Cold war unit 1

Question 1

When was the Tehran conference

Answer 1

November 1943

Question 2

Who were the key people who attended the Tehran conference

Answer 2

Roosevelt (USA) Churchill (UK) Stalin (USSR)

Question 3

What was the aim of the Tehran conference

Answer 3

To end WW2 and defeat Hitler

Question 4

What was decided during the Tehran conference

Answer 4

UK and USA to start a second front to relieve pressure on the USSR. USSR to then support the USA in defeating Japan

Question 5

consequences of the Tehran conference

Answer 5

Reduced tensions: USSR happy that UK and USA helped draw the German troops away. Great teamwork of the grand alliance

Question 6

When was the Yalta conference

Answer 6

February 1945

Question 7

Who attended the Yalta conference

Answer 7

Roosevelt (USA) Churchill (UK) Stalin (USSR)

Question 8

What were the aims of the Yalta conference

Answer 8

Discuss how to organise Europe after WW2 and plan a new world order

Question 9

What was decided at the Yalta conference

Answer 9

Division of Germany: The leaders agree to divide Germany into four zones of occupation
Creation of the UN: Plans were made for the establishment of the UN to maintain peace and resolve international conflicts

Question 10

Consequences of the Yalta conference

Answer 10

Disagreements over Poland: Tensions emerged over the issue of Poland’s government and future elections which would lead to future conflicts
Formation of the UN: only 3/16 satellite states were allowed into the UN due to not wanting too much communist influence which angered Stalin

Question 11

When was the Potsdam conference

Answer 11

July-August 1945

Question 12

Key people at the Potsdam conference

Answer 12

Truman(USA) Atlee (UK) Stalin (USSR)

Question 13

Aim of the Potsdam conference

Answer 13

Grand alliance discuss the final arrangements for post-war Europe

Question 14

What was decided during the Potsdam conference

Answer 14

Germany’s division: Germany’s division into four zones of occupancy were confirmed
Atomic bomb news: Stalin learn of the USA’s successful testing of the atomic bomb, this caused great tension between the two superpowers

Question 15

Consequences of the Potsdam conference

Answer 15

The atomic bombs impact: start of huge distrust between the two superpowers (Kennan and Novikov telegram) and triggers the start of the arms race
Disagreements over Poland: Truman refuses for any land to be given to USSR and insists that free elections should be held

Question 16

Why did the USSR create buffer zones

Answer 16

• In 1944 and 1945, the Soviet Red army freed many countries in Eastern Europe from the Nazis. Stalin was reluctant to give up control of these countries.
  -This is because they were a useful buffer zone (an area of protection) between the Soviet Union and Germany.
  -Stalin made these countries into satellite states: communist countries that were under heavy influence of the Soviet Union.

Question 17

How did Czechoslovakia become a satellite state

Answer 17

• After the war they tried restore democracy.
  -Stalin saw this as a threat to his buffer-zone.
• In 1948 all non-communists were removed from power and a pro-soviet communist government was put into place.

Question 18

How did Hungary become a satellite states

Answer 18

• Elections in 1945 didn’t have enough communist votes to form a government.
  -In 1947 election voters were intimidated by Moscow and a communist party was elected.
  -By 1949 Hungary was a one-party communist state.

Question 19

How did Bulgaria and Romania become a satellite state

Answer 19

-1944 and 1945 the Soviet Red Army took control of Bulgaria and Romania.
-As in Poland there were “free” elections but in reality, voters were intimidated, and all elections brought in communist governments.

Question 20

What are the consequences of the USSR creating a buffer zone

Answer 20

-Truman felt that the spread of communism needed to be “contained.” Announced the Truman Doctrine on March 1947.
-Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in March 1946 said how the Soviet’s satellite states had caused a breakdown between East and West Europe.

