Beginnings of the Cold War Flashcards
What were 3 long-term origins of the cold war?
Conflict of beliefs, History of mistrust, end of WW2
When did the cold war (approximately) begin and end?
1945-1989
What were 5 events which caused mistrust between the USA and the USSR (Russia)?
Russian civil war, Russian revolution, pushing Hitler to fight communism, Nazi-soviet pact, the ‘second front’
Why did the Russian civil war cause mistrust between the USA and the USSR?
Britain and the USA helped the whites (non-communists) to attempt to overthrow the reds (communists) during the Russian civil war (communists won)
Why did the Russian revolution cause mistrust between the USA and the USSR?
Britain and USA felt that Russia had seized power illegally
Why did pushing Hitler to fight communism cause mistrust between the USA and the USSR?
France, Britain and the USA refused Stalin’s attempts to ally with them, and attempted to appease Hitler and ‘let Russia and Germany destroy each-other’
What was the ‘second front’? Why did it cause mistrust?
Britain and the USA were supposed to help Russia during the war earlier than they did, Stalin felt that this was deliberate- an attempt to kill off some of the communists by leaving them to the Germans
What did the USA’s government believe in?
Democracy, Capitalism, rights/freedoms of individuals more important than equality
What did the USSR’s government believe in?
One party state, state industry, rights of individuals less important than the good of state overall
What is capitalism?
Where property and business is owned by private individuals and companies
What is state industry?
Where industry is owned and run by the state
What is a one-party state?
People can elect a leader, but there is only one party that can be voted for (they essentially vote based on personality)
When was the Yalta conference?
February 1945
Which leaders attended the Yalta conference?
Roosevelt (USA) Churchill (UK) Stalin (USSR)
What was the main disagreement at Yalta?
Stalin wanted to keep the parts of Poland he had won in the Nazi-soviet pact, and expand Poland westwards by giving it German land, and wanted in to have a pro-soviet government
What was the Nazi-soviet pact?
1939; USSR and Germany agreed to divide up Poland between them
How was Germany to be divided up after the war?
It was to be divided into 4 zones- France, UK, USA, USSR and Berlin (which was in the soviet section) was also to be divided into 4
Why was Germany divided into 4 not 3?
USA and UK wanted another ally against the USSR sector- so that the USSR would have less power, so gave France a section
What other points were agreed at Yalta?
Nazi war criminals punished, Russia would enter the war against Japan when Germany surrendered, United Nations would be set up to keep peace, there would be a soviet sphere of influence
What changed between the Yalta and Potsdam conferences?
Roosevelt died and Churchill was not re-elected, loss of common enemy, allies had tested an atomic bomb, Stalin’s armies occupied most of eastern Europe
What points were agreed at Potsdam?
Poland’s border would be moved west into Germany, Germans in Poland, Hungary etc would be sent back to Germany, Nazis banned,
When was the Potsdam conference?
July-August 1945
What were 4 main disagreements at Potsdam?
Soviets wanted to cripple Germany with reparations and share in the occupation of Japan when it was defeated (Truman USA blocked these), the future of eastern Europe, use of atomic bomb
What was the disagreement over the future of Eastern Europe about?
UK and USA didn’t want Stalin’s armies to set up pro-soviet (communist) governments in eastern Europe and wanted them to have free elections
What methods did the Soviets use to take over Eastern Europe?
Soviet troops occupied countries (tension and fear), annexing Baltic provinces, rigged elections (e.g. Poland, Bulgaria), fear and terror political opponents murdered/tortured, secret police
Which countries in Eastern were not overtaken by the soviets?
Greece (which remained a monarchy) and Yugoslavia (which was communist but very anti-soviet)
What was the Truman Doctrine?
A speech made by (USA) president Truman, that the USA would aid those threatened by communism and attempt to contain communism
What did General Marshall discover?
Marshall was sent to assess Europe’s economic state and concluded that it was a ruined economy.
What did Truman believe about communist success?
That communism succeeded where there was poverty and hardship
How much did Europe owe to the USA (in 1947)?
$11.5 billion
