After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became the two most powerful nations in the world. The U.S promoted democracy while the Soviet Union spread communism. After many years of tension between the super powers, two men, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, came together to end the Cold War.
At the end of the war, the city of Berlin, Germany was broken into four zones that were occupied by each of the Allied countries. In 1948 the Western Allies formed the government of West Germany. The Soviets decided to close the roads and rail road between the east and west parts of the city. This closed off access to food and water to West Berlin (Ratnesar Pg.15).