Origins of the Cold War

1. Why did the USSR and the USA emerge as superpowers. Make sure you specify the military, economic, and Political reasons.

• Military:  France and Britain were unable to defeat Germany, decreasing their military power and making them "second rank."  Yet, in order to defeat Germany, the US was forced to become the number one air force power, and the USSR had come out as the number one land force power.  The USSR no longer had strong military neighbors, making them the regional power.  Both had relative strength compared to weakened European countries.
• Economic: The increase of imports and exports during the war drastically strengthened the US economy, making it able to out produce all the other powers put together.  The USA was also more committed to open trades, allowing market competition to flourish in order to avoid the emergence of pre-war trade-blocs and tariffs.  The USSR also stood in for Germany in providing economic support for new smaller countries nearby.
• Political:  The political system of the US visibly trumped fascism, showing the strength of their ideals.  Communism also gained respect in parts of Europe for its ability to win over the Germans.  Stalin claimed great influence in creating the post-war Europe because of its widespread Red Army losses and influence.  The USSR had the ability to prevent instability in Eastern Europe by its political strength.  

2.  

1. Wartime Conferences:  The Grand Alliance determined the post war political and territorial structure of Europe; three major conferences.
2. Kennan's Long Telegram in Feb. 1946:  Developed US policy of containment and discussed the repressive insecure nature of the Soviet Union.
3. Churchill's iron curtain speech:  Changed the way westerners thought about soviet communism and the Soviets felt as if it was racist and a call to war.
4. The Truman Doctrine:  Talked about how the US had obligations to help all people being pressured or threatened, drawing the US out of its isolationism and forcing them to involve themselves in more situations.
5. The Marshall Plan:  the American initiative to aid Europe, in which the United States gave economic support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to prevent the spread of Soviet Communism
6. Red Army Occupation of Eastern Europe:  Soviet Union came to economically and politically control some Easternn European states, possibly violating Yalta and Potsdam. 
7.  The Czechoslovakian Coup Feb 1948:  the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia, ushering in over four decades of dictatorship under its rule.
8. Berlin Crisis of 1948:  Started transportation restrictions Totally blockaded Berlin from the West, and British and American troops flew in from air.  The failure of this blockade led to the division of Germany, the continuation of 4 power control in Germany, and the formation of NATO.