Cold War

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Cold War Notes

Cold War: The state of hostility without military conflict that developed between the untied states after world war 2

Origins of thee cold war:

Yalta Conference: February 1945

The Us and Britain insisted that the soviets allow free, open elections in Poland and other European countries after the war

Potsdam Conference: President Truman once again urges Stalin too allow free elections ,but soviet dictator refuses

U.S and U.S.S.R are at odds

The United States Wanted:

Encourage democracy in other countries to help prevent the rise of new totalitarian governments

Gain access to raw materials and markets its booming economies

Rebuild European governments to ensure stability and create new markets for american goods

Reunite Germany, believing that Europe would be secure if Germany were productive and less bitter about defeat

The Soviet Union wanted:

Transfer the industrial equipment of eastern Europe to soviet union to help rebuild its war ravaged economy

Control eastern Europe to balance U.S influence in western Europe

Keep Germany divided and weak since Germany had waged war against Russia twice in the last 30 years

In 1945 the soviets prevented election and democratic political parties which left Poland controlled by a pro soviet government.

In addition to Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania become soviet nations

Satellite nation:

A country that is dominated politically and economically by another nation

U.S.S.R:

Satellite nations spread west from the soviet union

"Iron Curtain" has descended

Production of weapons increases

U.S.A:

American diplomat, George F Kennan proposed the idea of Containment

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