Emerging Differences between the Superpowers

Question 1

ideology

Answer 1

• stalin ran a communist dictatorship where the state owned all industry and agriculture, the communist party was the only party, individual rights were restricted and censorship was widespread
• america was a capitalist democracy, and their system was based on principles of private enterprise with limited government involvement, democratic elections, and the promotion of freedom and the American dream

Question 2

great power conflict?

Answer 2

• us wanted to maintain its economic and military dominance in order to maintain national self-interest
• stalin sought national security. Russia had been invaded from the West 3 times in 27 years, and the iron curtain would provide a line of defence

Question 3

rival economic/political groups

Answer 3

NATO - created in 1949 to promote collective defence against Soviet threats

Warsaw Pact - signed between the Soviet Union and states in the Soviet Bloc

Question 4

proxy wars and desire for influence

Answer 4

both nations wanted influence in newly independent states in asia and africa

cold war never descended into hot war, however, both powers became involved in proxy wars

Question 5

espionage between powers

Answer 5

KGB and CIA

also, constant propaganda battle with the Soviets trying to exclude Western influence

Question 6

spheres of influence

Answer 6

soviets were expanding into Eastern Europe creating Pro-Soviet Satellite states, however America saw this as against the spirit of self-determination.
led to policies like the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

Question 7

iron curtain

Answer 7

metaphor used to describe the divide between the communist countries of Eastern Europe and the capitalist democratic countries of Western Europe

first used by Winston Churchill in 1946 in his famous “iron curtain” speech

Question 8

Poland as a point of tension

Answer 8

stalin intended to establish a soviet friendly regime in poland, which would prevent the possibility of another invasion of russia

pro-soviet Lublin regime was set up to take control of poland post-war. In contrast, the US and Britain backed an exiled polish government based in london.