The Cold War: US vs

USSR
The tensions between the United States
Name _________________

and the Soviet Union began during

WWII. While the two nations were
allies during World War II, the United
States was concerned that the Soviet
Union, which was a communist nation,
posed a challenge to Americas
government and values. As a capitalist
nation, the United States feared the
ideas of communism, which vowed to
create a world order led by workers and
which denounced organized religion.
The United States and the Soviet Union
disagreed about what postwar Europe
should look like, and their mutual
suspicion led to a Cold War that lasted
until the collapse of the Soviet Union in
1991.
Winston Churchill Speech
An iron curtain has descended
across the Continent. Behind that line
lie all the capitals of the ancient states
of Central and Eastern Europe and
the populations around them lie in what
I must call the Soviet sphere

After World War II, American leaders hoped that an American monopoly
on the atomic bomb would convince the Soviet Union to agree to
American plans for Europe; however, the Soviets developed their own
atomic bomb by 1949. They therefore tried to contain, or limit, the
spread of communism all over the world. On the other hand, after
suffering 20 million deaths and huge damage during the war, the Soviet
Union feared another invasion and wanted to protect its western borders
by establishing pro-communist governments in Eastern Europe. Stalin
claimed that he was protecting Soviet interests in Europe, just as the
United States was protecting its interests in Western Europe.

Directions: Answer the following questions using the above information and your notes.
1. ____ Which of the following countries was not under Soviet influence?
A. Poland B. Hungary
C. Greece
D. East Germany
2. ____ Which of the following best describes a system of the United States?
A. Socialism
B. Capitalism
C. Totalitarian
D. Communism
3. ____ Which of the following countries was not under Western/American influence?
A. Italy B. Denmark
C. Spain
D. Poland
4. ____ Winston Churchills iron curtain speech is describing
A. The diversity in Europe
C. The destruction in Europe
B. The divide in Europe
D. The domination in Europe
5. ____ Which of the following was not one of the goals of the United States during the Cold War?
A. Rebuilding Europe
C. Spreading Communism
B. Promoting Democracy
D. Reuniting Germany
6. ____ What was one reason why the Soviets maintained control of Eastern Europe?
A. For protection B. Spread Capitalism
C. Unite Germany
D. For resources
7. ____ (T/F) The Soviet Union and the United States were once allies
8. ____ (T/F) The Soviet Union and the US have different economies but not governments
9. ____ (T/F) The Cold War lasted more than 30 years
10. ____ (T/F) The Soviet Union developed their own atomic bomb