Cold War Unit 1 Flashcards
What was the Cold War?
A state of political hostility between countries characterised by threats, propaganda and other measures short of open warfare from 1945 to 1990
Who were the allies during WWII and then after WWII?
During: USA, Britain, France & USSR
After: USA, Britain, Italy, west Germany & France
Who were the axis during WWII and then after WWII?
During: Italy, Germany & Japan
After: USSR & East Germany
Why did alliances change?
Common enemy (Hitler) killed himself
Relations between USA and USSR were long hostile even before beginning of WWII due to capitalism vs communism
What was capitalism based on the idea of?
Democracy and capitalism
What was communism based on the idea of?
Only communism
What are elections and voting like in capitalism?
Democracy - President and congress were voted by the American public
What are elections and voting like in communism?
Elections were held but the public could only vote for communists
Who are properties and businesses owned by in capitalism?
Owned by the individuals
Who are properties and businesses owned by in communism?
Owned by the state
What was the standard of living in capitalist USA?
USA was worlds richest country
There were extremes of wealth and poverty
What was the standard of living in communist USSR?
Employment and extreme poverty was rare
Standard of living was worse than in the USA
What were the views on rights and equality in capitalist USA?
Right and freedoms of the people were more important than being equal
What were the views on rights and equality in communist USSR?
Rights of individuals were less important than society as a whole
What was media like in capitalism?
There was lots of freedom
What was media like in communism?
Every was state controlled and censored including press, radio, film and art
When do historians argue the Cold War began?
1917
Who do historians argue are responsible for the Cold War?
USA and USSR
Who were the leaders that attended the Yalta conference?
Churchill
Roosevelt
Stalin
What was agreed to at the Yalta Conference?
To divide Germany into 4 zones - British, French, USA and USSR
To split Berlin into 4 zones - British, French, USA and USSR
Britain and USSR would join the UN
The prosecution of Nazi war criminals
Let Stalin expand into Poland
What were there disagreements about at Yalta?
Britain and USA were unhappy with the USSRs actions and expansion into Poland - would destroy democracy
Roosevelt and Stalin often had disagreements
When was the Yalta Conference?
February 1945
When was the Potsdam conference?
July 1945
What were the 3 main disagreements that took place in Potsdam?
- Stalin set up a communist government in Poland, against the USAs and Britain’s wishes - his army also occupied Eastern Europe and many fled out of fear
- Truman was now the president of America, he was very anti communism - was more suspicious of Stalin
- Stalin wanted to cripple Germany to protect USSR but Truman disagreed & Stalin wanted $10 billion from Germany but Truman didn’t want to - felt like it would repeat what happened after WWI
Who were the leaders who attended Potsdam?
Attlee
Truman
Stalin
What were the main differences between Yalta and Potsdam & how did this increase tensions?
There was no common enemy Hitler - no one to discuss really
Different leaders - Truman was more anti communism
Stalin was now occupying most of Eastern Europe - posed threat
What year did Roosevelt agree to create the American atom bomb?
1941
What was the name of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima?
Little Boy
How many people were killed instantly when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima?
80,000
What did Japan do in response to the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima?
Japan surrendered
How many days later was the bomb dropped on Nagasaki?
3 days
How many people died due to the bomb in Nagasaki?
40,000
When the bombs were dropped, how did American soldiers react?
They celebrated - danced and drank
What was USA’s justification to dropping the atom bomb?
To bring the war to the end & prevent Japanese invasions
To retaliate for pearl harbour in 1941
To justify the $1.8 billion project to build the bomb
When were the pearl harbour bombings?
1941
When were the bombs dropped on Japan?
August 1945
4 reasons why the USA should have dropped the atom bombs?
- The bombs saved lives of Americans - there was most likely going to be another Japanese invasion which would lead to many deaths
- The Japanese were building their own atom bomb - would’ve dropped it on America
- The Japanese could have surrendered but they didn’t (against their culture) - the war may have never ended
- Sent out a message to the USSR and other countries - showed the USA’s power
4 reasons why the USA should not have dropped the atom bombs?
- Japan was going to surrender - more than 60 of its cities were destroyed
- The bombs were dropped on populated areas with many innocents - would’ve still shown the USA’s power if they dropped it elsewhere
- Dropping the second bomb wasn’t necessary - only 3 days after the first bomb, didn’t give them enough time to recover
- It was morally wrong - against the Geneva convention
What were the atom bombs effects on international relations?
The USA became more aggressive and ‘hungry for power’
The USSR was concerned that America had other atomic bombs that they were going to drop on the USSR
The USSR believed the bomb was dropped to intimidate the USSR - so began creating their own atomic bombs
When did Poland become communist?
1947
How did Poland become communist?
- The communists joined a coalition government
- Them became outright leaders in 1947 by force - forced non communist leaders to exile
When did East Germany become communist?
1949
How did East Germany become communist?
East Germany was given to the USSR by the Allies - so communism rose to power
When did Czechoslovakia become communist?
1948
When did Hungary become communist?
1947
How did Hungary become communist?
- Communism became the largest party in the 1947 election
- They imprisoned opposition politicians and attacked church leaders
When did Yugoslavia become communist?
1945
How did Yugoslavia become communist?
President Tito (communist) elected as the leader
When did Bulgaria become communist?
1945
How did Bulgaria become communist?
