Early Cold War

Question 1

Ideologies: USA

Answer 1

capitalist, privately owned business, wealthiest country
democracy, freedom most valued thing, believed everyone should be like them
policy of ‘doing the right thing’ instead of USA self-interest

Question 2

Ideologies: USSR

Answer 2

communist, industry owned by state, economic superpower
one-party dictatorship
lower standard of living, society > individual
communism’s mission was to spread, saw USA as selfish

Question 3

Yalta Conference 1945

Answer 3

Allied leaders meet in Yalta, Ukraine
Big three: STALIN, ROOSEVELT, CHURCHILL
Vague negotiations

Question 4

Yalta conclusion

Answer 4

A: Stalin helps fight Japan, gets ‘soviet sphere of influence’ Eastern Europe as reparations. Liberated countries get free elections, all 3 join UN, nazis are war criminals

D: Poland, Stalin wants to move borders west. Gets it in exchange for not intervening in Greek civil war.

Question 5

Potsdam Conference July 1945

Answer 5

Changes since Yalta:
1. Germany had surrendered
2. Red Army occupied EE
3. Truman new US president, interventionist
4. Allies had successfully tested atomic bomb (Trinity Test)

Question 6

Potsdam conclusion

Answer 6

Crippling Germany (heavy reparations): Truman did not want to repeat ToV
Division of Germany into 4 zones
Eastern Europe: Stalin had started salami tactics, Truman started to “get tough”
Stalin wanted reparations for the 20M dead soviet soldiers

Question 7

Iron curtain

Answer 7

Border between soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the west

Question 8

Cominform 1947

Answer 8

Coordinate work of communist parties in EE
Replaced independent-minded leaders

Question 9

GREEK CIVIL WAR 1945-49

Answer 9

After German retreat, communists/monarchs
1945, Britain sent troops to ‘supervise elections’ : fight for monarchs
Stalin appealed to UN: did nothing, civil war escalated, royalists won
1947 USA intervention with financial aid: turning point in foreign policy

Question 10

Truman Doctrine and Marshal Plan

Answer 10

American interventionism, involvement in the war: ‘passing the baton’

Communism succeeded in poverty: USA lent $17 Billion to European countries. DOLLAR IMPERIALISM. Approved after Czech 1948 incident

Question 11

Czech 1948 incident

Answer 11

Czechoslovakia had coalition government
Pro American minister found dead (fake suicide) Jan Masaryk
Caused Americans to approve Marshall plan

Question 12

BERLIN BLOCKADE

Answer 12

Britain, France and USA combined zones: west Germany 1949
Stalin blocked access lines, allies had betrayed YALTA
Airlift: supplies by planes for ten months, most successful operation

Question 13

Consequences of Berlin blockade

Answer 13

Powerful symbol of allies victory, flashpoint of tension
At height of crisis, western powers formed NATO

Question 14

WARSAW PACT 1955

Answer 14

USSR response to West Germany entering NATO
Military alliance between main communist states: defend if attack
Satellite states, formalises soviet sphere of influence

Question 15

Union of western territories

Answer 15

Trizonia 1948
West Germany formally created may 1949