4: Who was to Blame for the Cold War? - YK Flashcards
What are 4 differences between capitalism and communism (in context of the Cold War)?
Capitalist countries - (mostly) democratic, business and property privately owned, more wealth but more inequality, liberty > equality
Communist countries - (mostly) authoritarian one-party states, state owns and runs industry, lower standard of living but less inequality, society > individuals
When was the Yalta Conference and who represented which countries?
Feb 1945; Churchill - UK, Roosevelt - US, Stalin - USSR
What were the main agreements and disagreements at the Yalta Conference?
Agreements - Germany would be split into 4 sections (UK, USA, FR, USSR), Eastern Europe could be “Soviet Sphere of Influence”, liberated countries could hold free elections, Nazi war criminals would be found and tried
Disagreements - Polish borders (Stalin wanted USSR border moved into Poland, Polish border into Germany)
What were 3 changes between Yalta and Potsdam?
Soviet troops were in the liberated Eastern European countries (some refugees fled fearing communist take-over) and Stalin had set up a communist gov in Poland (against wish of most Poles); Truman replaced Roosevelt (died), he was more anti-communist and suspicious of Stalin; US had tested an atomic bomb (Truman told Stalin at start of Potsdam Conference)
When was the Potsdam Conference and who represented which countries?
July 1945; Attlee - UK, Truman - US, Stalin - USSR
What were the main agreements and disagreements at Potsdam?
Agreements - German-Polish border (same as Yalta)
Disagreements - Stalin wanted to cripple Germany, Truman feared the mistakes of Versailles; Stalin wanted reparations, Truman feared mistakes from after WW1; Truman wanted Stalin to be less involved in Eastern Europe
Describe the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia.
Left wing coalition won in ‘45, communists gained plurality ‘46, non-communist Foreign Minister Masaryk murdered ‘47, ‘48 other parties banned
Describe the communist takeover of 2 Eastern European countries (not Czechoslovakia).
Romania - Communist PM of coalition ‘45, rigged elections ‘46 gave 90%, monarchy abolished ‘47
Bulgaria - Left wing coalition won elections ‘45, executed other party leaders, monarchy abolished ‘46, new constitution ‘47 (one-party state)
What was ‘Cominform’?
Stalin set up the Communist Information Bureau in Oct ‘47 to co-ordinate and monitor communist parties of Eastern Europe, meetings for party leaders with Stalin and his ministers, allowed Stalin to ensure loyalty
What was the Truman Doctrine?
US President Truman made a speech (Mar ‘47) in which he declared that the USA would “support people resisting Communist takeovers anywhere in the world”
What was the Marshall Plan?
US Secretary of State General Marshall was sent to assess Europe economically, he saw shortages and poverty so he suggested $17 billion should be spent in aid, Congress passed aid spending after Czechoslovakia became communist, Marshall Aid only given to (and accepted by) democracies. Truman also hoped to prevent a global depression (like 1929).
When and why did the Berlin Blockade start?
Started in June ’48 as retaliation by Stalin for union of Western German zones in ‘46
When did the Berlin Blockade end and what happened?
Stalin lifted blockade in May ‘49; Berlin Airlift had supplied food, warm clothing, oil, and building supplies
What were NATO and the Warsaw Pact?
Apr ‘49 Western countries formed military alliance against communism, 1955 in response to West Germany joining NATO Stalin set up Warsaw Pact (alliance of Soviet satellite states)
