Cold war effects of events Origins Flashcards
Importance of ideological differences
USA believed USSR wanted to make the world communist so was suspicious of anything USSR did
USSR believed USA wanted to destroy communism and spread capitalism so it was suspicious of anything USA did
End of WW2 USSR took control of countries in Eastern Europe - west believed Stalin wanted world communism and they needed to stop the spread of communism
USSR said it was because they wanted more security
Had been invaded twice by Germany Stalin wanted a buffer zone of friendly states
Importance of Yalta Feb 1945
Revealed tensions over Germany and Europe
Stalin wanted to secure soviet union from invasion
West feared USSR wanted to dominate Europe and spread communism
West feared USSR wanted to control govt. in poland
Importance of Potsdam July-August 1945
Revealed differences over Germany + Europe - Stalin wanted Germany weak with reparations, west wanted to rebuild Germany
Truman wanted free elections in E.Europe but Stalin refused
Convinced Truman that Stalin wanted to take over whole of Europe
he was going to ‘get tough’ with Stalin
Lack of trust
USA tested atomic bomb behind Stalins back
Importance of Iron Curtain (soviet expansion)
Led to US policy of containment (Truman Doctrine)
Soviet takeover of E.Europe was seen by the west as the beginning of spread of communism
Importance of Truman doctrine
Showed US was willing to use force to stop spread of communism
Led to Marshall Plan
Stalin formed Cominform to tighten his control of E.Europe
Turning point in US foreign policy by committing US to policy of containment
Stalin became sus of US as he saw this as a declaration of war against communism
Importance of Marshall Plan 1947
Increased tension as Stalin accused USA of using plan for own selfish interests
Stalin believed USA wanted to dominate Europe, promote capitalism he called the Plan dollar imperialism
Strengthened the division in Europe - Stalin prevented countries like Czechoslovakia from getting involved
Led to Comecon
Contributed to Berlin crisis when West Berlin received aid
Importance of Comecon and Cominform
USA saw them as serious threats as they strengthened USSR control over communism
Suggest USSR wanted to spread communism
Strengthened the division in Europe between those in Cominform and those that were free
Importance of Berlin Blockade and Airlift 1948-49
Massively increased tension as it showed how divided aims were over Germany
Made Stalin more determined to get an Atomic bomb - he didn’t shoot down planes over Berlin as he couldnt risk war due to USA having Atomic bomb
Led to official division of Germany ( GDR and FGR )
Led to creation of NATO in 1949
