Ch.

15 Section 1 Cold War Notes

 What is the Cold War?
• Era of confrontation between the
U.S. and the Soviet Union without
actual, direct war of bloodshed from
1946-1990.
 Why did the Cold War occur?
• A. U.S. & Soviet Union had fundamentally different
governments & economic systems.
1. U.S. System
A. Democracy: The People vote and have power in government.
B. Market Economy/Capitalism/Free Enterprise: The
people can own resources & businesses; Make own
economic decisions.
2. Soviet System
A. Communism: The government controls resources &
businesses. Individuals are not allowed to own their
own property. Only 1 political party; typically a
dictatorship.

3. These differences had been set aside to fight Hitler.

Once Hitler was gone, they no longer had anything in common.
 Yalta Conference
1. Soviet Union, United States, Great Britain.
2. Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to: recognize
the Polish govt. set up by the Soviets.
3. Stalin agreed to: hold free elections as soon
as possible and to include members of prewar
Poland to their government.
 Potsdam Conference
1. Truman & Stalin
2. Decide what to do with Germany
3. U.S. wanted to help Germany improve their
economy.
4. USSR wanted the Germans to pay more in
reparations.
Differences in Opinion at end of WWII
that create tension
A. Soviet wants:
1. Communist Poland to prevent another invasion.
2. Germany to pay heavy reparations for costs of war.
3. A buffer in Eastern Europe to protect from another
invasion (Security for their nation)
B. U.S. wants:
1. Declaration of Liberated Europe: All countries freed from
Hitler would be given self-government.
2. A Germany that is economically strong to help re-build
Europe.
 Outcomes
A. Soviet Union refuses to follow Declaration of Liberated
Europe.
1. Sets up Communist, puppet governments in Poland,
Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia
2. Satellite Nations: Eastern European countries
controlled by the Soviets; Had to follow Soviet policies.

B. An Iron Curtain descends on Europe

1. Phrase created by Winston Churchill
2. Line separating Communist countries
of Eastern Europe from Western Europe.