Curtain
• The term “Iron Curtain” was not used until
1946 during a speech by Winston Churchill.
• Churchill was considered a hero to the British
for his leadership during WWII.
• Churchill stated, “An Iron curtain has fallen
across the continent of Europe, meaning a
divided line now existed between Eastern &
Western Europe.
• For more than 40 years, the Berlin Wall was an
important symbol of the Cold War struggle.

14. Winston Churchill

15. Military Alliances
• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• joined the United States, Canada, and
Western European countries as allies – They
would defend one another if attacked.
• Containment- policy held that the United
States would try to “contain” (stop the spread)
of communism.
• Warsaw Pact – created by the Soviets in
response to NATO.
• Military alliance among the Communist
governments of Eastern Europe.

16. Marshall Plan
• The Marshall Plan – also known as Economic
Cooperation Act
• created by United States Secretary of State,
George C. Marshall in June 1947
• United States gave aid to Western European
countries.
• The aid was in the form of supplies, machinery,
and food worth $13 billion!
• The economic recovery (success) that followed,
weakened the appeal of communism!

17. Troubles??
• Weapons buildup, space race, and continued
support of its Communist countries cost the
Soviet Union a lot of money.
• With the drain in money, the economy began
to falter and stale with little growth
(command)
• Too often, government planning left many
Communist countries with barely enough food
and goods to meet their citizens’ needs.

18. Mikhail Gorbachev
• New Soviet leader who came to power in 1985
• Wanted to modernize the economy and agreed to
decrease military spending to ease international
tensions.
• However, economies in Eastern Europe did not
improve and protests from the people grew
louder.
• 1989- Gorbachev states that Soviets will no
longer help Eastern European governments put
down domestic protests.
• Poland & Czechoslovakia break away from Soviet
rule.

19. Mikhail Gorbachev

20. Reunification of Germany
• When Germany was divided so was the City of
Berlin.
• Soviets controlled the Eastern half, while the
allies controlled the west.
• In 1989, after weeks of protest, East Germany
relaxed its borders and allowed citizens to
travel to West Berlin and West Germany.
• The people of Germany climbed on top and
began to tear the wall apart.
• 1990- New government was elected and
Germany was reunited

21. Reagan Speech- Tear down Wall
• http://www.safeshare.tv/w/RzxssUbKuc

22. End of the Cold War
• 1991- group of Soviet leaders tried to take
over the government.
• They failed and the Soviet republics declared
independence.
• The Soviet Union came to an end and officially
split into 15 republics.
• The Cold War was Over!
• The U.S.S.R. is over and the majority of land is
renamed Russia.