A Bi-Polar World
The Cold War isn't thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn't sleeping; it is, as always, plotting, scheming, working, fighting.
The American Position
•Americans come out of WWII even richer than before
•Own 20 billion in gold reserves of a World total of 33 bil.
*2/3 of the worlds money (real wealthy)
•Largest, navy, airforce and monopoly on nuclear weapons
*Only people who could own them (lasts four years)
•Largest trading and industry in World
•Influence in Asia and Europe
•1919 exaggerated- ultimate world power
The Russian Position
•Largest army in the World (8million men)
•Production not at pre-war levels
•Stalin looked inward again and put effort toward Communism at home
•Began to influence over satellite states in Eastern Europe
*Because they feared they would be sent away
•Many POWs kept on working in Russia
•Show trials returned
•Americans come out of WWII even richer than before
•Own 20 billion in gold reserves of a World total of 33 bil.
*2/3 of the worlds money (real wealthy)
•Largest, navy, airforce and monopoly on nuclear weapons
*Only people who could own them (lasts four years)
•Largest trading and industry in World
•Influence in Asia and Europe
•1919 exaggerated- ultimate world power
The Russian Position
•Largest army in the World (8million men)
•Production not at pre-war levels
•Stalin looked inward again and put effort toward Communism at home
•Began to influence over satellite states in Eastern Europe
*Because they feared they would be sent away
•Many POWs kept on working in Russia
•Show trials returned
Summary: After the end of World War 2 Russia and the USA were the two superpowers. They both however had very different political views. USA was the richest country which was democratic; whereas Russia was communist and had the largest army in the world.
Causes of The Cold War
•War of ideologies
•Communism vs. democracy (capitalism) (east vs. west)
•Causes:
•Nationalism - both USA and USSR take actions throughout Cold War to protect their interests
•Imperialism - Many old imperialist nations are gone, USA and USSR take over this role worldwide. (Eg. Vietnam and Afghanistan)
•Communism vs. democracy (capitalism) (east vs. west)
•Causes:
•Nationalism - both USA and USSR take actions throughout Cold War to protect their interests
•Imperialism - Many old imperialist nations are gone, USA and USSR take over this role worldwide. (Eg. Vietnam and Afghanistan)
View Cold War (1947–1953) and over 3,000,000 other topics on Qwiki.
Fears and Concerns
•Fears and Concerns - West feared a Communist revolution worldwide (cominform replaced comintern)
•Russia fears counterrevolution from within helped by money from the west.
•The Domino Theory - a metaphor that the USA used to describe the fear of allowing countries to go Communist and then their neighbours would follow course (eg. Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe)
•Satellite States and the Iron Curtain - Many Eastern European states (that Russia had occupied) became puppet communist governments.
USA Response•The Department of Defence - includes all facets of military
•The National Security Council - advises President of matters concerning defence
•The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - espionage and intelligence collection
*FBI created aswell
•Russia fears counterrevolution from within helped by money from the west.
•The Domino Theory - a metaphor that the USA used to describe the fear of allowing countries to go Communist and then their neighbours would follow course (eg. Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe)
•Satellite States and the Iron Curtain - Many Eastern European states (that Russia had occupied) became puppet communist governments.
USA Response•The Department of Defence - includes all facets of military
•The National Security Council - advises President of matters concerning defence
•The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - espionage and intelligence collection
*FBI created aswell