Main Idea: The conflicting aims between the United States
and the Soviet Union led to global competition.
I.
Two Superpowers Face Off
A.
Former Allies Diverge
1.
Yalta Conference: Britain, Soviet Union, & US
a.
Goals: promote world peace; provide emergency relief; help
form interim governments based on the will of the people
b.
Result: partition Germany after the war;
2.
United Nations: June-1945, 50 countries, peacekeeping
organization
a. Security
Council: 11-member with 5 permanent (Britain, China, France, US, & Russia
3.
Goals in Europe: conflicting
a.
US: rich & powerful—encourage democracy; gain access to
raw materials & markets; rebuild European governments; reunite Germany
b.
USSR: war torn—encourage communism; rebuild its war-ravaged
economy using Eastern Europe’s industrial equipment & raw materials;
control Eastern Europe to protect borders; keep Germany split
B.
Soviet Union Creates Iron Curtain
1.
Satellite Nations: communist governments—Albania, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, & Yugoslavia
2.
Germany: remains split
3.
Winston Churchill calls the division an “iron curtain”
C.
US Counters
1.
Containment of communism
2.
Truman Doctrine: support nations that resist communism
3.
Marshall Plan: Secretary of State, 1947—provide food,
machines, & other materials to rebuild Europe
4.
Berlin Airlift: Berlin had also been divided into four
zones, Soviets held Berlin hostage
a.
11-months—US & British planes dropped off supplies
b.
Blockade lifted by Soviets, May 1949