Causes Of Cold War Ten markers

Question 1

Name 5 ways in which the USA successfully managed to contain Communism up to 1949.

Answer 1

1. After the British left, the USA stepped in to fight the Communists in Greece in 1947, and won.
2. The Truman Doctrine and subsequent Marshall Plan were used to great effect to combat the spread of Communism. Wealthy countries would be less likely to turn Communist.
3. Many countries accepted Marshall Aid and were able to revive their flagging economies.
4. The USA had successfully kept West Berlin alive during Stalin’s blockade. They had proven their resilience to fend off Communism.
5. NATO had been set up in 1949 to protect the USA and her allies; something Stalin perceived as a direct aggressive act against his Communist bloc.

Question 2

Name 5 ways in which the USA were to blame for the Cold War.

Answer 2

1. The Iron Curtain speech of 1946 antagonised the Russians. They accused Stalin of warmongering.
2. Truman was much less tolerant than Roosevelt and was determined to act tough on Communism.
3. The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan angered the Russians. They perceived it as a ploy to make European nations dependent on US dollars.
4. When Britain, France and the US combined zones this also angered the Russians. The introduction of a new currency further enflamed tension.
5. The formation of NATO was seen as an aggressive act by the Americans.

Question 3

Name 5 ways in which the USSR were to blame for the Cold War.

Answer 3

1. Their expansion in Eastern Europe had started the tension in the first place. Stalin said it was a defensive measure; the Allies disagreed.
2. Stalin disliked Truman and disagreed with him on many issues such as what to do about Germany’s reparations.
3. Stalin escalated tension by forbidding his countries to accept Marshall Aid which would have no doubt been of use to them.
4. Stalin introduced the Berlin Blockade; an aggressive act which threatened millions of West Berliners.
5. Stalin responded to most US actions with equal hostility. He accused Churchill of warmongering for example and set up a rival pact to match NATO.

Question 4

Name 5 ways in which the Soviets were successful in their expansion of Communism up to 1949

Answer 4

1. Despite promises to liberate former Nazi-occupied countries, Red Army troops remained in many states.
2. Elections were fixed to ensure Communist victory. Satellite states were established in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
3. Stalin soon tightened his grip over his satellites; establishing Cominform to coordinate the activities of the different Communist leaders.
4. Secret police were used to arrest and intimidate any opposition to Communist rule.
5. It was clear that an Iron Curtain had descended, just like Churchill had predicted. In Czechoslovakia one pro-American minister was found dead; a sinister event that proved Communism was to flourish no matter what the cost.

Question 5

Explain why the suspicion and rivalry between Truman and Stalin helped to cause the Cold War

Answer 5

Truman was much less tolerant than Roosevelt. He was much more anti-Communist and was very suspicious of Stalin. Truman and his advisors saw Soviet actions in Europe as aggressive. The two leaders disagreed at Potsdam over issues such as Poland’s borders and what to do about reparations. Stalin equally disliked Truman. He was suspicious of him especially after news that they had secretly been developing an atomic bomb.

Question 6

Explain why the Berlin Blockade was a cause of the Cold War

Answer 6

Ever since Potsdam there had been disagreement over Berlin. Things came to a head when Britain, France and the USA combined their zones in 1946 and introduced a new currency in 1948. Stalin saw these actions as provocative and so in response he blockaded West Berlin. In 1948 he cut off the two million Berliners in the West. This antagonised the USA who were forced to respond with an airlift which lasted nearly a year.

Question 7

Explain why the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan were causes of the Cold War

Answer 7

The Truman Doctrine made it clear that the Americans would do whatever it took to ‘contain’ Communism. The Marshall Plan was a plan to inject $17 billion into Europe’s stagnating economies. It was hoped that these countries would be less likely to turn Communist. Stalin viewed these actions as provocative and he responded by forbidding his satellites from accepting Marshall Aid. He felt the USA were trying to make countries dependent on US dollars. The USSR offered their own aid to counteract the Marshall Plan.

Question 8

Explain why Soviet expansion was a cause of the Cold War

Answer 8

USSR expansion in Eastern Europe antagonised the Americans who believed that Russia was being aggressive. Newly liberated countries fell one by one to the Communists through suspicious and often violent means. This was despite the assurance from Russia that free elections would take place. Stalin said he was just trying to build up a protective buffer zone however the USA (and Churchill) regarded the expansion as evidence of a Communist takeover.

Question 9

Explain why the Iron Curtain speech was a cause of the Cold War

Answer 9

In 1946, America, Churchill made a famous speech in which he warned the Americans of Soviet expansion. He declared that an iron curtain had descended across Europe; dividing the continent into two rival camps. Stalin was angered by the comments and accused Churchill of stirring up trouble. His actions, he argued, were merely defensive.