1. CTHE COLD WARWHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
TEACHER: Esther Ngwenya
GRADE: 12

2. What is happening in this cartoon?

3. THE COLD WAR
• The Cold War was a ‘war’ involving the USA and the USSR
in which no direct fighting actually occurred between the
two countries, but tensions were very high.
• The USA and the USSR in 1945 were two very different
countries with very different belief:
• The USA was CAPITALISM The USSR was COMMUNISM

4. How are these beliefs different?
Capitalism =
Where all factors of
production (industry,
business and agriculture)
are owned by private
individuals or firms who
run them for their own
profit.
Communism =
Where all factors of
production (industry,
business and agriculture)
are owned by the state
for the good of everyone

5. Leadership
Capitalist
• One leader, voted for by the
people
• Works with Parliament to
pass laws
• Could be from a variety of
political parties
Communist
•Ideally no need for a leader
- Run by a committee – so
no voting
•Oversees day to day
business
•Only one political party

6. • World War Two
Why did the relationship between the USSR and the USA change during the
war?

7. Long term causes of the Cold War
During the Russian Civil War (1917-1922) the Allies fought against the
Bolsheviks. The USSR remembered that bitterly.
During the Second World War, the USSR, France, United Kingdom and USA
had fought against the Axis (1939-1945) together. The USSR however, had
suffered the most and was the country that had been supported the least.
Stalin wanted, therefore, high reparations and more security against a future
threat.

8. Long term causes of the Cold War
After the Second World War, two superpowers emerged (USA and
USSR).
When the Nazi troops began retreating, liberation movements (who
fought against Nazism) took over those countries. Nearly all the
Eastern Bloc countries repaid Stalin for liberation by following the
road to communism.
The USA supported non-communists while the USSR, the
communists. This created tension between the east and west.

9. Yalta conference
This conference was held in February 1945
(Churchill) (Roosevelt) (Stalin)

10. Yalta conference
The allies got on well in this conference. They agreed that
Germany would be divided into four zones & divided
between the victorious countries. Berlin would be divided in
a similar manner.
Eastern Europe would be seen as a Soviet sphere of
influence. Free elections would be held in the liberated
countries. They disagreed about the borders of Poland

11. Yalta Agreements
• USSR will help USA defeat Japan.
• Stalin will lead a communist government in Poland but with other
political parties involved also.
• Declaration of Liberated Europe
• The creation of the United Nations
• The USSR should have a “sphere of influence” on Eastern Europe.
• France should be included in governing postwar Germany.
• Germany should assume some responsibility of the 2nd World War.

12. YALTA PROBLEMS

13. YALTA PROBLEMS
• Stalin will lead a communist government in Poland but
with other political parties involved also.
The London Poles (who were
pro democratic) were given
powerless roles within the
government and had very little
influence on policy.

14. Potsdam conference
This conference started on 17 July 1945
(Atlee) (Truman) (Stalin

15. Potsdam conference
Stalin wanted to cripple Germany but USA and UK wanted
to avoid the mistakes of WW1. Their aim was to help
Germany to once again become a strong nation with
economic stability.
President Truman kept secret about the atomic bomb before
it was first used in 1945 against Japan. He did however
mention to Stalin that he had at his disposal an undisclosed
“Powerful new weapon”

16. Potsdam conference
Concludes 2 August 1945
All the countries agreed about the Oder-Neisse
border of Poland.
Both Truman and Atlee wanted an anti-communist
government to rule Poland.

17. USSR policies on Eastern Europe
Stalin wanted to protect himself against any future
threats. Therefore he made sure his neighbours were
loyal. Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, remained
independent from the Cominform, an Eastern alliance.
Europe was now divided : East and West. To the British
and the Americans, Stalin seemed to be trying to build an
empire.

19. Truman
•The Truman Doctrine
•The policy of Truman was to
contain the spread of
communism around the world. His
aim, to support “free” countries by
military means or with economic
support. The USA would not return
to isolationism.
•Examples: Turkey, Greece.

20. Greek
communists
• GREECE
• After the war, the royalists wanted the
return of the monarch. However, the
communists, supported by Stalin, attacked
the king and Britain was forced to
intervene.
• The USA provided Greece with arms,
money and supplies. The Communists
were defeated after a civil war in 1949.

21. Marshall Aid
After the war, Truman wanted to make Europe
prosperous again. He believed that poverty provided an
opportunity for the spread of communism. He needed
American businesses to trade with European businesses.
Therefore he sent money and supplies wherever he
believed that capitalism could prevail over communism.
Stalin banned the Eastern Bloc countries from accepting
the Marshall Plan.

22. Czechoslovakia 1948
Czechoslovakia was not totally part of the Eastern bloc
and it accepted the Marshall Plan. In 1948 elections were
due.
Communists organized riots. In May 1948 only the
Communists were the candidates, as the opposition was
gradually driven out. Non- Communist ministers resigned
or were murdered.

23. German
After the war, Germany was divided into four
zones controlled by the USA, Britain, France and
USSR. The Western countries wanted to merge
the zone to reunite German territory and to
facilitate economic recovery.
Berlin was deep in the Soviet zone. It was also
divided in four sectors.

24. PICTURE OF
BERLIN
BLOCKADE
•Berlin blockade
•The formation of West Germany, the
new currency and the Marshall Plan
were reasons why in 1948, Stalin
decided to blockade Western Berlin.
He closed off the road and railway
connections into Berlin.

25. Berlin blockade
The Allies decided to airlift supplies in for the
Berliners. Fortunately, the aeroplanes were not shot
down and the blockade was eventually lifted in May
1949.
The Soviet zone of Germany later became the German
Democratic Republic (East Germany). The Federal
Republic was also formed to be known as West Germa

26. Consequences of
Berlin Blockade

27. What was the founding of NATO?
• An agreement amongst the Western allies that an attack against
one of them was an attack against all of them.
• If such an attack occurs, each of them will assist by taking
whatever action is deemed necessary, including the use of
armed force.
• It was dominated by the USA and is considered a milestone in
American foreign policy.
• The alliance was supported with large numbers of troops on the
ground.
• It was a determined attempt to stop the spread of communism.

28. What was the founding of the
Warsaw Pact?
A treaty of mutual defense
and military aid

29. What happened to ruin relations?
• What happened?
• How did this raise tensions between the USSR and the USA?
• Who was at fault – the USA, the USSR or both?
•
• 1. what really happened?
• 2. how did this raise tension between USA and USSR?
• 3. Who’s fault was it, the USA or USSR, or both?

30. • Fill in your table as you go.
• Make sure you learn the facts - You will need to be
able to explain what happened to the rest of the class
in 5 minutes time!

31. Debate! – Who caused the Cold War
• It is 1946 and you are one of the following:
• One of Stalin’s advisors who thinks the USA is to blame.
• One of Truman’s advisors who thinks the USSR is to blame.
• A member of the government from a neutral country who thinks both countries are partly to
blame.
• You are about to enter another conference in which you will debate who caused the cold
war to begin.
• Use the information you just collected to form an argument for your side – be ready to tackle
counter-arguments

32. - For every different argument you
make your team will be awarded a
point.
- For every piece of evidence you use
your team will be awarded a point.
- If any member of your team shouts
out while the other team is speaking
you will lose a point

33. Challenge Question!
Consider the following question before
your next lesson:
• Was the Cold War inevitable?