Emerging Superpower Rivalry and its Consequences Flashcards
The world at the end of 1945 was very different than it had been just six years earlier, how?
-The USSR and the USA were now superpowers.
-Each feared that the other wanted to spread its influence.
-Each believed that the other wanted to destroy the. In particular, the USSR feared the atomic bomb. In turn, the USA was concerned at the huge size of the Red Army.
-Each was suspicious of the reasons behind the other’s actions and began to act defensively towards each other.
What had happened in the closing years of the Second World War?
The Soviet Army had taken over most countries in Eastern Europe.
What was happening between 1945 and 1947 in the countries Stalin was now in control of?
Elections were held in a number of states after Stalin had promised democratic elections at Yalta.
What was suspicious about the elections from 1945 to 1947? What did the West think of this?
Every one of them resulted in the election of governments friendly to Moscow. The West therefore suspected that the elections were not democratic or fair at all, and had actually been rigged; however, the USSR denied this.
By 1947, what countries were ruled by communists?
-Albania
-Bulgaria
-Hungary
-Poland
-Romania
While the West feared the Soviets were building a huge empire in Eastern Europe, what did Stalin see it as? What did he then do?
A reasonable attempt to create a ‘buffer zone’ to protect the USSR from a future German invasion. He took steps to make sure that all the counties of Eastern Europe had governments which were friendly towards, and controlled by, the Soviet Union.
What were some common trends shown in the takeover of the Eastern Europe countries to have Soviet Union controlled governments?
-USSR pressure to ensure that communists, many of whose had been trained in Moscow, obtained key positions in the temporary governments set up after the war.
-Suggesting radical changes to help economic recovery. This helped gain the communists popularity.
-Controlling elections to ensure a communist victory.
-Controlling populations by means of the secret police.
How did hard-line Hungarian communist leader Mátyás Rákoski describe the gradual takeover of government departments, press, police and army?
As similar to ‘slicing slalami’; taking power one bit at a time.
By the end of 1947, what country was the only one free from communist control in Eastern Europe?
Czechoslovakia.
When did Czechoslovakia become communist?
February 1948.
How did the USA view the USSR’s actions of making communist governments everywhere in Eastern Europe?
Their views were influenced by the ideas of George Kennan, an American diplomat based in Moscow. He argued that communism demanded the spread of revolution worldwide and the two superpowers could never live in peace. He recommended that the USA would have to act to contain the USSR’s aggression in the future. President Truman took him at his word and the policy of containment was born. Where possible, the USA would act to stop the further spread of communism.
-At the same time the USA failed to understand that the USSR was obsessed with its own security.
Who made the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech and when and where did it take place?
It was Winston Churchill who most clearly expressed the West’s suspicions in a speech he gave in Fulton, Missouri in March 1946.
What did Churchill say in his iron curtain speech?
He condemned Stalin’s attempts to control Eastern Europe and demanded an Anglo-American alliance to stop the spread of communism.
How did Stalin react to the iron curtain speech?
He reacted angrily. He felt that his actions were necessary; he argued that the way in which the USSR suffered during the war made it only natural that he should want to protect his country from invasion.
After the end of the Second World War, what had the Allie agreed in terms of Greece?
To help train and equip the Greek army, which was engaged in a civil war with Greek communists.
