KO 1: Why did the Cold War start?

Question 1

Long Term Distrust: World War 1

Answer 1

The USSR withdrew from the war in 1917 leaving their allies to fight alone.

Question 2

Long Term Distrust: Russian Civil War

Answer 2

From 1917 to 1922 there had been a civil war in Russia between the communists (reds) and people loyal to the monarchy (the whites). During this war the USA and Britain sent troops to help the whites fight against the
communists.

Question 3

Long Term Distrust: Propaganda

Answer 3

Both sides used propaganda to try and influence their own populations to think badly of their rival superpower.

Question 4

Ideological Disagreements: Capitalism v Communism

Answer 4

Communism worried the West as they were worried that communist ideals would influence the west and overthrow their government.

Question 5

Second Word War: Nazi- Soviet Pact

Answer 5

Formed in 1939. Stalin allied himself with Hitler which promised that they would not fight each other to avoid joining the war. For many in the West this was
another example of how the Soviet union could not
be trusted. In 1941, Hitler broke their pact and invaded the Soviet Union. This entered the USSR into the war.

Question 6

Yalta Conference (1945): Leaders

Answer 6

President Roosevelt (USA), Prime 
minister Churchill (GB) and Premier Stalin (USSR).

Question 7

Agreements Made at the Yalta Conference

Answer 7

Germany to be split into four zones,
each controlled by a different power: the USA,
Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union agreed to join the war against
Japan after they attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941. At the conference Stalin agreed to hold free
elections in Eastern Europe. This did not actually
happen.

Question 8

Potsdam Conference (1945): Leaders

Answer 8

President Truman (USA), Prime Minister 
Attlee (GB) and Premier Stalin (USSR)

Question 9

Agreements Made at the Potsdam Conference

Answer 9

Germany was spilt into four, but the
economy would run as whole. The USSR would take
huge reparations from their zone.

Question 10

Changes in the Potsdam Conference

Answer 10

The new leaders at the conference led to
an increased tensions. Stalin knew of the Atomic
Bomb because of his spies in the Manhattan Project.
Truman was less likely to work with Stalin and did not
want to compromise. Stalin had started to install communist governments in Eastern Europe by this point but due to the war in Japan the USA could do little about this.

Question 11

Dropping of the Atom Bomb (1945)

Answer 11

Atom Bombs were dropped by the USA onto Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan killing approximately 12,000 civillians.
Increased Tensions: The Soviet union became even
more determined to set up a soviet bloc to create a
buffer zone. It led to a spiraling arms race as the
USSR tested their own atomic bomb in 1949.
Decreased Tension: MAD theory, deterrent to war