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COLD WAR Flashcards

1
Q

What is Capitalism?

A

-an ideology where everyone is free to own property and businesses to make money

-By 1941, the main capitalist countries were the USA and Britain

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2
Q

What is Communism?

A
  • an ideology where all property is owned by the state to ensure that everyone has a fair share

-By 1941, the main communist country was the Soviet Union

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3
Q

What was Capitalist America in 1941 like?

A
  • President: Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • joined WW2 against Germany and Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbour in Dec 1941

-Roosevelt was tolerant of Stalin and the Soviet Union

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4
Q

What was Communist Russia in 1941 like?

A

-Leader: Joseph Stalin

-joined WW2 after four million German soldiers invaded in 1941, in violation of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

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5
Q

What was the Grand Alliance in WW2 and why was it formed?

A

-formed between the USA, the Soviet Union and Britain to defeat the Axis powers of Germany and Japan during WW2

-still suspicious of each other (Britain and the USA were especially concerned about communism and the Soviet Union becoming stronger)

WHY?

-‘marriage of convenience’ : only allies in order to defeat the Axis powers

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6
Q

Who were USA’s and UK’s leaders and who were they replaced by 1945?

A

USA : Franklin D. ROOSEVELT - (1945) Harry S. TRUMAN

UK : Winston Churchill - (1945) Clement Attlee

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7
Q

When and where was the Tehran conference?

A

The Grand Alliance first met at Tehran - a city in Iran - in November 1943

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8
Q

What were the aims of each the ‘Big Three’ members at Tehran conference?

A

OVERALL - Plan winning strategy to win WW2

USA - S-U to help in war against Japan

UK - Open a “Second front” from the Balkans

S-U - Keep land from Poland / open “Second front” against Germany from the west

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9
Q

What were the list of the agreements made by the Grand Alliance at the Tehran Conference? (Where was the main area of disagreement?)

A
  1. Open “Second front” by attacking Nazi-occupied France.
  2. S-U would help USA fight Japan after Germany been defeated
  3. Poland gain land from Germany but lose land to S-U
  4. International Body set up after war to ensure future peace
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10
Q

What was Tehran’s Impact on the USA and Russia’s Relationship?

A

POSITIVE IMPACT:

-Stalin had been concerned about the Soviet Union fighting Germany alone in the East and was pleased that a second front beginning in northern France had been agreed

-Roosevelt had supported Stalin in attacking Germany from the West and not from the Balkans as Churchill had wanted

-Stalin had agreed to support the USA in its war against Japan

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11
Q

Where and when was the Yalta Conference?

A

The Grand Alliance met two years later at Yalta - a city in the Soviet Union - February 1945 (final few months of the Second World War)

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12
Q

What were the aims of each the ‘Big Three’ members at Yalta conference?

A

OVERALL : Winning WW2 and governing post-war europe

USA - S-U to confirm it’s support against Japan and jo9in United Nations (UN)

UK - Free elections to be held in Central and Eastern Europe

S-U - Keep the territory it had gained between the S-U and Germany

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13
Q

What were the list of the agreements made by the Grand Alliance at the Yalta Conference? (And main area of disagreement)

A
  1. Germany split into 4 zones and pay $20 Billion in reparations
  2. S-U agreed to fight Japan
  3. S-U agreed to free elections in Eastern europe
  4. S-U gain land from Poland and free elections to decide on it’s government (Main area of disagreement)
  5. UN established BUT not all 16 members of S-U would be given individual membership
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14
Q

What was Yalta’s Impact on America and Russia’s Relationship?

A

POSITIVE IMPACT:

-S-U declared war against Japan in August 1945
-S-U would be awarded half of the $20 billion reparations
-Roosevelt was pleased that the three main states of the USSR - Russia, Ukraine and Belarus - had agreed to join U-N
-Roosevelt was pleased free elections been agreed Eastern Europe

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15
Q

Where and when was the Potsdam Conference?

