Cold war Flashcards
Describe communism.
When the government owns everything and takes all of the income from industries. Usually everybody is paid the same. USSR (Russia)
Describe capitalism.
When most industries are owned privately and not connected to the government. People are paid different to each other, depending on ability and experience. USA
Who was in the Grand Alliance during WWII and what caused it to form?
Russia, USA and Great Britain. The threat of Germany during WWII joined them together.
What was the relationship like between the United States and the Soviet Union before WWII?
Poor.
Why was the relationship between the United states and the soviet union poor before WWII?
Because of the ideological differences (capitalism and communism).
Who led Britain, United States and the Soviet Union during the majority of WWII?
Britain: Winston Churchill, United States: Franklin Roosevelt, Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin.
After WWII it was viewed that there would be a ‘New World Order’ with two new Superpowers. Who were they?
The USA and the Soviet Union.
Despite the shared same enemy (Germany), why was it seen that that these two new Superpowers would become each other’s own enemies after WWII?
Due to the opposing ideologies (capitalism/communism) and the control of Europe post WWII.
The Grand Alliance met during WWII in 1943 at the Tehran Conference. What was the main decision decided here?
The USA and Great Britain would open up a second front and attack Germany from the West (D-Day).
What else (apart from the main decision) was decided at the Tehran Conference?
A) Stalin would declare was on Japan once the war in Europe was over
B) the USSR would keep land taken from Poland, but be given land from Germany
C) Germany would remain weak after WWII.
D) a form of international body would be created after the war to prevent another one.
At the end of the Tehran Conference what were the relations between the two Superpowers (USA/USSR) like?
Good.
At the end of the Tehran Conference why were the relations between the two Superpowers (USA/USSR) good?
Stalin and Roosevelt agreed on where the second front should be opened (France) and Roosevelt saw Britain and its colonialism as more of a potential threat to world peace (at this time) rather than the USSR.
The second major conference was at Yalta in February 1945. Who were the leaders at Yalta?
Britain: Winston Churchill
United States: Franklin Roosevelt
Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin
What was decided at the Yalta Conference in February 1945 in relation to Germany?
Germany and Berlin would be divided into four - Britain, France, the USA and the USSR would control one sector each. Also, Germany would pay $20,000,000 in reparations (the USSR would receive half).
Why was there some disagreement at the Yalta Conference in February 1945 in relation to Germany?
Stalin received the Eastern part of Germany, which was the poorest.
What did the three leaders agree about the governments of Eastern Europe at Yalta?
There would be free elections.
Who did Stalin agree to declare war on at the Yalta Conference in February 1945?
Japan.
What was decided about Poland at the Yalta Conference in February 1945?
Poland’s borders would return to how they were in 1921 and would have free elections.
Why was there some disagreement over Poland at the Yalta Conference in February 1945?
Stalin wanted the free elections to result in communism, whereas Britain and the USA wanted a capitalist government.
Overall, what were the relations between the Superpowers (USA and USSR) at Yalta like?
Reasonably good.
What were the long-term consequences of Yalta?
The relations ultimately worsened between the Superpowers as Stalin realised the true effect of having the poorest area of Germany to administer. Also, the failure to agree on what should become of Poland meant that both sides tried to influence the election outcome, resulted in tension.
The third conference in July 1945 was at Potsdam. Who were the leaders here?
Britain: Clement Atlee
United States: Harry Truman
Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin.
Apart from the change in leaders, what else had happened since Yalta but before Potsdam?
The USA had developed (but not used yet) the first atomic bomb.
What effect did the fact that the USA had an atomic bomb have on the discussions at Potsdam?
More difficult as Stalin was angry at his lack of involvement in the development of the bomb and Truman using his possession of it to attempt to control the discussions.
Apart from the USA’s new atomic bomb, why else were the discussions not as easy as they were at Yalta?
The common enemy, Germany, has now been defeated.
Truman and Stalin also disagree over Poland at Potsdam. Why?
Truman objected to the land arrangements for Poland and he did not want the communist influence on their government that Stalin was now imposing.
