Soviets and Americans meeting at the River Elbe in Germany in 1945

WWII Alliance between U.S. and USSR

-ideological differences suspicion-Stalin wants buffer zone in Eastern Europe-US wants free elections in E. Europe

Economic and Military Alliances

-Marshall Plan - $$ to rebuild W. Europe after WWII-Molotov Plan - $$ to rebuild E. Europe after WWII-US puts troops in W. Europe, NATO is formed-Soviets create alliance with E. Europe with the Warsaw Pact

-Inspired the Truman Doctrine –said that the US would stop the spread of communism around the world – policy known as CONTAINMENT

-US gave $$ to Greece and Turkey

Development of Nuclear Weapons

-competition between US and USSR

-attempt to keep each other “in check”

-direct conflict = total destruction -> COLD WAR

Berlin Airlift

-Soviets blockade roads, railroads into Berlin

-Americans airlift supplies into Berlin

-Berlin wall is built in 1961

The Korean War

-Communist N. Korea invades S. Korea in June 1950

--confirms fear of spread of communism

-MacArthur leads U.S. forces

-Cease fire signed along 38th parallel in 1953

Soviet Invasion of Hungary

-increased U.S. suspicion

-brutal suppression of Hungarian resistance confirmed fear of communism