cold war Flashcards
EFFECTS OF TEHRAN CONFERENCE
Improved relations between the USSR and the US
Stalin thought that Britain and france were delaying opening a second front Churchill wanted the second front to be in the Balkans, but Roosevelt agreed with Stalin that it should be in Western Europe
Stalin was reassured, thought more highly of the USA
Caused damage in the relationship between US and Britain
Not only because of Roosevelt supporting Stalin, but also because the Americans thought critically over Britain’s colonial position
Americans did not think that major powers having colonies was something to be proud of
Churchill felt that Roosevelt was sometimes siding with Stalin more than him, Britain was left out of some decision making
EFFECTS OF YALTA CONFERENCE
Increased tension between the US and USSR
Could not agree on the amount of reparations Germany had to pay, Stalin wanted a higher amount than Roosevelt and Churchill, also upset that he got the poorer area rather than the richer industrial sections of Germany
Disagree over Poland
Started to get sceptical of USSR: Roosevelt was vouching London Poles ( Polish who escaped when they were invaded by US and USSR, moved to Londo) , both him and Churchill were worried of Stalin spreading communism in Europe, pushed for free elections
EFFECTS OF POTSDAM CONFERENCE
Could not reach any agreements.
As Roosevelt was replaced with Truman and Churchill was replaced with Attlee, both successors were new to diplomatic discussions, meaning that it was much harder for them to get their way with Stalin.
However, Truman was determined to take a “get tough” approach with the Russian leader. Because of these new modifications in leadership as well as the tougher stance that the US had on the USSR, no agreements were made.
An example of this can be seen with Truman objecting the previous arrangements for Poland and its borders as he wanted to see a government with less communist influence.
Furthermore, the Potsdam Conference caused rising tensions between the US and the USSR.
Truman was more suspicious of Stalin’s motives than Roosevelt had been as he believed that the Soviets were keen on spreading communism worldwide and wanted to bring down capitalist democracy, which led him to take a much tougher stance on US-USSR affairs.
This can be seen when he deliberately delayed the date of the conference until the atomic bomb in Japan was set off as he felt that this established his authority, this also caused stalin to feel betrayed since it was done without his knowledge.
IMPACT OF ATOMIC BOMB ON US-USSR RELATIONS
Dramatically increased Cold War tensions as the atomic bomb was an indirect threat from the US to the USSR
USA used the bombs to establish stronger negotiating position with the Soviet Union, made countries of Western Europe more secure about placing themselves under American protection, would not reach agreement with USSR
Stalin saw the effect of the bomb = got scared , Equivalent to over 12,000 tons of TNT, 120,000 civilians killed by two bombs
Increased competition between both sides due to arms race = increased military tension
Stalin felt more determined to make Soviet Union secure, aim was to create buffer zone of countries sympathetic to communism, made it harder for him to allow freedom for Eastern European countries
Were scared of each other, entered arms race, both sides ensured their nuclear weapons were more powerful and numerous than the rival
CAUSES OF SOVIET EXPANSION OF EASTERN EUROPE
Creating a buffer zone, distancing from Germany
Increasing sphere of influence
EFFECTS OF SOVIET EXPANSION OF EASTERN EUROPE
increased military tension by the increased Soviet control
Stalin created these satellite states in the years 1944-45 so as to increase the sphere of Communist influence in Eastern Europe. This was done by taking control of these countries or using ‘Salami Tactics’, where Russia would ‘slice off’ opposing parties so as to have Communist parties gain control.
Countries later became part of Russia’s military alliance, Cominform as well as the Warsaw Pact → heightened military tension
Worsened relations
Truman saw Stalin turning Eastern Europe into satellite states as a threat, evidence that the Soviet Union wanted to spread communism world wide
American response = dramatic change in American foreign policy from isolationism to the containment of Communism in Eastern Europe, showing the threat that America felt from the expansion
Stalin’s expansion in Eastern Europe prompted the Iron Curtain Speech by Churchill, crystallizing the separation of the east and west
EFFECTS OF GROWTH OF COMMUNIST PARTIES IN EUROPE
growing distrust
UK, US were suspicious that these parties were funded, supported by the Soviet Union, gave the impression that the Soviet Union was trying to take over Eastern Europe
Firm belief of the ‘domino theory’ = became suspicious of Russia’s next actions
Increased political tension = contributed to Marshall Plan for Communist containment
Caused by economic hardships faced by both countries = made people more open-minded to radical parties and their promises
Motivated US to take stronger stance against communism, change in foreign policy
EFFECTS OF COMINFORM
Established deeper division between East and West as a response to the policy of containment of USA
Communist Information Bureau was set up in 1947 to enable the Soviet Union to coordinate communist parties all throughout Europe = response to Truman Doctrine
Showed unwillingness to cooperate
increased tensions
Ensured all eastern European countries were run by the same foreign policy and economic systems → collectivisation of agriculture, nationalisation of state industry
Unable to accept Marshall Aid, bound to the USSR economically and politically, as the establishment of Comecon which meant a shared economic plan for the eastern bloc
EFFECTS OF IRON CURTAIN SPEECH
Warning, threat to the USSR, increasing the competition between them
Stalin thought that what Churchill said was also reflecting American beliefs (as the speech was made in the US, he could have shown his speech to Truman beforehand)
Led the Soviet Union to strengthen its forces and step up a campaign of anti-Western propaganda
Crystallizes the separation between the east and west
established the psychology of the Iron Curtain, that there was an “Iron Curtain-like” barrier between the East and West and that there were now boundaries between both countries.
