After World War 2, tensions rose between the US and its allies and the Soviet Union. The Soviets blockaded Berlin to push out Western influence, but the US airlifted supplies in response. This proved to the US that the Soviets could cause problems. In 1949, the US and allies formed NATO as a military alliance to counter the Soviet threat, while the Soviets formed the Warsaw Pact with Eastern European nations under its control. The Soviets sought to spread communism globally through both military alliances with neighboring states and ideological influence in countries experiencing revolutions.

1. Tensions Mount

2. Fears.....
• America and its allies after World War II (Britain
and France) feared communism would continue
to spread throughout Eastern Europe and the
rest of the world.
• Meanwhile, the entire world feared the Cold War
would turn “hot” and lead to a nuclear war
between America and the Soviet Union.

3. ….And a Realization of Fear…..
• The Soviets blockaded
Western Berlin to try
and kick “western”
(American and British)
influence out of the
city.
• America, Britain, and
France responded by
airlifting supplies to
West Berlin and forcing
the Soviets to stop.

4. So America Responds…..
• The Berlin Blockade
proved to the United
States that they could
have problems from
the Soviet Union.
• So in 1949, America,
Canada, and ten
European nations
formed a military
alliance called NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty
Organization)
dedicated to keeping
the world safe for
democracy.

5. And the Soviets Counter…..
• The Soviet Union created a military alliance, the
Warsaw Pact (Warsaw is the capital of Poland),
composed of Eastern European countries they
took from Germany.
• These countries (Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary,
etc.) were not allowed to have elections.

6. …..with Satellite States…..
• These nations became
“satellite states,”
nations that bordered
the USSR and whose
economies and politics
were controlled by the
USSR.
• Containment was
based on trying to
keep other countries
from becoming
“satellite states.”

7. Continuing Revolutions…..
• The Soviet Union tried to spread communism
into Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
• Countries that were having revolutions were
easy choices.
• The Soviets gave the revolutionaries money to
create communist countries like America was
doing to keep places from becoming
communists.

8. ….through any means necessary….
• The Soviets also tried to spread communism by
sending representatives to discuss the benefits of
communism and allowed other countries to tour
the USSR and see its successes.