8.1 Setting the Stage for the Cold War Flashcards
Who were the “Big Three” in WWII?
- Great Britain
- United States
- Soviet Union
What was decided at the Tehran Conference of 1943?
Britain and United States focus on Western Europe
The Soviet Union focuses on Eastern Europe, including some of Poland.
What was the focus of the Yalta Conference?
Reconstructing Eastern Europe and defeating Japan.
Who represented the United States at the Potsdam Conference?
Harry Truman (Roosevelt died)
Why did the Soviet Union get to reject Truman’s demand for free elections in Eastern Europe?
By the time Truman made his demand, Soviet troops occupied most of the region.
Why was the United States poised to be the most powerful country in the world after WWII?
It suffered the least damage from the war.
What is a cold war?
A conflict without direct military confrontation.
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower expressed his concerns about the U.S. - Soviet competition for supremacy in nuclear armaments. Why?
He thought the military-industrial complex - the informal alliance between the federal government and defense contractors - would gain too much power.
What was the hydrogen bomb?
A much more powerful bomb than the atomic bomb. Hydrogen bombs use nuclear fusion and fission while atomic bombs just use nuclear fission.
