why was there tension between the us and soviet union called the cold war

The changes came as both sides attempted to influence political and economic developments around the world.įor example, the Soviet Union provided military, economic, and technical aid to communist governments in Asia. After all, the leaders of the world's most powerful nations had shaken hands.Ĭold War tensions increased, then eased, then increased again over the years. Yet the meeting in Geneva was not considered a failure. The leaders of Britain and France also attended.Įisenhower proposed that the Americans and Soviets agree to let their military bases be inspected by air by the other side. In July nineteen-fifty-five, Eisenhower and Nikolai Bulganin met in Geneva, Switzerland. His death gave the new American president, Dwight Eisenhower, a chance to deal with new Soviet leaders. In nineteen fifty-three, Soviet leader Josef Stalin died. The Soviet Union and its east European allies formed their own joint military group - the Warsaw Pact - six years later. Its purpose was to defend against Soviet forces in Europe. The United States also led the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in nineteen forty-nine. Together, they provided almost two and one-half million tons of supplies on about two hundred-eighty thousand flights.Ĭ-47s unloading at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin The United States received help from Britain and France. The planes kept coming, sometimes landing every few minutes, for more than a year. President Truman quickly ordered military airplanes to fly coal, food, and medicine to the city. In June nineteen forty-eight, Soviet-led forces blocked all roads and railways leading to the western part of Berlin.

Berlin was a part of communist East Germany. After World War Two, the United States and its allies divided Germany. This strengthened the economies and governments of countries in western Europe.Ī major event in the Cold War was the Berlin Airlift. The Truman Doctrine effectively stopped communists from taking control of Greece and Turkey.Īnother policy was the Marshall Plan. This was a plan to give money and military aid to countries threatened by communism. Harry Truman was the first American president to fight the Cold War.

The non-aligned group included countries that did not want to be tied to either the West or the East. This group included countries with communist political systems. This group included countries with democratic political systems. The Cold War world was separated into three groups.

Why was there tension between the us and soviet union called the cold war