The differences between democracy and communism caused tension between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States, after World War II. A wall was built as a border to separate the two governments and caused many problems. Throughout the world the fall of the Berlin Wall was celebrated but in the Soviet Union, the fall began to destroy their government. The wall was a physical and mental barrier between East and West Berlin. After World War II, Germany was divided into two states. The four allies; France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union, controlled the city of Berlin. Berlin was the capital of Germany before the end of the war. Berlin was the only place where Germans could freely travel between East
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The United States and allies supplied the city from the air. This is known as the Berlin Airlift and it lasted for more than a year and delivered more than 2.3 million tons of food, fuel, and other goods to West Berlin. The blockade was called off in 1949. In 1952 the East German state sealed off the inner German states. Over the next few years 2.2 million people had moved from East Berlin to West Berlin because of the dictatorial society. The people were losing their rights and jobs. Moving to West Germany was their way to avoid the dictatorship that was forming. Before the construction of the wall, trying to leave the country without formal permission could result in persecution (Germany and …show more content…
The differences between the two superpowers had begun to cause conflict. This was known as the Cold War. The Cold War was not fought with armies or guns; it was based off of the fear and lack of communication. Germany was the focal point of the Cold War. Officials in West and East Berlin did very little to cooperate with each other and any attempts for a peace treaty failed. The Soviet influence began expanding into Eastern Europe and communist parties were gaining popularity in France and Italy (Conflict Builds). In the early 1970s the Soviet Union was at the peak of its power. The communist party was the main political force in the Soviet Union. The Soviet’s wanted to assert them as the world’s dominant superpower. The Soviet Union was the world’s leading producer of steel and oil. Wages began to increase drastically. The Soviet also prevailed on the international stage. It supported the North Vietnamese forces and helped get the American troops out of the country. The victory in Vietnam signaled an end to the American policy of communism containment. The Soviets began producing nuclear weapons and this was alarming to the United States. President Nixon signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT I) in fear of the Soviet advancement (End of Cold War). After the industrial era came the technology era; the Soviet was stuck in
The United States and allies supplied the city from the air. This is known as the Berlin Airlift and it lasted for more than a year and delivered more than 2.3 million tons of food, fuel, and other goods to West Berlin. The blockade was called off in 1949. In 1952 the East German state sealed off the inner German states. Over the next few years 2.2 million people had moved from East Berlin to West Berlin because of the dictatorial society. The people were losing their rights and jobs. Moving to West Germany was their way to avoid the dictatorship that was forming. Before the construction of the wall, trying to leave the country without formal permission could result in persecution (Germany and …show more content…
The differences between the two superpowers had begun to cause conflict. This was known as the Cold War. The Cold War was not fought with armies or guns; it was based off of the fear and lack of communication. Germany was the focal point of the Cold War. Officials in West and East Berlin did very little to cooperate with each other and any attempts for a peace treaty failed. The Soviet influence began expanding into Eastern Europe and communist parties were gaining popularity in France and Italy (Conflict Builds). In the early 1970s the Soviet Union was at the peak of its power. The communist party was the main political force in the Soviet Union. The Soviet’s wanted to assert them as the world’s dominant superpower. The Soviet Union was the world’s leading producer of steel and oil. Wages began to increase drastically. The Soviet also prevailed on the international stage. It supported the North Vietnamese forces and helped get the American troops out of the country. The victory in Vietnam signaled an end to the American policy of communism containment. The Soviets began producing nuclear weapons and this was alarming to the United States. President Nixon signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT I) in fear of the Soviet advancement (End of Cold War). After the industrial era came the technology era; the Soviet was stuck in