Cold War: Introduction

Question 1

Definition of the CW

Answer 1

A hostile, ideological confrontation between the USA and USSR. Characterised by competition between the two superpowers to spread their ideologies of democracy and capitalism (headed by the USA) and totalitarianism and communism (headed by the USSR). The two superpowers never engaged in direct warfare but rather participated in a number of proxy wars around the world to prevent the other power from expanding their sphere of influence over the world.

Question 2

Atlantic Charter

Answer 2

Took place in 1941.
Discussed the state of Europe and said that no border changes would happen
Formation of the UN mentioned

Question 3

Tehran Conference

Answer 3

1943
Talks about opening second front in Europe and the UNO is agreed upon.
Small border change between Poland and USSR
4 Policeman of the world would dictate power

Question 4

Bretton Woods

Answer 4

July 1944
Creation of IMF and WB to help sustain economies of post-war Europe to prevent another situation that led to the rise of Hitler

Question 5

Yalta Conference

Answer 5

4-11 Feb 1945
The UN would be in New York
USSR would help the USA in the Pacific 
Stalin promised free elections in Europe
Germany would be divided into 4 zones and pay reparations

USSR gained some Polish territory.
New Polish government formation was a point of contention (Lublin vs London)

Question 6

Post Yalta

Answer 6

USSR had troops in Eastern and Central Europe. Stalin wanted a buffer zone to protect from any more invasion from the west.

Attlee replaced Churchill in July 1945

FDR died in April 1945 and was replaced by H. Truman

Question 7

Potsdam Conference

Answer 7

17 July - 2 August 1945
Mistrust begins to build, changed made between Yalta and now disagreed upon
Truman didn’t mention the bomb
Little progress made

Berlin would be managed by ACC
Reparations agreed upon

Little evidence supporting Stalin’s claim to free elections
Red Army still controlled much of Poland and was setting up communist government
Disagreement on reparations. Stalin wanted to cripple while Truman wanted to support Germany

Question 8

East-West Relations

Answer 8

USA:
Wary of communism in the East
Believed that USSR wanted world revolution of the proletariat
Stalin’s tyranny was concerning

USSR:
Believed they weren’t being treated fairly
Believed the USA tried to let the Nazi’s destroy the USSR
Stalin blamed the deaths of millions on the late intervention of the USA

Question 9

Truman as a leader

Answer 9

Becomes wary of communism in the East and of Stalin’s motives.
Saw the USSR’s actions as aggressive expansionism and didn’t agree with Stalin’s statements at Yalta

Question 10

Stalin as a leader

Answer 10

USSR suffered great loss in WW2
20 million dead
70000 villages and 1710 towns gone
Agriculture dropped immensely
Stalin wanted a buffer zone, hence control of Eastern Europe

Question 11

Churchill

Answer 11

Hated Stalin
Iron Curtain speech - 1946
Warned of aggressive Soviet expansionism in Eastern Europe
Helped Truman convince Congress to find the POC

Question 12

Shift in US foreign policy

Answer 12

USA could not uphold policy of isolationism, now had to shift to a policy of containment

Influenced by Long Telegram and Iron Curtain speech,

Telegram came from George Kennan, US diplomat in Moscow who mentioned that the only way to stop communist expansion was to contain it.

Question 13

Meditteranean Crisis

Answer 13

1944 - British troops in Greece
Civil war between Communists and Monarchists
Commies got weapons from Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania. Took control of the North
British troops deployed to contain revolution

Turkey
Wanted control over Dardanelles for shipping access + control over oil drilling in Iran.
Waterway from Black Sea to Meditterranean
USA wary of actions

Question 14

Truman Doctrine

Answer 14

American foreign policy on March 12 1947

Issues of contention:
Soviet imperialism
USSR’s late withdrawal from Iran
Breakdown of Allied relations during cooperation in Germany
Soviets in Greece and Turkey
Tensions were escalating between USA and USSR

Shifted from policy of isolationism to policy of containment

Question 15

Policy of Containment

Answer 15

USA begins to support Britain in 1944 Greek Crisis with funds.

Truman makes speech to Congress warning about the dangers of the spread of communism

Contain the spread of communism.

June 1947 - Marshall Plan became economic policy of Truman Doctrine to fund crippled economies of post-war Europe