Emergence of The Cold War Flashcards
Ideology - why was ideology a source of conflict?
Because the USA were capitalist & the USSR were communist - two polar opposites
Ideology - when was the Bolshevik revolution?
Oct 1917
Ideology - why did Lenin’s call to communism worry leaders?
in 1919-20 Lenin’s communism formed the first red scare as US gov. were afraid radicals might want to lead an violent overthrow
Ideology - what did the US gov. refuse to do?
Recognise Lenin’s communist government & restricted all trade.
How long was the there no trade between USA and USSR?
From 1918-1924 but resumed in 1924 with suspicion on both sides
Why did the Grand Alliance end in 1945?
Due to the inability to come to agreements after the Second World War
Ideology - what did British & US troops do during the Russian civil war (1918-1920)?
Intervened to overthrow Communist government
What did Western Powers refuse to do?
Recognise SU as a legitimate state & admit it to the League of Nations following WW1
What was Soviet Foreign Policy largely based on?
The assumption that Capitalist powers were hostile to communism
What was Soviet propaganda based on from 1917-1941?
Anti-Capitalist Propaganda
Stalin’s Aggression - what did Stalin create throughout Eastern Europe?
Satellite States (buffer zone ) the USA saw this as aggressive
SA - what did the Berlin Blockade 1948-49 do?
Increase tensions between West & East
When did Truman become President?
April 1945
What did war production create for the USA?
Economic boom - 1941-1945 doubling the US’s GDP
What did the US own?
Half of the world’s manufacturing capacity which was x3 that of the SU
How many people had died in the SU by 1945?
27 million
How many times had Russia been invaded?
5 times 1606,1812,1915,1918 and 1945
How many cities and towns were destroyed in SU?
1700
What else was destroyed after WW2 in USSR?
Industrial & agricultural infrastructure
Why did Stalin create buffer states?
Fear of invasion & need for security
Why did Stalin create the Berlin Blockade
Threat of Trizonia
What communist uprising did Stalin not intervene in?
Greece
What were some strengths of the SU after 1945
- Biggest role in defeating Hitler guaranteed large amount in war settlement
- Largest army - 11 million men in 1945
- Fastest growing economy between 1945 -1953
What were Stalin’s three key objectives post-war?
Soviet dominance over Poland = a common avenue into Russia by invaders
Keeping Germany weak
Extending SU influence & territory over Europe
When was the Yalta conference
February 1945
What priorities did leaders have at the Yalta conference?
Stalin wanted to ensure Germany would no re-emerge as a military power = securing Poland in his sphere
FDR - acceptance of the UN and & soviet agreement to enter war against Japan
When was the Potsdam Conference?
July 1945
What was agreed at Potsdam?
Germany would be divided into 4 zones establishing new borders that would suit Stalin
When was the Long Telegram?
February 1946 - George Kennan
What did the Long Telegram include?
It alerted the US that the USSR were planning for world dominance
What did Kennan advise?
The USA must be firm & continue the policy of CONTAINMENT
When was the Novikov telegram?
September 1946
What did the Novikov telegram include?
The US were using their wealth to gain power & influence stating that the US were planning for global domination
What famous speech did Churchill give in 1946?
Iron Curtain Speech
How did Stalin respond to Churchill’s iron curtain speech?
He called him a warmonger
When was the Truman Doctrine?
March 1947
What did Truman’s doctrine clearly state?
It outlined the policy of containment committing the USA to provide military & economic resources to stop the spread of communism
Outline how Stalinisation of Europe began.
Stalin rigged several elections to create communist governments mirroring Stalin’s
How did Stalin respond to the Marshall Plan?
He created Cominform & Comecon
List two examples of Stalinisation
Hungary 1947 - rigged elections
Czechoslovakia 1948 - staged coup to overthrow government
When was the Marshall Plan?
June 1947
What did countries have to guarantee in order to be entitled to Marshall Aid?
Agree to free trade ( an element of Capitalism)
What did the Eastern Bloc refer to Marshall Aid as?