In his speech, he compared Stalin to Hitler, who was the common enemy between them, would have caused outrage and anger on the USSR’s side, as the comparison shows the dissolution of the friendship → Stalin saw it as deliberately provocative
Symbolising that the Grand Alliance had finally broken down, tensions were escalated
EFFECTS OF TRUMAN DOCTRINE
An immediate effect was that it led to the creation of the Marshall Plan.
The Truman doctrine meant a change in US foreign policy, which was a cornerstone and a key reason for the development of the Marshall Plan.
The Marshall Plan led to the US providing troops and economic aid to other countries, like Italy (given 1.2 million), Netherlands (1.1 million) and Belgium (777 million) among others.
It successfully helped European countries to recover from the destruction of WWII, and none of the countries that had received the aid became a communist country.
However, Stalin thought of this as “dollar imperialism”, where America wanted to create an economic capitalist empire. In response to this, Stalin set up the Comecon, where communist states could keep their independence from capitalist governments, further increasing tensions between the two countries, developing the Cold War more.
A long term effect of the Truman doctrine was that it reformed US foreign policy throughout the entirety of the Cold War.
Before the Cold War, the USA had followed a policy of isolationism, where they pledged to not involve themselves in foreign matters.
However, with the country setting itself up as the leader of the fight against communism, they needed to stop other countries from falling under the influence of communism.
The Truman Doctrine laid the foundation for US involvement in future events, like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Korean War, which was seen in later periods of the Cold War, intensifying tension between the US and the USSR in the long term.
REASONS FOR BERLIN CRISIS
Means for the USSR to protect their interests
Challenge to Truman knew Truman could not ignore the blockade due to his recent speech about defending the world from communism
1. USA would leave Berlin = make West Berlin on their own, would reflect badly
2. Leave the blockade = eventually, Western Berliners would starve, hate US and turn to communism
Thought that he would starve the West Berliners and turn to communism, or the US would leave and cause them to turn to communism = ultimate goal was for West Berlin to become communist
Attempt to show the Western Powers that a divided Germany would not work
USSR perspective = saw the combined Trizonia as a means to develop the three zones more effectively, which would force Soviet zone into poverty⇒ Berlin Blockade
Stalin shut off land routes across Soviet-controlled Germany into Berlin
Show the USA, Britain and France that a divided Germany would not work
Meant that Trizonia would not be able to communicate with the capital Berlin = be short of food
→ increased tension
EFFECTS OF FIRST BERLIN CRISIS
An effect of the Berlin Crisis of 1948-49 to superpower relations was that strengthened relations between the Western Allies.
One of the impacts of the Berlin Crisis was the creation of East and West Germany, which meant that the Allies built a stronger alliance through the establishment of various systems in West Germany.
An example of this can be seen on the 8th of May, 1949, where the USA, Britain and France permitted their zones to come together as a state, which was known as the Federal Republic of Germany.
With the alliance and the creation of a joint state, this improved Western superpower relations as this started an era of mutual military support.
Another effect of the Berlin Crisis of 1948-49 was that it worsened relations between Eastern and Western superpowers.
During the Berlin Crisis, Stalin felt betrayed by the unification of the Western Zones and he felt that the development of the Western zone was a means to force the eastern zone into poverty. In response to this, he felt more determined to protect Soviet interests, and he decided to shut off land routes across Soviet-controlled Germany into Berlin, in what was known as the “Berlin Blockade”.
The Berlin Crisis elevated tension between the East and West as the back and forth offensives from both sides made the West and East more determined to protect their beliefs and interests.
This is seen from the Berlin Airlift in response to the blockade, and the formation of the Warsaw Pact in response to the formation of NATO
EFFECTS OF FORMATION OF FRG AND GDR
strengthened relations between the Western Allies.
which meant that the Allies built a stronger alliance through the establishment of various systems in West Germany.
An example of this can be seen on the 8th of May, 1949, where the USA, Britain and France permitted their zones to come together as a state, which was known as the Federal Republic of Germany.
Increased tension between Eastern, Western powers
Separation = form of what their relationship was → clear that they were unwilling to cooperate → increased tension, discontent
Increased competition as the formation of two different Germanys meant that they had to help themselves without any reliance
EFFECTS OF NATO FORMATION AND WEST GERMANY JOINING NATO
Increased tensions, intensifying the Cold War
Caused a divide in Europe with countries under US and USSR control = intensified the Cold War
this allowed the western powers Protect themselves from Russian aggression - in response to creation of satellite states to protect themselves
Used as a way to show US military strength
military alliance of NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), set up by the USA with Britain, France and nine other nations
= USSR saw it as a threat
Severed ties between both countries
Triggered a reaction from the USSR = Warsaw Pact
Formation of two military alliances = unwillingness to cooperate, showing that both believed war was an option
EFFECT OF KOREAN WAR
damaged relations
Saw that USSR wanted to continue its influence outside of Europe
US firmly believed in the domino theory, determined to support other countries in Asia trying to resist communism
Intensified military tension = eventually lead to the Arms Race
Soviet Union took steps to increase the size of its own armed forces
1950: 2.8 million soldiers in the Red Army
1955: 5.6 million
Created SEATO in September 1954, to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia
