The Cold War

The Rise of the Superpowers, 1945-91
Who were the Superpowers?
The Superpowers were the USA & the USA (Soviet Union) because they were so much more powerful than Britain, France & other countries.

What was the Cold War?
A period of hostility between the USA & the USSR which began after WW2.

What caused the Cold War?
1. Political Differences: The US believed in democracy & private industry (capitalism) while the Soviet Union believed in dictatorship & government ownership of business & industry (communism).
2. Disagreements during WW2: America had the secrets of the atomic bomb & would not share them with the Soviet Union.
3. Post-war disagreements: Stalin said he installed communist governments in Eastern European countries to protect the Soviet Union; America said that was Soviet expansionism.

• Winston Churchill said an 'iron curtain ' was dividing Europe.

4. The Truman Doctrine: President Truman of the USA said he would help countries resisting the spread of communism; this became the basis for the US policy of containment to stop the spread of communism.
5. The Marshall Plan: America offered to help Europe's economy recover after the war: Stalin prevented Eastern European countries from getting help from the Marshall Plan or European Recovery Program.

Mao-Tse Tung (Mao Zedong), leader of the communist China during the Korean War

Truman, president of the USA during the Berlin Blockade & the Korean War.

Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union during the Berlin Blockade & the Korean War.


John F. Kennedy, president of the USA during the Cuban Missile Crisis

Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis

Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis

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