Question 21

What were the causes of the Truman Doctrine (Europe)

Answer 21

Europe needed rebuilding
-Truman knew that the Soviet Union would not go to war to gain territory and power.
-After WW2 many European countries were in ruins.
-The UK was also bankrupt, so couldn’t help European nations rebuild.

Question 22

What were the causes of the Truman Doctrine (fear of communism)

Answer 22

• The idea of communism was very attractive to poorer parts of society affected by WW2.
  -This meant all Stalin needed to do was persuade the poorer people of Europe to support communism and help set up communist governments.
• Kennan’s long telegram had confirmed Stalin’s want for worldwide domination in 1946..

Question 23

What was the Truman Doctrine

Answer 23

• March 1947 Truman delivered a speech to the US congress outlining his policy of containment.
  -The speech was officially given to announce an economic aid package to Greece and Turkey.
  -Truman announced that the US would provide $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey and sent American civilian and military personnel to the region.
  -These ideas became known as the Truman Doctrine.

Question 24

What was the Marshall plan

Answer 24

-Marshall plan (1948-1952) was a practical outcome of the Truman Doctrine.
-It provided economical aid to war torn countries to ensure they remained capitalist.
-$12.7 billion dollars were given in aid in addition to the other $13 billion already given by the USA before the Marshal plan.

Question 25

What were the consequences of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan

Answer 25

This increased tensions between the Soviet union and the USA.
–Stalin argued that the Marshall plan was a way of using economic power to divide Europe into two and establish an American economic empire in Europe.
-This was known as “Dollar imperialism”

Stalin set up rival communist organisations:
Cominform (1947)- a political body used by Stalin to control the satellite states. Countries in Cominform were banned from accepting Marshall Aid.
Comecon (1949)- a body set up to provide financial aid help to communist countries

Question 26

What were the causes of the Berlin blockade

Answer 26

The division of Berlin and Germany was causing tensions
- Berlin split into four parts; UK, US, France, USSR, due to the Potsdam conference in 1945.
- West Berlin (capitalist) was within East Germany (communist). Stalin did not like this and wanted the capitalists out.
The Western zones had united, which angered Stalin
-US, UK and France combined their regions this was known as Trizonia and it separated east and west Berlin.
-Deutschmark was created as a new Western currency, which separated them the Soviet Union economically.
-Stalin felt ganged up on by the triple Trizonia alliance causing tensions.

Question 27

When the Berlin blockade start and what happened

Answer 27

Berlin Blockade started: June 1948
Stalin decided to block off all travel routes (road, rail and canal) to stop food and fuel getting into West Berlin from West Germany.
- Stalin believed West Berliners would then starve and would have to give up power to the Soviet Union.

Question 28

What happened during the Berlin blockade

Answer 28

Berlin airlift/Operation Vittles
-Western powers flew in 2500 tonnes of supplies to west Berlin a day.
-They flew in supplies like food and coal to help keep west Berlin alive.
-This was highly effective as they could go against Soviet actions but peacefully.

Question 29

When did the Berlin blockade end and what happened

Answer 29

Blockade ended: 9TH May 1949
-Stalin realized it wasn’t working and had to end the blockade after 11 months.

Question 30

What were the consequences of the Berlin blockade (tensions)

Answer 30

Increased tensions between the Soviet Union and the USA.
-Embarrassed Stalin and made him seem weak as his attempt to starve out West Berlin failed miserably.
Made the Western powers seem strong as they overcame the Soviet Union without force.

Question 31

What were the consequences of the Berlin blockade (Formations)

Answer 31

The formation of East and West Germany
-Federal Republic of Germany (FRG – West Germany) set up in May 1949 where USA, Britain, and France joined their zones together.
-Stalin responded by creating the German Democratic Republic(GDR – East Germany) in October 1949 proving the two sides where permanently separated.

Question 32

What were the consequences of the Berlin blockade (army groups)

Answer 32

The creation of two armed camps
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) set up in 1949, including USA, Britain, France, and nine other Western countries.
The Warsaw Pact was set up in 1955, including the Soviet Union and seven satellite states, including Poland and Hungary.

