8.1 Setting the Stage for the Cold War and Decolonization
3 min read•january 16, 2023
Katie Moore
Jillian Holbrook
Katie Moore
Jillian Holbrook
Influences of World War I
Empires broke apart or started to fall after losses in WWI, such as , which fractured into two nations: , which experienced economic devastation, and the , which dissolved entirely.
Imperialist empires began to think of independence. Fighting in WWI helped them develop a sense of nationalism as a separate entity from their imperialist controllers, as seen with the Irish and Korean Declarations of Independence. Instead of continuing to submit to often-cruel imperial authority, these countries sought —leading to .
The Impact of World War II
Although hopes for greater self-government were not entirely fulfilled by , the end of further increased anti-imperialist sentiment.
With respect to the , WWII hit the hardest. Economically and physically devastated by the war, Europe had to build from scratch. Since that region used to be the world superpower, there was a vacuum to fill. The and USSR (Russia) filled that gap.
Technological and economic gains experienced by these victorious nations shifted the global balance of power. As the was overseas and Russia was bitterly cold, both countries avoided the worst of the fighting in the war. And to engage in combat, these nations bolstered their militaries. Essentially, when the fighting ended, the and USSR emerged as the two dominant world powers with strong armed forces and booming economies.
Despite fighting as allies in the war, the relationship between the and the USSR quickly deteriorated as the nations disagreed on the future of Europe and order post-war.
WWII Results
WWII Event | Effect |
Colonies fought on the side of their imperial rulers | Increased |
was destroyed by fighting | (that U.S. and USSR would fill) |
U.S. and USSR were far away from W. Europe & had a strong military from fighting the war | Able to fill W. Europe's and battle for control; the beginning of the |
Losing empires destroyed | U.S. and USSR fought for control over land |
Review Exercise
How did the World Wars lead to the and ? (True or False)
When the losing countries saw they were going to lose, they became part of the U.S. or USSR, which led to the .
(F-- losing countries did not join either but were rather split up into spheres of influence after the war)
When the war was over, the U.S. and USSR were deeply impoverished and started fighting over the last resources, leading to the .
(F-- the U.S. and USSR became superpowers after the )
The U.S. and USSR had strong economies and militaries, which let them fill the gap of powers (T)
was destroyed, which left room for the U.S. and USSR to become superpowers (T)
Colonies that were part of empires that lost the war got mad about their loss and demanded independence
(F-- many colonies, regardless of whether the country lost or not, demanded independence after the war due to rising nationalism in the colony)
Winning countries like France got to encourage the U.S./USSR rivalry because they were still in power
(F-- was largely no longer in power, leaving room for the U.S./USSR to take place as a superpower)
Fighting in the wars helped colonies develop a sense of nationalism and demand independence (T)
The empires that lost had to be divvied up, which led to the U.S. and USSR exerting influence over large parts of the world (T)
Additional Resources:
🎥Watch: WHAP - The Cold War
🎥Watch: WHAP - Decolonization
🎥Watch: WHAP - Newly Independent States
🏆Trivia: WHAP - Cold War Review
🏆Trivia: WHAP - Decolonization Review
Key Terms to Review (16)
Austria-Hungary
: Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was a dual monarchy in Central Europe from 1867 to 1918. It was formed by a compromise between the Austrian Empire and Hungary, two distinct regions ruled by the same monarch.Cold War
: The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and its allies (the West) and the Soviet Union and its satellite states (the East) from 1947 to 1991. It was characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.Decolonization
: Decolonization refers to the process by which colonies become independent of colonial powers.Germany
: A country in Central Europe, known for its influential role in world history. It has been a key player in events such as the Protestant Reformation, both World Wars, and the Cold War.Irish Declaration of Independence
: The Irish Declaration of Independence was a document adopted by Dáil Éireann, Ireland's revolutionary parliament, on January 21st, 1919. It proclaimed Ireland's independence from Britain following two years of armed conflict known as the Easter Rising.Korean Declaration of Independence
: The Korean Declaration of Independence was a public assertion of independence by Korean nationalists and religious leaders against colonial rule by Japan. It was read aloud at a rally in Seoul on March 1, 1919, sparking the March 1st Movement.Nationalism in the colonies
: This refers to the political movement by colonized people seeking independence from their colonial rulers, often driven by feelings of national identity and cultural unity.Newly Independent States
: Newly Independent States refer to countries that have recently gained independence from colonial rule or from another country. This term is often used in the context of nations that emerged after decolonization in the 20th century.Ottoman Empire
: The Ottoman Empire was a state that controlled much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14th and early 20th centuries. It was founded at the end of the 13th century in northwestern Anatolia by Osman I.Power Vacuum
: A power vacuum is a situation where there is an absence or lack of authority, leading to instability and potential for new powers to emerge.Self-determination
: Self-determination is the principle that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or interference.United States
: A country in North America that is made up of 50 states, a federal district, and five territories. It was established after the American Revolution when the thirteen colonies declared independence from Britain.USSR (Russia)
: Formerly known as Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, it was a federal socialist state in Northern Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. Known for its communist government, planned economy and role as a superpower during the Cold War.Western Europe
: A geographic region in the western part of the continent of Europe, which includes countries like France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. It is known for its democratic governments, high standard of living and significant global influence.World War I
: A major global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918 involving many world powers divided into two opposing alliances - The Allies (including UK, France and Russia) and The Central Powers (including Germany and Austria-Hungary).World War II
: World War II was a global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations divided into two military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It is considered the most widespread war in history.8.1 Setting the Stage for the Cold War and Decolonization
3 min read•january 16, 2023
Katie Moore
Jillian Holbrook
Katie Moore
Jillian Holbrook
Influences of World War I
Empires broke apart or started to fall after losses in WWI, such as , which fractured into two nations: , which experienced economic devastation, and the , which dissolved entirely.
