Lesson 1
Compare Two Perspectives
How did the United States and Soviet Union view the world differently after World War II?
Goal
Compare a U.S. and Soviet perspective to understand why conflict developed.
Source A — United States
Harry Truman, 1947
“Free peoples must be supported against groups that seek to control them through force or pressure.”
“Free peoples must be supported against groups that seek to control them through force or pressure.”
1. What does the United States believe its role is in the world?
Source B — Soviet Union
Soviet Perspective
“Capitalist nations seek to dominate weaker countries. Socialist nations must resist imperialism.”
“Capitalist nations seek to dominate weaker countries. Socialist nations must resist imperialism.”
2. What does the Soviet Union believe is happening in the world?
Compare the Sources
3. Why would these two views lead to conflict between the U.S. and USSR?
4. Which cause of the Cold War do these sources best show?
Choose one: ideology, distrust, or competition for power