Cold War: Development Of The Cold War Flashcards
What was the development of the Truman Doctrine
Between 1945 and 1949 the USA sought to contain the spread of communism, first in Europe but later around the globe. The USA believed that the USSR was determined to expand and that the USA should use any means possible to stop that expansion.
What were the consequences of Truman Doctrine
- Greece was the first country to benefit from this policy. During WW2 the Greek resistance to the German occupation had been divided into supporters of the monarchy and the communists.
- At the end of the war British troops had helped to restore the monarchy but were now under attack from the communists. By 1947, Britain could no longer afford to continue to keep troops in Greece and so they asked for help from the USA.
- The USA provided money to keep the British troops in Greece with $400 MILLION IN ECONOMIC AID.
What was the Truman Doctrine?
- In 1947 President Henry Truman outlined the USA’s response in what became known as the Truman Doctrine.
- This policy was designed to stop the spread of communism - it was called containment
- Policy was driven by a belief in the ‘Domino Theory’ – the USA should prevent one country from falling to communism to stop others from following suit.
- It was believed that it was America’s duty to protect democracies from the threat of communism. It would do this by providing money, aid, advisors or even weapons to any country threatened by communism.
- USA showed this policy in action when it installed ballistic missiles in Turkey - the USSR had no such missiles and therefore saw this action as hostile.
What is Dollar Imperialism?
This is the capitalistic idea that the US spreads it’s power around the world by using money. This idea was also designed to deter more european countries from becoming satellites and becoming more capitalist instead of having a negative communist ideology.
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Quote President Truman says in the Truman Doctrine:
“I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free
peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”
What was the marshall plan?
- The Marshall Plan is another example of the Truman Doctrine in action
- Europe’s economy had been shattered by WW2. Europe had to tackle the devastation caused by the war, the impact of the bombing, the loss of lives, the destruction of industry, refugees and a mountain of debt. Europe owed the USA $11.5 billion.
- US Secretary of State George Marshall believed that countries suffering from poverty and unemployment were more likely to turn to communism.
- The aim of the Marshall Plan was therefore to rebuild the shattered European economy so that it could contain the spread of communism. A fund of $15 billion was made available to any nation who applied for it.
What were the Aims of the marshall plan?
The Marshall Plan aimed to:
- Raise living standards in Western Europe to reduce the appeal of communism.
- To rebuild Germany
- To weaken Soviet control over Eastern Europe
- To help the US economy by increasing US exports to Europe. They did not want a repeat of the 1920s.
The US government was initially insure about providing so much money to Europe, however, events in Czechoslovakia soon changed their minds.
What was Stalin’s Reaction to the marshall plan?
Stalin called the Marshall Plan ‘dollar imperialism’ and claimed the USA
was trying to control industry and trade in Europe. He believed that it
sought to undermine communism and to promote the spread of capitalism across the globe. He refused to accept any economic aid and stopped any Eastern bloc country applying for it.
How did Stalin react to the actions of the West?
- Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949)
- To try to prevent any eastern European countries applying for Marshall Aid, Stalin offered help and support to eastern Europe by setting up two organisations, Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949).
What was cominform? (19??)
Cominform - 1947 (Communist Information Bureau) was an alliance of European communist parties to help them plan and to work together and spread Stalin’s ideas. It increased the control Stalin had over these countries, and limited their independence. Only Marshal Tito, the communist leader of Yugoslavia, would not accept Stalin’s total leadership and split with Moscow.
What was comecon? (19??)
Comecon - 1949 (Council for Mutual Economic Aid) was set up to coordinate the production and trade of the eastern European communist countries. They were expected to trade with each other and not the West. However, it favoured the USSR more than any of its other members.
What was The Berlin Crisis: 1948-49?
Germany, and Berlin, had been divided in 1945 into zones of occupation. This was a source of tension which peaked during the Berlin Crisis of 1948-49.
What were the Causes of the Berlin Crisis/Berlin Blockade?
- Britain, France and the USA had merged their zones of West Germany into one in March 1948 - Trizonia
- Britain, France and the USA had then introduced a new currency called the ‘Deutsch mark’ to western Germany, which was intended to help it become economically stronger.
- There was a crisis as capitalism was drawing many people away from the communist east towards greater opportunities and freedoms in the west.
How did Stalin respond to the events occuring in Germany? What was the result?
- Stalin felt threatened by Germany’s growing strength
- Stalin was angry that the west had not consulted him before making changes in their zones of Germany
- Stalin wanted the ‘cancer’ of west Berlin to be removed from East Germany.
What happened in the Berlin Blockade?
- In June 1948 Stalin cut off all road, rail and canal links to West Berlin – the Berlin Blockade. The city only had 6 weeks supplies of food and fuel. Stalin aimed to starve the 2 million inhabitants in West Berlin into submission. He believed that Truman would either have to give up West Berlin or go to war.
- But the West responded with a massive airlift - food, fuel and supplies were flown into Berlin for 10 months. Stalin dared no shoot down any planes – it would be an act of war. Stalin called off the Blockade in May 1949.
