Cold War Cold War l Period of distrust

Cold War

Cold War l Period of distrust and misunderstanding between the Soviet Union and its former allies (particularly the U. S. ) and began in 1945

Two Superpowers Soviet Union – believed a powerful central government should control the economy l United States – believed that businesses should be privately owned with little government control l

US vs USSR l Each side thought the other was trying to rule the world l Both countries had the power to influence world events l Other countries around the world took sides l Became about Communism or capitalism

After World War II Stalin, the leader of the USSR, put most of Eastern Europe under communist control l This becomes the Eastern Bloc l

Iron Curtain l The division between West Europe and East Europe is known as the Iron Curtain

Division of Germany Divided into four sections – U. S. , Great Britain, France and Soviet Union l 1948 – western countries want to reunite Germany, Soviet Union did not l Soviets declared their section “ East Germany” l Western countries united Germany to form “West Germany” l

New Alliances Formed l NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) United States l Canada l United Kingdom l Western European Countries l l WARSAW PACT Soviet Union l Eastern European Countries l

Berlin Wall 1961 – Communist leaders built the Berlin Wall l Built to keep two areas apart and keep people in East Germany and out of West Germany l Anyone who tried to cross the wall would be shot l

End of Cold War and Fall of Soviet Union was spending a lot of money putting down revolts in their country l 1985 – Gorbachev l Leader of Soviet Union l Reduced government control and increased citizen’s rights l l November 1989 – Berlin Wall was torn down l l Germany began to reunite 1990 – Germany was totally reunited Soviet Union broke up into many smaller countries l Largest country established was Russia l