A

The Grand Alliance met only a few months later at Potsdam - a city in Germany - JULY - AUGUST 1945 (during the end of the Second World War)

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16
Q

What were the aims of each the ‘Big Three’ members at Potsdam conference?

A

OVERALL: Finalise agreements on POST - WAR Europe

USA - Ensure peace in Europe and prevent spread of Communism

UK - Free election in central and eastern europe after war

S-U - Ensure they remained powerful in Eastern Europe

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17
Q

What were the list of the agreements made by the Grand Alliance at the Potsdam Conference

A
  1. Germany split into 4 zones controlled by USA UK S-U & FRANCE
  2. Berlin also divided into 4 zones
  3. S-U receive 25% of industrial equipment from the other 3 zones in Germany
  4. NAZI party banned and war criminals to be prosecuted
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18
Q

What was Potsdam’s Impact on America and the Soviet Union’s Relationship?

A

NEGATIVE IMPACT:

-Truman had mentioned to Stalin that the USA had successfully tested the atomic bomb through the Trinity test, which increased tensions between both countries

-Stalin wanted harsher reparations against Germany, while Truman wanted to protect the German economy

-Truman was concerned with the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe and the spread of communism

-Stalin wanted to keep his Red Army in Eastern Europe as protection against future threats

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19
Q

Why did the USA Drop an Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima & Nagasaki?

A

-The success of the Trinity test in July 1945

-USA dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945:
1ST - Hiroshima - 6TH August
2ND - Nagasaki - 9TH August

120,000 Japanese civilians were killed by both bombs

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20
Q

Why did the USA use atomic bombs?

A

OFFICIAL REASON :

-Reduce deaths of US troops from being killed even more BY INVASION
-Force surrender
-Boost morale

UNOFFICAL REASON:

-Demonstrate power to S-U how technologically advanced and powerful USA was

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21
Q

What was Stalin’s Reaction to the Atomic Bomb?

A

-Informed of success of Manhattan Project in Potsdam Conference July 1945

-Stalin became more determined to protect the security of the S-U

-Create buffer zone between Germany & S-U full of communist countries to protect from potential west invasions

-accelerated the Soviet Union’s own atomic bomb project : successful test - 29 August 1949

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22
Q

How did the atomic bombs increase tension between both sides?

A
  1. Both sides wanted to be the leading “SUPERPOWER”
  2. USA: DETER European countries from being communist / Spread communism to protect S-U
  3. USA: Prevent wars happening again / Create bombs to be used in the event of a war
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23
Q

What was Kennan’s Long Telegram?

A

-USA’s ambassador in Moscow (George Kennan)

-Written in February 1946 sent telegram that contained 8,000 words (nicknamed long telegram)

  • contained Kennan’s assessment of Soviet attitudes towards the USA:
    1. Stalin saw capitalism as a threat
    2. Soviet Union and the spread of communism could be ‘contained
    3. Peace would not be possible between the Soviet Union and the USA
24
Q

What was Novikov Telegram?

