#AP World History: Modern - Cold War Study Guide 🚀

Hey there! Let's make sure you're totally prepped for the AP exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the test. We'll break down the Cold War, connect the dots, and make it all stick. Let's do this!

#🌍 The Dawn of the Cold War: Shifting Power Dynamics

The end of World War II didn't bring global peace; instead, it ushered in a new era of tension known as the Cold War. Former allies, the United States and the Soviet Union, emerged as superpowers with drastically different ideologies.

#From Allies to Adversaries 🤝➡️ 😠

• Initial Alliance: The US and USSR were allies during WWII against the Axis powers.

• Post-War Disagreements: Disagreements over how to rebuild Europe and establish post-war order quickly soured relations.

• Emergence of Superpowers: The US (democracy/capitalism) and the USSR (authoritarian/communism) became the world's dominant powers.

• Ideological Conflict: The core conflict was between capitalism and communism, leading to a global power struggle.

  
  
  *Caption: A map illustrating the global division during the Cold War era, with the US-aligned nations in blue and the Soviet-aligned nations in red.*
  

• No Direct Combat: The Cold War was fought through proxy wars, espionage, and economic/diplomatic means.

• Nuclear Arms Race: Competition led to a dangerous arms race, increasing the risk of nuclear war.

• End of the Cold War: The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War, with the US as the sole superpower.

#🤝 Post-War Conferences: Seeds of Discord

#The Yalta Conference (February 1945) 🗓️

• Who: Roosevelt (US), Churchill (UK), and Stalin (USSR) met in Yalta, Crimea.
• What: Discussed the reorganization of post-war Europe and the defeat of Germany.
• Key Agreements: Division of Germany, the future of Poland, and Soviet assistance in the war against Japan.
  
  Caption: The leaders of the Allied powers at the Yalta Conference.
  

#The Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945) 🗓️

• Who: Truman (US), Attlee (UK), and Stalin (USSR) met in Potsdam, Germany.
• What: Further discussions on the future of Germany and reparations.
• Key Decisions: Occupation and control of Germany, expulsion of ethnic Germans, and the use of the atomic bomb against Japan.
• Increased Tensions: Failed to resolve major issues, deepening suspicions between the Western Allies and the USSR.
  
  Caption: The leaders of the Allied powers at the Potsdam Conference.
  
  

#⚔️ Rising Tensions: US vs. USSR

#Key Factors Contributing to Conflict

1. Ideological Differences:
   • US: Capitalist democracy with emphasis on individual freedom and free markets.
   • USSR: Communist dictatorship with a focus on state control and a classless society.
2. Conflicting Visions for Post-War Order:
   • US: Wanted to rebuild Europe with democracy and capitalism through the Marshall Plan.
   • USSR: Aimed to spread socialism and establish communist satellite states in Eastern Europe.
3. Competition for Global Influence:
   • Both sought to expand their spheres of influence globally, leading to a constant power struggle.
     

#🛡️ Containment: US Strategy

#The Truman Doctrine (1947) ✋

• What: A policy stating that the US would provide military and economic aid to any country threatened by communism.
• Why: To limit the spread of Soviet power and ideologies.
• Primary Targets: Initially focused on Greece and Turkey, which were facing communist threats.
• Broader Strategy: Employed various means, including military alliances, economic aid, covert actions, and propaganda.
  

#The Marshall Plan (1948) 💰

• What: An economic plan providing financial aid to rebuild Western Europe under democracy and capitalism.
• Who: Aid went primarily to Western European nations like France, West Germany, and Italy.
• How: Grants were used to purchase goods and services from the US, rebuild infrastructure, and modernize industry.
• Impact: Strengthened Western Europe and further divided the continent from the Soviet bloc.