Cold War

Question 1

What is the Truman Doctrine, 1947?

Answer 1

• A US policy of containment. Using US influence and military resources to prevent expansion of communism into non-communist countries

Question 2

Why did the Truman Doctrine happen, 1947?

Answer 2

• USA believed that the Soviet Union was trying to spread communism - East -> West Europe
• USA had the atomic bomb and wanted to use it, to put pressure on the Soviet Union prevent further expansion
• Britain had been supporting Greece and Turkey but couldn’t anymore so USA stepped in with financial aid

Question 3

What were the Consequences of the Truman Doctrine, 1947?

Answer 3

• Greek government was able to defeat the communists
• Rivalry between USA and the Soviet Union increased
• USA become committed to the policy of containment
• The USA more involved in European affairs - prioritised economic aid
• 1947, Stalin set up Communist Information Bureau to link communist parties in Eastern Europe & worldwide

Question 4

What was the Marshall Plan, 1947 (European Recovery Plan)?

Answer 4

• Truman backed up his policy of containment with economic aid to Europe. The aid was in the form of cash, machinery, food and technological assistance. George Marshall is in charge (Secretary of State)

Question 5

Why did the Marshall Plan, 1947, happen?

Answer 5

• Truman did not want to commit the US military to the defence of Western Europe against the spread of Communism
• Many European countries had suffered badly from WW2 and Truman believed communism often won support in countries with economic problems & poverty
• If USA helped countries received economically & provide employment/reasonable prosperity they would not need to turn to communism

Question 6

Consequences of the Marshall Plan, 1947?

Answer 6

• Marshall invited countries to meet together and decide how to use US aid
• 1953, USA had provided $17 billion to help European countries rebuild their economy
• Stalin accused the USA of using the Plan for its own selfish interest
• Soviet Union and USA tensions grew - both power hungry
• Europe became more firmly divided between East and West
  |
  Stalin withdrew USSR from discussions as he didn’t trust USA or want to show how the Soviet Union was economically

Question 7

What was the Impact of the international relations from 1947? (consequences)

Answer 7

• The Grand Alliance was officially over
• Stalin’s suspicions of the West were reinforced. He believed the USA was trying to crush the USSR
• The Marshall Plan successfully tied Western European countries into supporting the USA
• The history of Europe for the next 50 years become one of intense rivalry

Question 8

What was Cominform?

Answer 8

• Communist Information Bureau set up in 1947 to coordinate communist parties throughout Europe
• Soviet’s response to Truman
• Ensure that the states of Eastern Europe:
  1) Followed Soviet aims in foreign policy
  2) Introduced Soviet-Style economic policies, such as collectivisation of agriculture an state control of industry

Question 9

Why did they introduce Cominform?

Answer 9

• Purge any members who disagreed with Moscow
• Example:
  Tito whose refusal to follow the soviet line led to the expulsion of Yugoslavia from Cominform in 1948

Question 10

What was Comecon?

Answer 10

• The council for Mutual Assistance (Comecon), founded in 1949, was the Soviet response to the Marshall Plan
• It was supposed to be a means by which the Soviet Union could financially support countries in Easter Europe.

Question 11

How did the Soviet Union use Comecon?

Answer 11

• Control the economies of the States
• Give the Soviet Union access to their resources
• Encourage economic specialisation within the Soviet Bloc
  For example, Czechoslovakia and East Germany were encouraged to concentrate on heavy industry. Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria specialised in the production of food and raw materials

Question 12

What were the Long Term causes of the Berlin Crisis?

Answer 12

• USSR ensured that communists took control of their zone
• USSR tried to secure communist control of the Berlin city council too
• West wanted fast economic recovery in their zones
• USSR wanted to keep Germany weak - took reparations from their zones and prevented trade
• Berlin was in the Soviet zone - western Allies allowed access to their sectors by road, rail, air and canal
• Stalin didn’t want the more affluent, western, capitalist way of life on show
• Western Allies wanted to be able to observe Soviet activities

Question 13

Short Term causes of the Berlin Crisis

Answer 13

• Jan 1947 - US and British zones merged - ‘Bizonia’
• March 1948 - French zone added - ‘Trizonia’
• Western Allies proceeded with economic recovery in their zones - new currency and Marshall Aid
• Free elections in western zones
• Stalin - feared that currency and ideas would spread and undermine Soviet control of their zone
• Stalin - feared a strong, united Germany on the Soviet border

Question 14

What was the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 14

• Stalin blockaded all routes by land or rail into West Berlin.
• Effects:
  1) Worsened relations between the USA and the Soviet Union
  2) Led to the setting up of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)