A
  • Nikolai Novikov was the Soviet ambassador in Washington
  • September 1946 / S-U were aware of the Long Telegram and wanted to make a similar report on the USA
  • contained Novikov’s assessment of American attitudes towards the S-U:
    1. USA wanted to achieve world domination
    2. Following Roosevelt’s death, the USA no longer wanted to cooperate with S-U
    3. American people would support a war against the Soviet Union
25
Why did the Telegrams Increase Tension?
-relationship between the USA and the Soviet Union had broken down following both the defeat of Germany and the demonstration of the atomic bomb on Japan -Both sides believed the other to be untrustworthy and planning their destruction - fears were confirmed in both telegrams -telegrams led to both sides adopting policies toward the other: CONTAIN COMMUNISM / SPREAD COMMUNISM
26
What was Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ Speech?
- Churchill was no longer the British Prime Minister but very influential - concerned at how Hungary, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria had become communist - March 1946, Churchill delivered a speech about the Soviet Union being a threat to freedom and peace
27
Quote of Iron curtain speech.
"from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent"
28
Why did Stalin Want Control of Eastern Europe?
- Soviet Red Army had liberated many countries in Eastern Europe from Nazi control at the end of WW2 - wanted to keep control of these countries to act as a ‘buffer zone’ between the East and West -Truman’s concern about the spread of communism was confirmed as each country fell under Soviet control -Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech was in response to the creation of satellite states
29
What was USA’s Reaction to the Satellite States?
-Truman saw the creation of satellite states as a deliberate attempt to spread communism -Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in 1946 worsened relations between East and West, especially between the USA and the Soviet Union - satellite states challenged Truman’s policy of containment, prompting him to establish the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
30
Why did the US Help Greece and Turkey?
-Greece and Turkey were both struggling to prevent a communist takeover -UK announced it could not longer provide military support to the Greek government - 12th March 1947, Truman announced that the USA would send $400 million to both Greece and Turkey -1949, the communists in Greece had been defeated
31
What was the Truman Doctrine?
MARCH 12TH 1947 Truman also spoke about how nations have two alternative ways of life: -The FIRST WAY: 1. Free intuitions 2. Free elections 3. Freedom of speech 4. Freedom of religion -The SECOND WAY: 1. Terror and oppression 2. Fixed elections 3. Controlled media 4. Suppression of freedoms
32
What diD the Truman Doctrine mark down?
marked a new approach of the USA foreign policy 1. Before WW2 USA had followed isolationism (Not getting involved in the affairs of other countries) 2. With the spread of communism in Europe, isolationism was replaced by the policy of containment
33
What was the Marshall Plan? STORY TIME!!!
1. hoped that countries would choose the ‘first way’ of his doctrine and reject communism 2. , after the destruction of the Second World War, many people saw communism as a way TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES 3. USA would need to help poorer countries to prevent them from becoming communist 4. General George Marshall told Truman that ‘every’ country in Europe was at risk of turning to communism because of how poor they were 5. USA provide these countries with economic aid / US congress passed the Marshall Plan after Czechoslovakia became communist in 1948 $13 BILLION TO 16 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
34
Why did the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan Increase Cold War Tensions?
-threat to communism and the Soviet Union -undermining the role of The United Nations, which should be the group providing money to other countries - ‘dollar imperialism’ because of how the USA was trying to expand its ‘empire’ using money -The Marshall Plan had divided the West from the East: Satellite states were in support of the Soviet Union Recipients of the Marshall Plan supported the USA
35
What was Cominform?
-22nd September 1947 in response to the Marshall Plan -allowed Stalin to direct and control the governments of the satellite states as well as the communist parties of other countries in Europe -Yugoslavia was removed from Cominform in 1948 after growing tensions with the S-U
36
What was Cominform aims?
-Keep political control of Europe -Encouraged members to block marshall aid -Discouraged contact with non-communists
37
What was Comecon?
-clear these states needed financial aid to ensure they remained communist - 25th January 1949 in response to the Marshall Plan - allowed Stalin to provide an alternative to the Marshall Plan and improve the economies of the satellite states (Bulgaria’s trade with other Comecon members increased from 10% in 1931 to 90% by 1951)
38
What was comecon aims?
