Superpower relations and the Cold War - The Two Superpowers

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  • Created by: MC
  • Created on: 20-11-18 20:40

The Two Superpowers

USSR and USA emerged from WW2 as the two biggest powers in the world. They wer very suspicious of one another, and began to interpret each other's actions as threats

The USA kept their Atom Bomb a secret

Japan was on Germany's side in the war and continued to fight after Germany surrendered in May 1945. In August 1945, USA dropped two atom bombs on Japan destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The atom bombs meant that military help from USSR wasnt needed to defeat Japan. President Truman also refused to allow USSR to take part in US occupation of Japan.

USA had kept the exact nature of the atom bomb a secret from USSR at Potsdam in July 1945 (although Stalin's spies had passed on many details)

These nuclear weapons boosted the status of USA. For 4 years it was the world's only nuclear power. Stalin saw the development of the atom bomb as an attempt to intimidate USSR and was angry that

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