Origins Of The Cold War Flashcards
What is Marxism (Communism)
Marxism is a political philosophy which believes that capitalist society is dominated by capitalists who dominate the working class.
Features of the USSR
- one party dictatorship with no guaranteed freedoms
- no elections, leaderships positions are appointed from within communist party
- heavy censorship’s and strict laws
- people are able to own houses however can not profit of them-> all private enterprises owned by state
Why did the alliance between USA, Britain and USSR form
It was purely an alliance of necessity against a Nazi Germany
Why was the alliance between UK/US not strong with USSr
-UK+US believed spread of communism was a threat to democracy and freedom
- Stalin mistrusted capitalist powers and believed capitalist forces would attempt to destroy socialist revolution
Yalta Conference: Stalin aims
Stalin worried about possible conflict with capitalist countries-> desired a buffer zone in Eastern Europe to prevent another invasion from west
Yalta Conference: Churchill aims
Worried about spread of communism into E. Europe-> believed FDR too willing to compromise with Stalin
Yalta Conference: FDR aims
Wanted soviet assistance against japan in the pacific-> committed to the establishment of UN and willing to give territory to USSR in exchange for cooperation
Agreements at Yalta
-USSR would enter war with japan once Germany was defeated
- Germany would be split between allies at end of war-> France also given a zone to reduce communism
- decalaration of liberated Europe-> commitment to independence and self determination of occupied countries
What happened between Yalta and Potsdam
-FDR death-> Truman becomes president/ extremely anticommunist and unlikely to work with USSR
- Churchill voted out-> Attlee becomes new PM
New leaders were inexperienced and exploited by Stalin
How did Stalin break his promises made at Yalta
-Used the red army to promote communist parties in Eastern Europe
- claimed Germany owed USSR 10 billion in reparations
What did the development of nuclear weapons do?
- development of atomic bomb kept secret from soviets
- nuclear weapons-> US felt less need to cooperate with USSR-> could now defeat Japan w/o soviet assistance
Why were the tensions more tense at Potsdam than at Yalta
German surrender meant alliance lacked a common enemy to hold them together
Agreements at Potsdam
- division of Germany and Berlin, into four occupation zones
- recognition of soviet controlled polish government
- shift of Germany’s eastern border west
Why did Stalin want compensation from alliances
B/c USSR had faced largest casualties-> 8 to 10 million soldier deaths
Britain’s goal at Potsdam conference
-maintain peace and stability in Europe
- believed USSR biggest threat t/f would respond in meaningful ways to Russian aggression
How did the US warn USSR not to act aggressively
-US forced Japan to surrender w/o soviet influence to prevent soviet expansion into Asia
- Truman authorized bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to warn soviets not to act aggressively
How did the USSR take control of Eastern European countries
- overthrew fascist regimes (Hungary and Romania) allied with Germany, leaving no clear alternative government to take over
- power vacuum-> red army was the only source of law and order in countries
- Stalin then exploited this control to establish satellite states b/c believed he had permission to establish a sphere of influence in liberated countries
Why did Stalin establish satellite states
- felt isolated due to being the only communist country surrounded by capitalist countries
- communist regimes would provide USSR with trading partners
- create a buffer wall of states to protect from invasion b/c had been invaded 4 times by west previously
Methods Stalin took to take control of Eastern Europe
-rigged elections to allow communist parties to gain larger share of votes
- communist members joined coalitions and given important positions
- red army harassed and intimidated opposition members
- erosion of free speech-> promoted communist values
What happened after the polish government fled Poland?
- a government in exile in paris and London was established
- coordinated resistance groups through establishment of home army
How were the home army defeated
- home army launched “Warsaw uprising” as red army approached Warsaw
- home army expected to receive assistance of red army h/w soviets refused
- led to eradication of home army by nazis
- committee of national liberation established and key posts held by leaders of communist resistance
How did provisional governments remove opponents prior to holding of elections
- nazi collaborators and right wing parties banned from running in election
- authorities harassed and intimidated all parties except those loyal to USSR
- new electoral law removed 400,000 from electoral roll
- massive rigging of election-> soviet parties won
How did satellite states become linked economically and politically with the ussr
- cominform created to coordinate actions b/w European communist parties
-aimed to ensure European communist parties were aligned to soviet ideologies
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What did the “iron curtain” represent
-Behind the iron curtain, people suffered under soviet influence
- communists in UK and US aimed at bringing down democracy
- western democracies had to resist forefully to stop communism spreading further
How did soviet expansion and the iron curtain reinforce the idea of communism being a threat
- USSR perceived as aggressive in expanding into other countries and exporting communism
- broke agreements made at Yalta and Potsdam-> USSR not care about keeping promises
- creation of Cominform aimed to undermine political systems and free market in western democracies
- made US leaders more determine to prevent further spread of communism
