The Cold War

Essential Question

• How did the Cold War change Europe?

Тетрис

Alex Pajitnov 1985

The Cold War

• During the time period after WWII, the Soviet Union developed their own nuclear weapons (atomic bombs)

• They also strengthened their military (militarism)

• The Iron Curtain led to even more tension between the two countries.

The Cold War

• Both the United States and Russia were Superpowers.– Strong, wealthy

countries with large populations and very strong militaries.

– The U.S. and the Soviet Union were the two most powerful countries in the world.

The Cold War• There was a lot of tension between

the U.S. and the Soviet Union– Many feared this rivalry between

Democracy and Communism would lead to a nuclear war.

• They called this tension a “Cold War” because neither side ever fired a shot– However, the threat of nuclear

war left many feeling nervous.• The Cold War lasted for 45 years.

Collapse of the Soviet Union

• The Soviet Union remained a Communist Superpower until the 1980s.

• Even until the 1980s, tensions between the U.S. and The Soviet Union were high.

• In 1985, Russia got a new leader by the name of Mikhail Gorbachev.

Mikhail Gorbachev

• Gorbachev realized that Communism in Europe was failing and wanted to begin being peaceful with the U.S.

• He and U.S. President Ronald Reagan actually became friends and signed treaties.

Collapse of Berlin Wall

• Soon after Gorbachev took power, many Communist governments in Europe fell.– These countries began adopting Democratic

Governments.

• In 1989, East German government announced that people could freely travel between East and West Berlin– Citizens immediately began tearing down the

Berlin Wall

Collapse of Berlin Wall

Reunification of Germany

• Reunification – Making something whole

that has been split into pieces.

• In 1990, Germans voted to make the countries of East Germany and West Germany one country: Germany.

• Today, Germany is a free democracy with a great economy.

Collapse of the Soviet Union

• Soon after these countries became Democratic, the Soviet Union dissolved and was known as Russia once again.

• With the collapse of Communism, Europe is no longer split in two.

Air Raid

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