Dollar Imperialism
Why did Truman encourage superpower tensions?
To justify massive government spending on arms to stimulate US economy
What was the significance of the Marshall Plan?
Economic recovery of Western Zones in Germany outside the Soviet Sphere of influence
Two economic areas of Europe sponsored by US and USSR
Why did Stalin regard Germany with great suspicion?
Determined to safeguard SU from potential invasion
How did the USA perceive Germany?
Punishment of Germany after WW1 led to political extremism the only way to guarantee peace was to create a s torng democratic industrial base
Why was Berlin’s position a position of tension?
It was 177km outside Soviet Zone
Why did Stalin desire reunification of Germany?
The unification of the Western zones was a military threat therefore he wanted a neutral reunified Germany
Why did the US refuse Stalin’s desire?
They feared a unified Germany would be absorbed into Stalin’s sphere of influence.
When did the Trizonia form?
April 1949
Why did USSR reject US need for monetary reform?
Fear of capitalist influence throughout Germany
What were the causes of the Berlin Crisis?
Formation go Trizonia & German currency reform in West May 1948
How did the West respond to the Berlin Blockade?
The Berlin Airlift
When did the Berlin Airlift take place?
26th June
By May 1949 how many supplies had been flown into the city?
2.3 million
What was the possible nuclear option?
August 1948 US deployed 60 B29 bombers
When did Stalin end the Blockade?
12 May 1949 Stalin conceded the blockade had failed & reopened communications
List 5 reasons why the blockade was significant?
- Illustrated that the West could stand up to Soviet pressure peacefully
- Propaganda disaster for the East as Stalin was willing to starve 2 million people for geopoltiical objectives
- Soviets failed their objective of preventing the unification of 3 western zones as West Germany was est. 23 May 1949 & the Soviets declared FDR
- US guaranteed security of Western Europe & NATO was set up April 1949
- Neither side wanted conflict
When did China become communist?
1949
What speech was given in 1950 by Acheson
South Korea was excluded for US’s Asian defensive Perimeter
When did North Korea invade South?
June 1950
What did the NSC-68 (1950) state?
The SU was seeking World Domination & Korea was the first sign that it was being implemented
Why did the USA intervene?
Truman was blamed for the loss of China & both Korea & Japan could be threatened by communism
What policy did MacArthur stand strongly behind?
Rollback communism
What did MacArthur’s success at rolling NK back suggest?
The USA should adopt a rollback communism approach
When did the Chinese intervene?
Oct 1950
What did Chinese troops do?
Chinese troops pushed SK back until 1953 when they reached armistice
What was the significance of the Korean War?
- Superpowers were willing to commit military force to defend their interests
- Superpowers wanted to avoid direct conflict by fighting proxy wars
- Demonstrated the importance of domestic political pressure on US policy
Interpretation: Us Domestic Policy/Politics
The conflict between democrats and republicans using the Cold War to exploit fears & gain support
Interpretation: US aggression
Cold war developed due to USA’s aggressive policies asserting their influence over the SU
Interpretation:Stalin’s Personality
Stalin’s paranoia insecurities & unwillingness to negotiate created great tensions resulting in the CW.
Interpretation: US Dollar Diplomacy/ Dollar Imperialism
US economic interests & desire to political and economic dominance led to the CW
Interpretation: Mutual Misconceptions
Both superpowers had different perspective son mutual issues & due to the lack of communication they were motivated to protect their own interests.
Interpretation: Great Power Rivalry
CW was simply a continuation of previous rivalry & desire for dominance
What was US policy in Asia referred to as?
The continuation of the open door policy & the desire of expansion from the 19th century
Interpretation: Stalin’s Aggression
Stalin’s aggressive policies & determination to create a sphere of influence led to the CW
Interpretation: Ideological Confrontation
The ideological confrontation between the USA and USSR and their polar opposites led to the development of the CW
Interpretation: Security Needs
The desire for both countries particularly the USSR to protect their country from further threat & invasion led to the CW
