đź“ťIDEA PARAGRAPHS- Causes Of The Cold War Flashcards
Describe the event of Yalta
The three leaders, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met on feb 4 1945. The west formed the UN, the declaration of europe was agreed to, the Soviet Union for Poland’s borders moved so he gained more territory and all big 3 split Germany into four zones between France
, Britain, USA and SU
Explain the event of Yalta
The conference was necessary because Churchill wanted to protect british interests and Roosevelt believed only a capitalist Europe could avoid future war while Stalin believed creating the soviet sphere of influence was the best way to achieve security
Asses the significance of the Yalta conference
The issues that caused tension were that the west and SU had contrasting ideologies and each wanted to influence the world with their own. Poland also caused tension here as the west believed Poland should be free while Stalin wanted to regain territory from Poland that was once part of the SU as it helped him achieve invasion security. At the next conference, the west reacted more hostile towards the SU as they wanted to make sure capitalism dominated. The USA also acted smugly as they had the upper hand by having possession of the atomic bomb. This showed they felt tension contributing to the start of the war as Stalin also knew about the bomb’s existence and so mistrusting the west.
Describe the event of Potsdam
In July 1945, Stalin, Truman and Attlee met for another peace conference post war.
Explain the Potsdam conference
It was necessary as Britain wanted alliance with the USA because it saw itself as week. The USA wanted self determination for the countries of Europe. Stalin wanted to expand his sphere of influence over Europe
Assess the significance of the Potsdam conference
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The issue here was that USA wanted self determination for the countries in Europe but Stalin wanted them to remain under his communist influence. Stalin also wanted Germany to pay its own reparations but this was completely opposed by the west who wanted to help build it up as a self sufficient country to prevent it from falling under communism. This would have made Stalin feel betrayed by the west as he was completely against capitalist views. As a result, Stalin spread his sphere of influence to all countries in Eastern Europe forming the iron curtain. This showed the SU felt tension because they wanted to prevent capitalism taking over other countries even if it meant isolating himself from the rest of the world and creating a division between him and the west
Describe the event of the atomic bomb
In August 1945, the USA dropped an atomic bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki where 140,000 died in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki.
Explain the dropping of the atomic bomb
It was necessary because the war in the Pacific between the USA and japan needed to have ended, it also showed the world America’s power and what could be achieved on the side of communism
Asses the dropping of the atomic bomb
This worried the SU because Stalin hadn’t yet developed nuclear technology making communism look inferior to capitalism. The surrender of japan also removed the need for the grand alliance to continue and instead, the SU continued to expand their sphere of influence over Eastern Europe. As a response, the SU dedicated billion to developing their own atomic bomb so much so, Stalin dedicated Arzamas-16 village to housing the scientists and engineers working on the bomb.
Describe the Soviet spread of influence
Between 1945 and the 1950s, the SU was increasing the sphere of Influence over Eastern Europe by making sure at some point, communists were taking power by rigging elections or executing non- communist leaders
Explain the Soviet spread of influence
As with elections being rigged, communism was able to take hold because the SU ensured communist power quickly with minimal public opposition as people feared the consequences. This made it easier to expand his sphere of influence.
Asses the Soviet spread of influence
This worried the west as it showed how Stalin was able to influence countries, especially those who were vulnerable. One tactic used was salami tactics where capitalists were tried or expelled by finding evidence to cast doubt on their good reputation. This was making it hard for the west to spread capitalism in Europe as Stalin was removing all influence of it. As a response, the us introduced the Truman doctrine in that the USA was to contain communism in Eastern Europe by supporting any country under threat if it. This showed the USA felt tension because they were willing to damage relations between east and west to contain communist influence
Describe the Truman doctrine
It was put in Place in March 1947 and was a policy of containing communism in Europe for as long as possible
Explain the Truman doctrine
Primarily, the Truman doctrine was due to Britain pulling out of aid in turkey and Greece who were now being overtaken by communism meaning America now had to step in. It was also done because the USA didn’t want Stalin spreading his sphere of influence to areas of the world in general
Asses the significance of the Truman doctrine
The SU was worried about the Truman doctrine because it was influencing many countries, especially those close to the iron curtain with capitalist ideologies. As a response in 1917, Stalin formed Comecon which was an organisation to coordinate communist governments in Eastern Europe. This showed Stalin felt tension as he had to form his own organisation to strengthen already communist governments behind the iron curtain so they wouldn’t get influenced by capitalism.
