The Cold War

ORIGINS

• The Cold stemmed from tensions in WW2
• The USSR and U.S. were suspicious of each other
• Political differences and ideologies build greater tension
• The U.S. was opposed to USSR expansion
• The forming of NATO and the Warsaw Pact signaled tension

Cold War

• Termed "cold" because there was no physical war or gunfire
• Instead, nuclear threats and sabotages were evident
• Neither side wanted to be involved in the losses of another war
• Yet it is still termed a "war" because of the intense political exchanges

Economic Differences

• Primary difference is the role of government in the economy
• Communism attempts to achieve social equality
• Therefore, private property is government owned and wealth is evenly distributed
• Strong government influence is evident in Communism, but not in Capitalism
• Capitalism advocates for market competition, while Communism discourages it

Containment

• The U.S. developed a system of containment to minimize the spread of communism
• The USSR saw this act as a threat and act of agression
• The USSR, in response, developed an atomic bomb
• Also, Stalin attempted to block West Germany, but this was a failure

Kitchen Debate

• A heated debate between leaders Nixon and Khrushchev
• Illustrated the differences in ideology between Communism and Democracy
• Khrushchev was disrespectful of the American technology on display
• Believed the USSR would have the same technology soon
• Nixon argued that Khrushchev's threats of nuclear missiles could lead to war