1946: the iron curtain & the Cold War: after World War II, the United States and its Allies began a 40-year struggle to contain the spread of Soviet Communism.

• Author: Roberts, Sam
• Position: TIMES PAST

BACKGROUND

The 40-year Cold War put the world on a dangerous course. In the U.S., the fear of nuclear war had adults and children alike scrambling for cover during air-raid drills. It also led to witch hunts for suspected Communists and the spending of billions of dollars in the arms and space race with the Soviets.

CRITICAL THINKING 1

* From the Western perspective, the Soviet Union's denial of democratic rights in Eastern Europe was a betrayal of the goals of the World War II allies.

* After they read the article, ask students whether they believe the decades-Long cost [in terms of money, Lives, etc.] to contain Communism was the correct course for the U.S.

WRITING PROMPT

* Have students write their own "Iron Curtain" speech. But have them pretend their audience is not Americans and others in the West, but people behind the Iron Curtain.

* In a 100-word "speech" to be broadcast to the countries of Eastern Europe, they explain why democracy is better than Communism.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

* Suggest one or more reasons why the Soviet-American confrontation after World War II did not evolve into a real war.

* [One reason: Everyone knew the horror of nuclear weapons; both sides feared to use them.]

* Why do you think the Allies protected Berlin from the Soviets?

* Why do you think President Nixon's trading strategy and cultural exchanges helped warm relations with the Soviets?

CRITICAL THINKING 2

* Churchill said because the U.S. was the most powerful country, it had an "awe-inspiring accountability to the future."

* What accountability do you think the U.S. has to the future?

FAST FACT

* The Soviet Union voluntarily ended its occupation of eastern Austria 10 years after the end of the war, in 1955.

WEB WATCH

www.fordham.edu/ hatsatt/mod/19/1946stalin. html This Fordham University site provides Joseph Stalin's brief reply to the Iron Curtain speech. Stalin said Soviet security required Eastern European loyalty to Moscow.

The words "iron curtain" were buried deep within a speech that Winston Churchill, the British wartime Prime Minister, gave in Missouri in 1946. They weren't quoted until the fourth paragraph of the front-page story in the next day's New York Times.

But those two words signaled the start of a new and dangerous era for the United States and the world--the Cold War--which would define international relations and American politics for the second half of the 20th century.

World War II had torn apart the map of Europe. Even before their victory over Germany, the Allies--led by the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union--had met to chart out what postwar Europe would look like. The boundaries were later adjusted by the position...