Imperialist empires began to think of independence. Fighting in WWI helped them develop a sense of nationalism as a separate entity from their imperialist controllers, as seen with the Irish and Korean Declarations of Independence. Instead of continuing to submit to often-cruel imperial authority, these countries sought —leading to .
The Impact of World War II
Although hopes for greater self-government were not entirely fulfilled by , the end of further increased anti-imperialist sentiment.
With respect to the , WWII hit the hardest. Economically and physically devastated by the war, Europe had to build from scratch. Since that region used to be the world superpower, there was a vacuum to fill. The and USSR (Russia) filled that gap.
Technological and economic gains experienced by these victorious nations shifted the global balance of power. As the was overseas and Russia was bitterly cold, both countries avoided the worst of the fighting in the war. And to engage in combat, these nations bolstered their militaries. Essentially, when the fighting ended, the and USSR emerged as the two dominant world powers with strong armed forces and booming economies.
Despite fighting as allies in the war, the relationship between the and the USSR quickly deteriorated as the nations disagreed on the future of Europe and order post-war.
WWII Results
WWII Event | Effect |
Colonies fought on the side of their imperial rulers | Increased |
was destroyed by fighting | (that U.S. and USSR would fill) |
U.S. and USSR were far away from W. Europe & had a strong military from fighting the war | Able to fill W. Europe's and battle for control; the beginning of the |
Losing empires destroyed | U.S. and USSR fought for control over land |
Review Exercise
How did the World Wars lead to the and ? (True or False)
When the losing countries saw they were going to lose, they became part of the U.S. or USSR, which led to the .
(F-- losing countries did not join either but were rather split up into spheres of influence after the war)
When the war was over, the U.S. and USSR were deeply impoverished and started fighting over the last resources, leading to the .
(F-- the U.S. and USSR became superpowers after the )
The U.S. and USSR had strong economies and militaries, which let them fill the gap of powers (T)
was destroyed, which left room for the U.S. and USSR to become superpowers (T)
Colonies that were part of empires that lost the war got mad about their loss and demanded independence
(F-- many colonies, regardless of whether the country lost or not, demanded independence after the war due to rising nationalism in the colony)
Winning countries like France got to encourage the U.S./USSR rivalry because they were still in power
(F-- was largely no longer in power, leaving room for the U.S./USSR to take place as a superpower)
Fighting in the wars helped colonies develop a sense of nationalism and demand independence (T)
The empires that lost had to be divvied up, which led to the U.S. and USSR exerting influence over large parts of the world (T)
Additional Resources:
🎥Watch: WHAP - The Cold War
🎥Watch: WHAP - Decolonization
🎥Watch: WHAP - Newly Independent States
🏆Trivia: WHAP - Cold War Review
🏆Trivia: WHAP - Decolonization Review
Key Terms to Review (16)
Austria-Hungary
: Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was a dual monarchy in Central Europe from 1867 to 1918. It was formed by a compromise between the Austrian Empire and Hungary, two distinct regions ruled by the same monarch.Cold War
: The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and its allies (the West) and the Soviet Union and its satellite states (the East) from 1947 to 1991. It was characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.Decolonization
: Decolonization refers to the process by which colonies become independent of colonial powers.Germany
: A country in Central Europe, known for its influential role in world history. It has been a key player in events such as the Protestant Reformation, both World Wars, and the Cold War.Irish Declaration of Independence
: The Irish Declaration of Independence was a document adopted by Dáil Éireann, Ireland's revolutionary parliament, on January 21st, 1919. It proclaimed Ireland's independence from Britain following two years of armed conflict known as the Easter Rising.Korean Declaration of Independence
: The Korean Declaration of Independence was a public assertion of independence by Korean nationalists and religious leaders against colonial rule by Japan. It was read aloud at a rally in Seoul on March 1, 1919, sparking the March 1st Movement.Nationalism in the colonies
: This refers to the political movement by colonized people seeking independence from their colonial rulers, often driven by feelings of national identity and cultural unity.Newly Independent States
: Newly Independent States refer to countries that have recently gained independence from colonial rule or from another country. This term is often used in the context of nations that emerged after decolonization in the 20th century.Ottoman Empire
: The Ottoman Empire was a state that controlled much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14th and early 20th centuries. It was founded at the end of the 13th century in northwestern Anatolia by Osman I.Power Vacuum
: A power vacuum is a situation where there is an absence or lack of authority, leading to instability and potential for new powers to emerge.Self-determination
: Self-determination is the principle that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or interference.United States
: A country in North America that is made up of 50 states, a federal district, and five territories. It was established after the American Revolution when the thirteen colonies declared independence from Britain.USSR (Russia)
: Formerly known as Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, it was a federal socialist state in Northern Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. Known for its communist government, planned economy and role as a superpower during the Cold War.Western Europe
: A geographic region in the western part of the continent of Europe, which includes countries like France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. It is known for its democratic governments, high standard of living and significant global influence.World War I
: A major global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918 involving many world powers divided into two opposing alliances - The Allies (including UK, France and Russia) and The Central Powers (including Germany and Austria-Hungary).World War II
: World War II was a global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations divided into two military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It is considered the most widespread war in history.
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