The Cold War

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The Cold War
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Essential Question

• How did the Cold War change Europe?

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• Alex Pajitnov 1985

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Collapse of Berlin Wall
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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.

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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.

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Air Raid

• Duck and Cover Video

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