Question 33

What are the causes of the arms race

Answer 33

• USA developed the atomic bomb in 1945left them feeling secure as they werethe only country with such a powerful weapon.
  -However the Soviet Union developed their own atomic bomb in 1949.
  -This started an arms race between the two superpowers as they raced to make more powerful weapons and be the strongest superpower.

Question 34

How did the development of the hydrogen bomb contribute towards the arms race

Answer 34

Hydrogen bomb
-Made by the USA in 1952 in response to the Soviet creation of the atomic bomb.
-The hydrogen bomb was 1000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb.
-The USA had their military advantage restored.
-However, one year later in 1953 the Soviet Union created their own hydrogen bomb.

Question 35

How did the development of the ICBM contribute towards the arms race

Answer 35

ICBM
-Intercontinental ballistic missiles were developed by the USA in 1957.
-An ICBM could fire a nuclear warhead at a target more than 4500 kilometres away.
-This restored the USA’s military advantage.
-However, only a few months later the Soviet Union was testing their own ICBM and the USA’s advantage was destroyed.

Question 36

What are the consequences of the arms race (tensions)

Answer 36

-Increased tensions between the Soviet Union and USA as they were at constant competition with each other and were always feeling threatened with each others military development and power.

Question 37

What are the consequences of the arms race MAD

Answer 37

Mutually Assured Destruction- With both superpowersbeing able to annihilate each other with nuclear weapons this led to a change in thinking about war. The arms race acted as a deterrant as each superpower realisedthat if they used their weapon there was a danger that their enemy would reply with an equally devastating attack.

Question 38

What happened in the USSR that cause protests in HUNGARY

Answer 38

-Stalin died in 1953 which meant the Soviet Union had a new leader called Khrushchev in 1955.
-Khrushchev wanted the terror of Stalin to end and proposed “destalinisation” where he criticised Stalin’s policies and suggested there should be peaceful co-existence with the West.
-This caused satellite states, like Hungary, to want to try and stand up to communism more.

Question 39

What happened for Nagy to become leader

Answer 39

• In autumn of 1956 Hungarians started to protest for more freedom from their strict leader Rakosi, causing Khrushchev to replace him with Nagy (much more popular) as leader of Hungary.

Question 40

Nagy’s reforms

Answer 40

NAGY’S REFORMS:-Include non-communist people in the government.
-Freed political prisoners.
-Removal of Soviet troops in Hungary.

Question 41

What happened of the 1’st November 1956 in Hungary

Answer 41

1st November 1956
-Nagy announced that Hungary was going to leave the Warsaw pact.
-Khrushchev didn’t like this as he thought that other countries may do the same and the communist Soviet Union would be weakened.

Question 42

What happened on the 4th of November 1956 in Hungary

Answer 42

4th November 1956
-1000 tanks rolled into Budapest (capital city of Hugary) causing2,500 deaths.
-Supporters of Nagy tried to fight back but failed.

Question 43

What happened in July 1958

Answer 43

July 1958
Nagy was tried and executed. Khrushchev replaced him with Janos Kador (a hard-line communist).

Question 44

Consequences of the Hungarian uprising (tensions)

Answer 44

-Increased tensions between the Soviet Union and the US as the US didn’t agree with the forceful way theSoviet Union handled the uprising.

Question 45

Consequences of the Hungarian uprising (Kruschev)

Answer 45

-Khrushchev seemed like a strong leader as it was clear he was not afraid to use force if needed. Satellite states realised they needed to follow the Soviet Union.

Question 46

Consequences of the Hungarian uprising (USA)

Answer 46

-Reflected badly on the USA. This is because they Eisenhower had encouraged countries to stand up to communism (through their radio station Radio Free Europe) however when Hungary followed this advice they didn’treceive any type of military support from US to defend against the Soviets.