The Beginnings of the Cold War

Question	Answer
Damage of WW2	Millions of lives were lost - not even including the Holocaust. The bombings and fights caused the destruction of houses, factories, shops and cities. 1945 - millions of refugees who were homeless, sick and hungry. USSR lost millions - Stalin wanted to keep USSR secure. China suffered many casualties due to it's war with Japan.
Superpowers	By 1945, USA and USSR were the superpowers. USA had more naval tonnage but the USSR had more manpower. They had conflicts of ideologies - capitalism and communism and as Germany and Japan were no longer threats, they had no reason to co-operate.
USA Political System	Democratic - President and Congress chosen in a democratic election. Capitalist - businesses and property are privately owned. People could make profits in business or move jobs if they wanted to. They were always the richest - but there are great contrasts. Believe in freedom of individual and in government by consent.
USSR Political System	Communist state under Stalin's dictatorship. People could vote for a Supreme Soviet - only vote for Communists, and the Supreme Soviet had no power. Stalin governed the USSR and committees of the Communist Party. People's lives were closely controlled - rights of the individual was seen as less important than society's. Planned economy - government owned all industry. Standard of living low but so was unemployment and income inequality.

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	Created by sagar.joban over 11 years ago