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World War 2 Ends - V- E Day
World War two ended in may 1945. After the wear the Allies met at the Potsdam Conference to discuss political issues after the war. -
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam conference was held during the summer of 1945, the Allies and Russia attended this conference. At this conference they all agreed on many major issues, including what to do with what remained of Germany and how to rebuild the nation. Dictator of the Soviet Union, Stalin promised the Western powers that he would respect the wises of the people in Eastern Europe and allow them to choose their own government. -
Tensions leading to the Cold War
The Cold War was after World War two and was between the United States and Russia.This conflict began due to the rising tension between the two countries, both countries were supposed to be the most "powerful" which inevitably led to a struggle for power. The fact that their two governments, economic polices and way of life was so different didn't aid in finding a quick solution. -
The Iron Curtain
The Soviet Union did not respect the people's wishes in Eastern Europe and soon Soviet Communism spread to every country except Yugoslavia, who incidentally was already under the rule of a communist dictator. Due to the Soviet's actions tensions rose dramatically, Truman (president of the U.S), Stalin (Dictator of the Soviet Union, and Churchill (prime minister of England) expected a war to erupt soon. -
The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was announced March 12, 1947 by Harry S. Truman. President Truman believed that in order to contain the spread of communism the United Stated was going to have to get involved in Foreign Affairs. The United States pledged to provide military and economic aid to those who oppose communism. -
The Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was a plan designed by the U.S Secretary of State George c. Marshall as a way to aid the rebuilding of European nations who were struggling after the War. The United States provided the Europeans with 13 billion dollars to aid a rapid recovery. -
Berlin Dilemma
At the Potsdam Conference the Allies agreed to divide Germany in four different sections temporarily. As time went on the Western leaders decided to found an independent democratic German nation using the three zones that were under their control. They also decided to include West Berlin which was under Soviet control. When the Soviets disagreed with this plan they cut off all land, water, and rail routes into West Berlin, this interfered with the importation of vital supplies. -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift took place in June of 1948 and lasted until May 1949 when the Soviets called off the blockade. This airlift was in response to the Soviets and was a way to continue to import supplies to West Berlin. The airlift was a success. In fact, at one point during this time there was a plane landing or taking off from Berlin every 30 seconds. -
Alliances
After the Berlin Crisis, The United States, Canada, and mostly all western European countries formed a Military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In response later on in 1955 the Soviet Union and other Eastern Europe Communists nation formed an alliance known as, the Warsaw Pact. -
Arms Race
The Soviet Union developed a successful atomic Bomb in 1949, this caused a deep sense of fear in the United States. Due to that development the United States began working on a fusion- powered Hydrogen Bomb, after its development the Soviet Union soon had one as well. This began the Arms race the two superpowers in the world were stuck in a struggle to gain an advantage of weapons over the other. -
The Cold War Ends
Although there was never any actual battles fought or physical confrontations, tensions between the two superpowers continued for many years. However, finally in 1988 the two countries agreed to ratify the Intermediate - Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This treaty called for the elimination of specific types of missiles.
