Tensions Mount

Fears.....

• America and its allies after World War II (Britain and France) feared communism would continue to spread throughout Eastern Europe and the rest of the world. • Meanwhile, the entire world feared the Cold War

would turn “hot” and lead to a nuclear war between America and the Soviet Union.

….And a Realization of Fear…..• The Soviets blockaded

Western Berlin to try and kick “western” (American and British) influence out of the city. • America, Britain, and

France responded by airlifting supplies to West Berlin and forcing the Soviets to stop.

So America Responds…..• The Berlin Blockade

proved to the United States that they could have problems from the Soviet Union. • So in 1949, America,

Canada, and ten European nations formed a military alliance called NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) dedicated to keeping the world safe for democracy.

And the Soviets Counter…..• The Soviet Union created a military alliance, the

Warsaw Pact (Warsaw is the capital of Poland), composed of Eastern European countries they took from Germany. • These countries (Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary,

etc.) were not allowed to have elections.

…..with Satellite States…..• These nations became

“satellite states,” nations that bordered the USSR and whose economies and politics were controlled by the USSR. • Containment was

based on trying to keep other countries from becoming “satellite states.”

Continuing Revolutions…..

• The Soviet Union tried to spread communism into Latin America, Asia, and Africa. • Countries that were having revolutions were

easy choices. • The Soviets gave the revolutionaries money to

create communist countries like America was doing to keep places from becoming communists.

….through any means necessary….

• The Soviets also tried to spread communism by sending representatives to discuss the benefits of communism and allowed other countries to tour the USSR and see its successes.