-keep economic control of europe -built up links between members -discourage trades with the West
39
What was USA’s Response to Cominform and Comecon?
increased the tension -1949, a new military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was created by the USA, partly in response to Cominform and Comecon
40
Why was NATO Formed in 1949?
April 1949 Berlin Crisis in 1948/ communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
41
What did NATO Promise?
- based on collective security AIMS: 1. Protect from attacks from S-U 2. Agreed to assist member if attacked 3. Strengthen relationship
42
What was The Impact of NATO?
increased tensions August 1949, the S-U successfully tested their first atomic bomb In 1955, the S-U created its own military alliance, known as the Warsaw Pact
43
What caused the Berlin crisis?
1.) The Division of Berlin : A joint organisation called the Allied Control Commission (ACC) was in charge of the running of Germany - tensions between the West and East led to disagreements between the four zones on how to best treat Germany : DISAGREEMENTS: -WEST : Improve the Economy and encourage capitalism A strong Germany could halt the spread of communism -EAST: Use Germany resources to rebuild to S-U a Poor Germany would likely to be communist 2.) Bizonia, 1947 and Trizonia, 1948 In 1947, the USA and Britain merged their zones to create ‘Bizonia’
44
Soviet Reaction to the Creation of the Deutschmark
June 1948, the three Western countries created a new currency for Trizonia known as the Deutschmark infuriated Stalin and further increased tensions block Trizonia’s access to their zone in Berlin ( Berlin Blockade)
45
Why did the Soviet Union decide to blockade Berlin?
-Reliance of food ( Est grew most of West food) -Transport access (Allies had to travel through soviet germany to access west berlin -Presence of red army (1.4 M solidiers in Germany ready to fight)
46
How did the Soviet Union Blockade Berlin?
Members of Trizonia had to use the two agreed land routes and two air routes to access their western zone in Berlin June 1948, the Soviet Union closed road, rail and canal links across Soviet-controlled Germany West Berlin only had enough food for 36 days Stalin hoped that the Western powers would give up their control of West Berlin, which would allow the Soviet Union to control the whole capital
47
How did the West React to the Blockade? JUNE 1948
They had three options to respond to the blockade: 1.) WITHDRAW FROM BERLIN = Prevent war with S-U / Lose control of capital and policy of containment had failed 2.) SUPPLY BERLIN BY LAND = Could provide west berlin with supplies / make west the aggressors / lead to war 3.) SUPPLY BERLIN BY AIR = COULD PRVIDE SUPPLIES NOT BY ENETERING LAND AND IF S-U SHOT PLANE DOWN THEY WOULD BE AGGRRESSORS / Lead to war if S-U did shoot planes down
48
What was the Berlin Airlift?
The West decided to fly supplies into Berlin June 1948 to May 1949, the West flew supplies into West Berlin in what was known as Operation Vittles (the codename) or the Berlin Airlift
49
What happened during the Berlin Airlift?
Supplies : 1,000 a day , January 1949 170000 tons sent off AIRPORTS: Berlin Tempelhof (plane landed every 45 seconds at the height if the berlin airlift) Casualties: 78 people died
50
What was soviets reaction to the berlin airlift?
Offer to move to east berlin was refused by most west Berliners Allies refused stalin request to remove berlin blockade of deutschmark was moved from the west berlin
51
The Impact of the Berlin Crisis
The longer the airlift went on, the more humiliating it became for the Soviet Union 9 May 1949, the Soviet Union lifted the Berlin Blockade Western Allies continued to fly in supplies until 30 September 1949 so that West Berlin would be supplied in the event of a future blockade CAUSED NATO (APRIL 1949) / FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (MAY 1949) CREATED WARSAW PACT (APRIL 1955) / CREATED GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (OCTOBER 1949)
52
West Germany - The FRG
May 1949 members of Trizonia created the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in West Germany capital city of Bonn West Berlin continued to be controlled by and owned by the FRG
53
East Germany - The GDR
Stalin responded to the creation of the FRG by formally creating a new state in East Germany known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR) East Berlin remained the capital Only the East recognised the GDR as a nation East Germany and West Germany did not recognise each other as official states until 1972 Cold War tensions increased following the creation of both the FRG and GDR
54
Why was the Warsaw Pact Formed in 1955?
The Warsaw Pact was created in May 1955 in response to the German Federal Republic (West Germany) joining NATO
55
What did the Warsaw Pact Promise?
military alliance based on 'Collective Security' provide an equivalent military alliance to NATO
56
The Impact of the Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact confirmed the separation of Europe into two groups: WEST - NATO EAST - WARSAW PACT August 1949, the Soviet Union had achieved EQUIVALENCE with the USA in regards to atomic weapons

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