The Cold War. Essential Question How did the Cold War change Europe?
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Transcript of The Cold War. Essential Question How did the Cold War change Europe?
The Cold War
Essential Question
• How did the Cold War change Europe?
Тетрис
Alex Pajitnov 1985
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Collapse of Berlin Wall
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.
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.
Air Raid
• Duck and Cover Video