Navigation
Examines the conclusion of WWII, the formation of the UN, and the beginning of the Cold War.
If you and a partner just defeated a common enemy, but realized you both wanted to rebuild the world in completely opposite ways, would the peace last—or would a new kind of war begin?
As WWII neared its end in , the 'Big Three' leaders—Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin—met at Yalta to plan the postwar world. They agreed to divide Germany into four occupation zones and promised 'free elections' in Eastern Europe. However, by the Potsdam Conference in July , the mood shifted. Roosevelt had died, replaced by the hardline Harry Truman, and the US had successfully tested the atomic bomb. Stalin, seeking a 'buffer zone' to protect the USSR from future invasions, began installing pro-communist governments. This created a massive tension: the West demanded self-determination, while the East demanded security through control. The result was a map of Europe literally carved into spheres of influence.
Quick Check
What was the primary reason Stalin wanted to control Eastern European nations after the war?
Answer
He wanted a 'buffer zone' of friendly communist states to protect the USSR from future Western invasions.
To prevent a third World War, nations founded the United Nations (UN) in . Unlike the failed League of Nations, the UN included the United States and possessed the power to deploy military force. The structure was split into two main parts: the General Assembly, where every member has a vote, and the Security Council, the real power center. The Security Council consists of permanent members (US, UK, France, China, and USSR) and rotating members. Crucially, each permanent member holds veto power. While this ensured the 'Great Powers' stayed in the UN, it also meant that if the US and USSR disagreed, the UN was often paralyzed and unable to act.
Imagine the UN wants to stop a conflict in . 1. The General Assembly votes to to intervene. 2. The issue moves to the Security Council. 3. of the members agree to send peacekeepers. 4. However, the USSR (a permanent member) uses its one veto. 5. Result: The intervention is blocked entirely, regardless of the majority will.
Quick Check
How did the UN's membership differ significantly from the earlier League of Nations?
Answer
The UN successfully included the United States and other major world powers that had previously been absent or withdrawn.
By , the alliance was dead. Winston Churchill famously declared that an 'Iron Curtain' had descended across Europe. This wasn't just a physical border, but an ideological one. The US promoted Liberal Democracy and Capitalism, emphasizing individual rights and private property. The USSR promoted Communism, emphasizing state control of the economy and collective goals. The US adopted a policy of Containment, guided by the 'Long Telegram' from diplomat George Kennan. This policy argued that the US didn't need to go to war with the USSR directly, but must prevent the 'spread' of communism wherever it threatened to expand.
Analyzing the breakdown of trust through the lens of Poland: 1. At Yalta, Stalin promised 'free and unfettered' elections in Poland. 2. By , Stalin used 'Salami Slicing' tactics—eliminating non-communist parties one by one. 3. The US viewed this as a violation of the Yalta agreement and a sign of global expansion. 4. The USSR viewed Western protests as interference in their rightful sphere of security. 5. This specific dispute transformed a local border issue into a global 'Cold War' trigger.
Which conference is often seen as the start of increased tension due to Truman's new leadership and the atomic bomb?
What is the primary function of the 'Veto Power' in the UN Security Council?
The policy of 'Containment' was designed to actively invade the Soviet Union and destroy communism at its source.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to list the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and explain why the 'Iron Curtain' was a metaphor.
Practice Activity
Research the 'Truman Doctrine' and see how it applied the concept of Containment to Greece and Turkey in 1947.