Origins of The Cold War Flashcards
What were the three conferences? When did they happen?
Tehran : 1943
Yalta : February 1945
Potsdam : July - August 1945
What was the reason the Tehran conference was held?
The Grand Alliance first met in Tehran to plan a winning strategy to end the war.
What were the agreements made at Tehran?
- USA and Britain would open a ‘second front’ by launching an attack in Western Europe therefore easing pressure on the Eastern Front where Soviets were suffering heavy losses
- Stalin would declare war against Japan and supply troops for the war between the US and Japan - only once the war in Europe was over.
- Discussed what would happen to Germany; no formal agreement was made however it was agreed that the aim of the war was to bring about the unconditional surrender of Germany and should remain weak after the war
- General agreement that an international body should be set up to settle disputes which laid ground for the future formation of the United Nations
What was the impact the Tehran conference had on international relations?
- Stalin pleased that a ‘second front’ was going to be opened in the West however Churchill wanted the front to be opened in the Balkans rising tensions between them
- Tension between the US and Britain as Roosevelt (USA) viewed British colonialism as a greater threat to world peace than the Soviet Union
What was the reason the Yalta conference was held?
To discuss winning the war and the government of post-war Europe
What were the agreements made at the Yalta conference?
- After the war, Germany to be split into 4 zones ; each controlled by a different superpower (USA, France, Britain, Soviet Union)
- Germany would pay $20 billion in reparations
- United Nations would be set up and all nations could join
- Stalin agreed to join in the war against Japan
- Poland’s border returned to their position in 1921 (which would give the Soviet Union significant gains) and there would be free elections where Stalin expected those elections to bring about a pro-communist government, whereas the British supported the non-communist London Poles
What crucial events influenced the mood of the Potsdam conference?
- Change in personnel : Roosevelt died replaced by Truman (1945) ; Winston Churchill lost the 1945 general election - replaced by Clement Attlee
- Other world events : Germany had surrendered in May 1945; atomic bomb developed in the USA
- United Nations had been created in the Treaty of San Francisco in June 1945 allowing the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to veto resolutions.
What were the agreements made at the Potsdam conference?
- Germany would be divided into four zones, administered by the US, Britain, France and the Soviet Union but the German economy would be run as a whole.
- Berlin would also be divided into 4 zones accordingly.
- Truman objected to the arrangements for Poland and the borders that had previously been agreed.
- Truman also objected to the control that the Soviet Union had over the countries it had liberated and was beginning to see the Red Army as an army of occupation however there was little Truman could do.
What was the Iron Curtain speech? When was it?
In March 1946, Churchill gave a speech called the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech (in America as he wanted American support) which made it plain that he thought the Soviet Union was a threat to freedom and world peace. He was provoked to make this speech because many communist governments had sprung up.
Stalin interpreted this as reflecting American beliefs which increased tension and mistrust between the Soviet Union and the US.
Led to the Soviet Union strengthening its forces and step up a campaign of anti-Western propaganda.
When was the Truman Doctrine announced?
1947
What was the Truman’s speech officially delivered as?
Officially it was given to announce an economic aid package of $400 million to Greece and Turkey; the USA also was going to send American civilian and military personnel.
How did Truman use the oppurtunity of the speech?
He stated the difference between democracy and communism saying that choosing democracy over communism is choosing good over evil.
He also stated that communism should not be allowed to grow and the US were prepared to send troops and economic aid to those countries trying to resist it.
These ideas became known as the Truman Doctrine.
What policy changed when the Truman Doctrine was put in place?
The policy of isolationism (not getting involved in the affairs of other countries) was followed by the USA but was abandoned being replaced by the policy of containment (limiting the spread of communism).
What was the practicle outcome of the Truman Doctrine? What was it?
The Marshall Plan was the practicle outcome. Providing economic aid to help war torn countries in order to stop communsim taking over western Europe - however Eastern European countries did not benifit from this plan due to Stalin.
The economic impact of Marshall Aid in Western Europe was enormous.
What was the impact of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan?
• Any belief that there was a Grand Alliance was gone. USA in direct opposition of the Soviet Union.
• Stalin’s suspicions of the West reinforced.
• Marshall Plan successfully tied Western European countries into supporting the
USA. Stalin rejected it, making Europe divided into two seperate economic and political camps.
