CW+Early+Tensions

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 * In the decade after World War II, the Cold War will certainly heat up - what were the most important events leading to this increase in tension. For each of the topics listed below, RANK the tension caused by that topic using the TENSIONOMETER and explain your decision. To what degree did the event or idea lead to an increase in tension between during the Cold War? The more tension cause, the hotter the ranking. Check out the example for the Yalta Conference! ||


 * **EVENT** || **TENSION RATING** || **RATIONALE** ||
 * **YALTA CONFERENCE** || 4 || It didn't lead to direct confrontation, but it definitely set the stage for conflict between the Soviet controlled East and US influenced West. ||
 * **THE UNITED NATIONS** || 2 || The point of the U.N was to stop wars and have a place where people could debate and negotiate. ||
 * **THE IRON CURTAIN** || 4 || The Soviet Union was controlling elections in countries. Other countries don't like this but they think it is justified. Churchill calls this the iron curtain. ||
 * **CONTAINMENT** || 5 || The United States and Britain want to stop the Soviet Union from expanding economically. They could support countries so the Soviet Union wouldn't take them. ||
 * **THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE** || 5 || 400 million of economic support to Greece and Turkey to stop communism from spreading there. The first thing like it in a peace time. ||
 * **THE MARSHALL PLAN** || 5 || Even more money to help support countries so that they do not become communist. Expensive but successful. ||
 * **THE BERLIN AIRLIFT** || 6 || The Soviet Union blockaded west Berlin. the west dropped 2.3 million tons of supplies into west Berlin. The Soviet Union eventually stopped the blockade. ||
 * **NATO** || 5 || A mutual defense alliance to stop the spread of communism. The Soviet Union responds with the Warsaw pact. ||
 * **THE SOVIET BOMB** || 6 || The Soviet Union made an atomic bomb and many thought it was a result of communist spying. ||
 * **COMMUNISM IN CHINA** || 6 || China became communist which made many Americans mad and worried. ||