Origins of cold war

Question 1

Yalta conference- when, who, what (agree/disagree)?

Answer 1

• February 1945 (defeat of Germany is inevitable)
• The big three
• Germany would be divided into four zones; USA, France, Britain and USSR, Berlin would be divided in the same way
• Countries of Eastern Europe would be allowed free elections but heavily influenced by Stalin
• USSR join war against Japan
• Hunt down and try Nazi war criminals
• Creation of UN

Question 2

Potsdam conference- when, who, what (agree/disagree)?

Answer 2

• July- August 1945 (war still on in Japan)
• Truman, Attlee and Stalin (Didn’t get on well)
• Nazi party banned
• Demilitarise and democrasise Germany
• Britain and USA denied Stalin a naval base in the Mediterranean
• Still disagreements over reparations for Germany
• Stalin had set up communist govt in Poland
• Atom bomb testing created tensions

Question 3

Teheran conference- when, who, what (agree/disagree)?

Answer 3

1943

• The big three (Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill)
• Soviets could have a sphere of influence in eastern Europe
• Undecided about what to do with Germany- Churchill and Roosevelt wanted to rebuild it to trade, Stalin wanted to weaken it so they couldn’t invade
• Cracks started to show

Question 4

What was containment?

Answer 4

Using US influence and military resources to prevent the expansion of communism into non-communist countries

Question 5

What were the causes of Truman Doctrine and when was it established?

Answer 5

1947, Truman didn’t like Stalin, he believed he was spreading communism and it would spread to the west

Question 6

What were the key features of Truman Doctrine?

Answer 6

Containment, military threat and force and endorsing captalism

Question 7

What were the consequences of Truman Doctrine?

Answer 7

USA threatened to drop the atom bomb, and USSR angry so wanted to push communism further

Question 8

What were the causes of the Marshall aid and when was it established?

Answer 8

• 1947-51
• Countries in economic struggle turned to communism so if they are helped they remain capitalist
• America seen as good guys as they are helping everyone

Question 9

What were the key features of Marshall aid?

Answer 9

• USA offered to aid all of war-torn European countries (Britain received most)
• They offered money, equipment and goods, so in return they would buy US goods and allow US companies to invest

Question 10

What were the consequences of Marshall aid?

Answer 10

• USA make USSR seem bad
• USSR angrier
• USA even offer money to USSR
• Stalin prevented eastern Europe from taking the money (except Yugoslavia)
• Widened the gap between east and west

Question 11

What were the main political and economical features of the USA?

Answer 11

• Democratic system of government
• Capitalist economy
• Freedom of speech, movement etc.