Left wing coalition won election in 1945
Communist coalition leaders then executed the others
When did Albania become communist?
1945
How did Albania become communist?
Communism gained popularity after WWII immediate - no opposition
What were the 8 countries in Eastern Europe that became communist after WWII (in chronological order)?
- Albania
- Romania
- Yugoslavia
- Bulgaria
- Hungary
- Poland
- Czechoslovakia
- East Germany
Who made the Iron Curtain speech?
Churchill
Who expanded to Eastern Europe after WWII?
USSR - communism
Why was the iron curtain speech made?
Churchill was afraid, threatened and worried by the Soviet expansion - saw it as a threat
What did Churchill mean by the ‘iron curtain’?
Meant that there was a division between the East and the West - no breaking through it as iron is strong
Could also mean that because a curtain hides things, the USSR are hiding things and being suspicious
Curtains create division - no unity among the west and USSR anymore
What does doctrine mean?
A government policy mainly involving foreign or military affairs
What is containment?
Keeping something harmful under control - believed by America
What is the domino theory?
The theory that one political event or belief will spread to other neighbouring countries
What did the communists want to do to Greece?
Wanted to make it a Soviet republic
What did the monarchists want to do to Greece?
Wanted the return of the Greek king
When did Britain send troops to Greece?
1945
Why did Britain send troops to Greece?
To supposedly help restore order, supervise free elections and support monarchists
When did a civil war break out in Greece?
1946
Who was the civil war in Greece between?
The communists and monarchists
When did the British leave Greece? Why?
1947
They did not have enough resources to control the situation and civil war
Why was Turkey important to Stalin?
If he gained control of Turkey, he could get access to to the Mediterranean Sea for Soviet ships through the Black Sea straits (trading area)
Why was Truman concerned if Turkey became an ally of the USSR?
Stalin may have used Turkey as a stepping stone to spread communism to the Middle East - important to the USA due to its oil reserve
Why would Truman act over events in Turkey and Greece?
Believes in the domino theory - communism would spread even more
When was the Truman doctrine introduced?
March 1947
What did the Truman doctrine state?
America should do everything in its power to assist nations at threat from Communism - providing military support (eg. provided military aid to Greece and Turkey)
The spread of communism must be stopped – Containment
How much money did the USA give to Greece and Turkey? Why?
$400 million - to help improve economy and establish their government
When was the Marshall plan introduced? By who?
June 1947
Introduced by General George Marshall
Why was the Marshall Plan introduced?
Economy of Europe was destroyed by WWII and 1947, the Europeans were reduced to starvation SO…
Introduced so that the USSR didn’t see this lack of money and food as a way to exploit and take control of more countries
What did the Marshall Plan send out?
Fuel, food, raw materials, machinery and money
Who said the famous quote about the Marshall Plan? Who said it? When? Where?
‘It’s a lifeline to sinking men’ - Ernest Bevin
Said at an organised meeting in Paris July 1947
Examples of who the Marshall Plan helped?
UK - sent the most money
Greece & Turkey
France
Netherlands
West Germany
Why didn’t east Germany receive money from the Marshall plan?
It was a communist state
What was the impact of the Marshall Plan on international relations?
Showed the USA were fearful and intimidated by the USSR
USSR thought the USA were trying to build an empire and take control of the world by dollar imperialism
USSR thought it was a distraction for the USA wanting to take control
When was Comecon set up?
1949
What does Comecon stand for/mean?
Council for the Mutual Economic Assistance
What was the aim of Comecon?
To coordinate trade and the industries in Eastern Europe
What did Comecon set up? When?
An international bank for communist and socialist countries in 1964
When was Cominform set up?
1949
What does Cominform stand for/mean?
Communist Information Bureau
What was the aim of the Cominform?
To coordinate the various communist governments in Eastern Europe
What did Cominform do?
Ran meetings
Sent instruction to communist governments on what the USSR wanted them to do
What was the one communist country in Eastern Europe that didn’t follow Comecon and Cominform?
Yugoslavia
What is a blockade?
Prevents access to a certain area with the aim to stop goods from entering or exiting
What is an airlift?
Transporting goods by aircraft
When was Berlin split into 4 zones?
May-August 1945
When did the USA and Britain combine their zones of Berlin economically?
January 1947 - combined their zones economically, they had the same currency
When did the western powers meet in London to discuss Berlin and the merging of zones?
March 1948
What was discussed at the meeting in London about Berlin? What happened as a result?
They wanted to make a separate western state - didn’t discuss with USSR on this or tell them which brought alliance to an end
When did the USSR stop transport and when the Western Allies first used an airlift?
June 1948
What transport did the USSR shut off in the Berlin blockade?
Rail transport
Autobahns
Gas and electricity were also cut
When did the Berlin Blockade end?
May 1949
What was the Berlin Blockade?
When the USSR cut off transport and communication in West Berlin
What did the airlifts done by the western allies carry?
Goods that were necessary for living
How did the Berlin Blockade and Airlift increase tensions between the East and the West?
Stalin was intimated and felt threatened by the USA and Britain combining their two zones
Became economic, military and political rival - not allies anymore
A blockade wasn’t enough to defeat the West - other methods may have to be used
USA and Britain doing an airlift shows that they were not willing to co operate or negotiate with the USSR
How long was Germany divided?
41 years
When was iron curtain speech?
1946
