Superpower Relations

Question 1

The Truman Doctrine

Answer 1

Principle committing the US to the containment of communism.

Question 2

The Marshall Plan

Answer 2

Practical manifestation of the Truman Doctrine; the US gave $13.7b of aid to Western European nations - helping them to rebuild and grow their economies.

Question 3

Dollar Imperialism

Answer 3

Soviet term for the Marshall Plan, likened US aid to the creation of a ‘economic empire’ which brought Western European nations under US control.

Question 4

Cominform

Answer 4

Created in 1947, allowed the USSR more control over its satellite states in Eastern Europe.

Question 5

Comecon

Answer 5

Created in 1949, aid package given to Eastern Europe to counter the Marshall Plan.

Question 6

Berlin Airlift

Answer 6

Mid 1948 - Mid 1949. The West flew 1000 tonnes per day to West Berlin (Trizonia) after the Soviet blockaded it.

Question 7

The Korean War

Answer 7

1950-1953. NK invades SK. US + UN join in. China joins in. Ceasefire along the 38th parallel.

Question 8

Consequences of the Korean War:

Answer 8

1. US commits to the domino theory/effect. 2. US triples military budget. USSR doubles army between 1950-55. 3. SEATO formed.

Question 9

US developments the A-bomb

Answer 9

1945

Question 10

Soviets develop the A-bomb

Answer 10

1949

Question 11

US development the H-bomb

Answer 11

1952

Question 12

Soviets develop the H-bomb

Answer 12

1953

Question 13

US developments ICBMs

Answer 13

1957

Question 14

Soviets develop the ICMBs

Answer 14

1957

Question 15

KGB

Answer 15

Russian spy agency

Question 16

Outcome of the arms race

Answer 16

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) doctrine

Question 17

When was the Yalta conference

Answer 17

February 1945

Question 18

What was agreed at Yalta

Answer 18

Germany to be divided. Germany to pay 20b in reparations. Nazi party would be banned. UN to be formed. Stalin agreed to join in the war against Japan (after Germany was defeated). Free elections for European states.

Question 19

When was the Potsdam conference

Answer 19

Mid 1945

Question 20

What agreed at Potsdam

Answer 20

Germany actually dividied up (areas decided). Each administering country could demand reparations only from their portion of Germany. Truman objected to the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe.

Question 21

How were the Satellite states created

Answer 21

As the USSR took back territory from the Nazi’s, they set up communist regimes in the countries they liberated.

Question 22

Which countries became Satellite states of the USSR

Answer 22

Lithuania, Lativa and Estonia (the baltic states), Yugoslavia and Albania among others

Question 23

Which nation was the only democracy in Eastern from 1919

Answer 23

Czechoslovakia

Question 24

What was the long telegram

Answer 24

Telegram sent by a US diplomat/spy detailing Soviet attitudes towards the west

Question 25

What was contained in the long telegram

Answer 25

The following Soviet attitudes: They wanted to destroy the west, world outside the USSR was unfriendly, the USSR was not self destructive and so, if faced with outside resistance would soften its position.

Question 26

When was the long telegram

Answer 26

1946

Question 27

What did the Soviet’s think the Americans thought (as conveyed by the diplomat/spy Novikov)

Answer 27

Wanted to use military power to dominate the world, no longer interested in cooperating with the USSR and population of the US would support a war.

Question 28

What was the outcome of Nivikov’s intelligence

Answer 28

Stalin would take greater control of Eastern Europe –> tried to create a buffer between the USSR and the West