Following WWII

Europe after the war

• Allies divided Germany (and Berlin) into 4 sectors. France, US, Britain and Soviet Union each controlled one sector

Postwar Japan

• US took sole responsibility for rebuilding it• Douglas MacArthur was in charge of

supervising it• One of his first priorities was religion• Helped them write a new constitution, and

elect officials

Cold War

• Between the US and Soviet Union• Soviet Union was spreading its sphere of

influence• People feared another world war

• Under the Iron Curtain– Countries under Communist control

Berlin Airlift

• The Soviet Union stopped all use of their roads and rails into the East Germany

• Left people without food and supplies• Truman ordered airlift of food and supplies for

the next 321 days into West Berlin

Korean War

• North Korea was communist and South Korea was free

• North Korea invaded South Korea• US got involved• Commander was Douglas MacArthur

• Settled on the 38th Parallel as the boundary between North and South Korea