What did all these disagreements at the Potsdam conference result in relation the Superpowers (USA/USSR)?
Increased tension between the Superpowers.
Were all the discussions at Potsdam sour?
No.
What did the countries manage to agree on at the Potsdam conference?
Confirmed that Germany and Berlin was to be divided, Germany to pay some reparations to USSR, Soviet Union to join against Japan.
What were the long-term consequences of Potsdam?
The Eastern-European countries were to remain under Stalin’s control and communist. Britain and the USA could not do anything because the war against Japan still raged on. This resulted in long-term disagreement and tension within the Cold War.
What did the Soviet Union want out of the conferences?
To create a sphere of influence in Eastern-Europe to create a buffer zone against Germany. Cripple Germany.
What did the United States want out of the conferences?
Strong Germany to trade. Free elections in the East to choose what type of government they want.
What was the Manhattan Project?
The American and British project developing the first Atomic bomb.
Who were the atomic bombs used against?
Japan at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
How did Stalin react to the use of the atomic bombs as a consequence?
He was furious.
Why was Stalin furious at the use of the atomic bombs?
because the USA did not tell Stalin that they were building a nuclear weapon and he felt betrayed. Stalin also. felt that the Americans may use the nuclear weapons to force him to withdraw from eastern Europe.
Truman thought he could use his possession of atomic/nuclear weapons prevent Stalin from controlling Eastern Europe. Did this work?
No.
What was the consequence of Truman thinking he could use his possession of atomic/nuclear weapons prevent Stalin from controlling Eastern Europe?
Stalin wanted to create an even more secure buffer zone in Eastern Europe by creating communist satellite states.
As another consequence of the Americans using atomic weapons, what did the USSR build in 1949?
Their own nuclear bomb.
What did the USSR building their own nuclear bomb start?
The nuclear arms race.
Overall, what impact did the American use of the atomic bombs have on the Superpower relations?
It created much more tension and essentially began the Cold War.
Who was George Kennan?
The American ambassador in Moscow.
Kennan sent back to the United States what became known as the ‘Long Telegram’. What was this?
A 8000 word telegram outlining Kennan’s view that Stalin wanted to see the destruction of capitalism and that Stalin viewed that world outside the USSR was hostile and wanted to destroy its communism.
What did the Long Telegram help create?
Truman’s ‘Truman Doctrine’ of containing communism.
Who was Nikolai Novikov?
The Soviet diplomat to Washington.
Novikov sent back to Moscow the ‘Novikov Telegram’. What was this?
A telegram that stated that Novikov thought that the USA wanted to use its massive military to dominate the world. It also stated that America’s new President, Harry Truman, was much more hostile to the USSR than his predecessor, Roosevelt.
What consequence did these telegrams have on the relations between the Superpowers?
They individually created division and tension between the Superpowers.
What were the ‘satellite states’ in Eastern Europe?
The Eastern European states to the west of the Soviet Union that became Communist, due to Stalin’s direction. They became under the USSR’s sphere of influence.
Why did Stalin want to create ‘sphere of influence’ in Eastern Europe?
He wanted a ‘buffer zone’ of protection against the West and he wanted to spread communism.
What did Winston Churchill describe the Soviet takeover of Eastern-Europe as?
The Iron Curtain.
What effect did Churchill’s speech have on the relations between the Superpowers?
It made it worse. The tension and division was now in public and out in the open, whereas before it was all behind ‘closed doors’.
Outline the steps of the Soviet takeover of these satellite states in Eastern Europe (LEARN ALL)?
- The Baltic States
- The ‘Warsaw Uprising’
1944-5. The Soviet Union takes control of Bulgaria, Romania, eastern-Germany - Soviet controlled Hungary votes for a communist government 1948. The Soviet Union sets up a communist government in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia was not controlled by Soviet troops.
What impact did the Soviet takeover have on USSR/USA relations?
Made the relationship much worse as it made the USSR look aggressive and forcing communism in other countries. This appeared to align with what Kennan said in his Long Telegram.
