Chapter 21

Section 1 Origins of the Cold War

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Chapter Objectives

• Explain the growing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union at the end of World War II.

• Identify the goals of Stalin’s foreign policy immediately after the war.

Section 1: Origins of the Cold War

continued on next slide

Guide to Reading

The detonation of the atomic bomb and the end of World War II led to disagreements among the “Big Three” wartime Allies and a shift in American attitudes toward the Soviet Union.

• Cold War

Main Idea

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Key Terms and Names

• Potsdam

• satellite nation

• iron curtain

A Clash of Interests

• After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became increasingly hostile, leading to an era of confrontation and competition that lasted from about 1946 to 1990 known as the Cold War.

(pages 654–655)

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• Soviets were concerned with security and wanted to avoid future attacks from Germany.

• They wanted all countries between Germany and the Soviet Union to be under Soviet control.

• Soviets believed communism was superior to capitalism.

• They were suspicious of capitalist countries because they felt capitalism would lead to war and eventually destroy communism.

A Clash of Interests (cont.)

(pages 654–655)

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• Americans were concerned with economic problems.

• Roosevelt and his advisers believed that economic growth would keep the world peaceful.

• American leaders promoted a democracy with protections for individual rights and free enterprise to create prosperity.

A Clash of Interests (cont.)

(pages 654–655)

What did many American officials believe caused World War II?

Many American officials believed it was the Depression that had caused World War II. Countries had cut back on trade, making it necessary for a nation to go to war to get the resources it needed.

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A Clash of Interests (cont.)

(pages 654–655)

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The Yalta Conference

• A meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin at Yalta–a Soviet resort on the Black Sea–was held to plan the postwar world.

• Although the conference went well, some agreements made would later become key in causing the Cold War.

(pages 655–657)

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• At Yalta, a compromise was made with Roosevelt and Churchill agreeing to recognize the Polish Communist government set up by the Soviets.

• Stalin agreed that the government would include members from the old Polish government before the war.

• Stalin agreed that free elections would take place in Poland.

The Yalta Conference (cont.)

(pages 655–657)

• During the meeting at Yalta, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin issued the Declaration of Liberated Europe, giving people the right to choose their form of government.

The Yalta Conference (cont.)

(pages 655–657)

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• It was decided at Yalta to divide Germany and Berlin into four zones, with Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France each controlling a zone.

• It was also agreed that Germany would pay reparations for damage caused by the war.

• For the next several years, arguments about these reparations and economic policy in Germany would become one of the major causes of the Cold War.

The Yalta Conference (cont.)

(pages 655–657)

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• Tensions rose when the Soviets did not follow agreements made at Yalta, which caused Soviet-American relations to deteriorate.

• President Roosevelt died and Vice President Harry S Truman became the next President.

The Yalta Conference (cont.)

(pages 655–657)

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How did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin disagree about what to do with Poland?

Roosevelt and Churchill felt that the Poles should have the freedom to choose their own government. Stalin felt the Polish government and the Soviets needed to be friendly for security reasons.

The Yalta Conference (cont.)

(pages 655–657)

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Truman Takes Control

• Harry S Truman took office, making it clear he would stand firm against Stalin to keep promises he made during Yalta.

• In July 1945, Truman and Stalin met at Potsdam near Berlin to work out a deal regarding Germany.

• Truman was against heavy reparations on Germany, feeling that the reparations would not allow German industry to recover.

(pages 657–658)

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• Agreements were made allowing the Soviets to take reparations from their zone in Germany and a small amount of German industrial equipment from other zones.

• Stalin was not pleased with Truman’s proposal.

• Truman then told Stalin of the successfully tested atomic bomb, leading Stalin to think it was a threat to get him to agree to the deal.

• Stalin agreed, but tensions rose.

Truman Takes Control (cont.)

(pages 657–658)

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• Other issues at Potsdam did not end successfully.

• The Declaration of Liberation of Europe was not upheld, and the Soviet army’s presence led to pro-Soviet Communist governments being established in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.

• These Communist countries of Eastern Europe became known as the satellite nations.

Truman Takes Control (cont.)

(pages 657–658)

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• Although they had their own governments and were not under direct Soviet control, they had to remain Communist and follow Soviet- approved policies.

• As Communists began taking over Eastern Europe, Winston Churchill’s term, the iron curtain, was used to describe the separation of the Communist nations of Eastern Europe from the West.

Truman Takes Control (cont.)

(pages 657–658)

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Why did Stalin have to accept Truman’s proposal at Potsdam?

American and British troops controlled Germany’s industrial center, and Soviets would be unable to receive any reparations unless they cooperated.

Truman Takes Control (cont.)

(pages 657–658)

Checking for Understanding

__ 1. the political and military barrier that isolated Soviet-controlled countries of Eastern Europe after World War II

__ 2. the ideological and often confrontational conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1990

A. Cold War

B. iron curtain

Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left.

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A

B

Checking for Understanding (cont.)

Reviewing Facts Why did tensions grow between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II?

Each country had different goals for Germany and Eastern Europe.

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Reviewing Themes

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Global Connections At Yalta, what agreement did the “Big Three” come to about Germany’s future after World War II?

Germany was divided into four zones controlled by Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States.

Critical Thinking

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Synthesizing Do you think Roosevelt could have prevented the Cold War? Why or why not?

Possible answers: Yes, the Cold War could have been prevented if Soviet needs had been accommodated. No, the Cold War was inevitable because the Soviets had broken several promises.

Geography and History

The map on page 683 of your textbook shows the occupation of Berlin after World War II. Study the map below and answer the questions on the following slides.

Interpreting Maps How was West Berlin’s location a disadvantage? How did Stalin use this disadvantage against the Western Allies?

It was completely surrounded by East Germany. Stalin blockaded it.

Geography and History (cont.)

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