Week 1

Creation of the Eastern Bloc:

The Allies agreed to divide Germany into zones of occupation controlled by the Allied military forces. The Allies agreed to doing this because it gave them more land to fight on and to negotiate with Germany more Aggressively. This is significant because it really showed how the Allies had the upper hand over Germany.

Iron Curtain:

The Iron Curtain Speech was given by Winston Churchill and the Speech basically talked about Europe’s Division Into mostly Democratic Western Europe and Communist Eastern Europe. Churchill just wanted to give a speech describing what's happening and why. This speech is significant because it really describes the split between Eastern and Western Europe. The “Iron Curtain” really portrayed that significant split or division of both sides with Democracy on one side and Communism on the other.

The Long Telegram/Containment:

Containment was a policy that was directed by President Harry Truman to block Soviet influence on America. It was used to stop the expansion of Communism throughout the whole U.S. This was significant for many reasons, one being that the U.S wouldn’t allow that the other superpower influence, because if they did some may agree with the policy then revolt and side with the USSR.

The Truman Doctrine:

The Truman Doctrine basically said the U.S will support any country who disagrees that  rejected communism. President Truman didn’t want the Soviet influence in America and to enforce that he needed allies and to make allies you have to help eachother. Therefore Truman helped whoever was on his side. This was Significant because it really showed how much President Truman wanted to keep his country a Democracy and not have them be Influenced by Communism.

The Marshall Plan:

It was a proposal saying that the U.S would help rebuild Western Europe due to the mess left from the war. This happened due to the fact that President Truman and others wanted to keep their friends. When a friend is in need you help them and that’s exactly what the Marshall Plan proposed. This was significant because it showed how much the U.S wanted to help the people against Communism.

Berlin Blockade/Airlift:

The Soviets decide to take Berlin “hostage” and they block off all supplies, Water, highway, and Rail Traffic into Berlin’s western zones. As this was happening Stalin gambled that the Allies would surrender West Berlin or give up their idea of reuniting Germany. The Significance of this of this was to try and make the Allies give up Western Berlin or give up the idea of Reuniting Germany.

Soviets get the A-Bomb:

The Soviets start experimenting with nuclear weapons as an attempt to be of equal power to the U.S. The Soviets then gain the power of atomic bombs, incase of an actual attack occurring they can retaliate. This is significant because it really showed how much the USSR wanted to better a bigger or equal to super power.

NATO:

NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was made up of 10 western European nations and the U.S. It was made up to protect anyone who was in NATO. This was a significant event because it really made the USSR think twice before attacking the U.S or anyone else who was part of NATO. If they did however attack anyone in NATO the USSR would get obliterated in a fight.

China Becomes Communist:

In 1949 China became a Communist republic. China became a communist republic because the Chinese people had a revolution against nationalism. Of course the people won and China resorted to Communism. With China resorting to communism the USSR decided to form an alliance with China. This is significant because it showed that the USSR had a really big ally at that point which made the USSR a lot more powerful.