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