The Cold War

Origins of the Cold War

• What was the Cold War?
• The Cold War started after the Second World War and was between the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the US (United States). The war involved lots of tension and military rivalry but never any direct fighting between the superpowers (a very powerful and influential nation)
• The main reasons the Cold War developed
• 1) Proximity (nearness in space) - The US wouldn't withdraw their involvement in Europe__ The USSR and US now confronted each other in Europe.
• 2) Differing Interest
• The USSR wanted:
• A) To expand (more territory) after the loss in life and damages suffered during the war
• B) Safety- that Russia wouldn't be invaded again
• The US wanted:
• A) Security and a post-war settlement that would ensure a world war wouldn't happen again.
• B) Wanted to set up an international organization to punish aggression from any country and encourage co-operation between countries ( UN)
• 3) Differing ideologies
• The USSR = Communism
• (Wanted to dominate Europe with the spread of capitalism)
• The US = Capitalism
• (Wanted Europe countries to be governed by self-determination(the right of a group of people to decide gow they are governed and by who))
• The development of Nuclear weapons
• In 1945 the USA developed the Atomic bomb, the results of the bomb shocked and scared the world.
• The Atomic bomb gave America an advantage and at the same time took away the Soviet Unions advantage of their large armies.
• In response the USSR began developing there own nuclear weapons and in 1949 succeeded.
• An arms race began between the US and USSR.