Superpower Relations - 1.1 Early tension between East and West

Question 1

What was the grand alliance and when was it set up?

Answer 1

The Grand Alliance was established by USSR, USA and Britain from 1941 to defeat the axis powers led by Germany, Japan and Italy in WW2

Question 2

When was the Teheran Conference?

Answer 2

Early to late december 1943

Question 3

What was agreed at the Teheran Conference?

Answer 3

• The USA and Britain would open a second front by launching an attack against Germany in West Europe
• Stalin would declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated
• Poland given land from Germany.
• An international body to solve problems by discussion was agreed.This would become the United Nations

Question 4

What were the disagreements at the Teheran Conference?

Answer 4

• Stalin was also suspicious that the western allies had deliberately delayed the second front in the west so that the Soviet Union would be weakened
• They also disagreed about a second front in the Balkans(South East Europe)
• Roosevelt seemed at times to view British Empire as more of a threat than the Soviet Union

Question 5

When was the Yalta conference?

Answer 5

Febuary 1945

Question 6

Why did the Yalta conference happen?

Answer 6

They met in Yalta to discuss winning WW2 and the government in Europe.

Question 7

What was the WW2 situation looking like during the Yalta conference?

Answer 7

British and American Forces had pushed the Germans back to Berlin, while the USSR had control of most Central and Eastern Europe by the end of WW2

Question 8

What were the agreements made at Yalta?

Answer 8

• Germany would pay $20 billion in reparations (half goes to the soviet Union)
• The Nazi Party would be banned and war criminals prosecuted
• A United Nations would be set up with all nations able to Join, though only Russia, Ukraine and Belarus were admitted from the 16 soviet Republics
• Stalin agreed that future governments of countries in Eastern Europe would be decided in free elections

Question 9

What was agreed in the Potsdam conference

Answer 9

In the Potsdam conference it was agreed that Germany would be divided into four zones, administered by the soviet Union, USA, Britain and France though the German economy would be run as a whole . Berlin would also be divided into four zones, controlled by different countries, even though it was based well inside Soviet - controlled Germany

Question 10

What did Truman want Germany to do and why was he afraid to do it?

Answer 10

The Soviet Union wanted Germany to pay huge reparations, but Truman was concerned that it would lead to Germany rebelling again as it would be more impossibe to allow Germanys economic status recover.

Question 11

What were the disagreements made at Potsdam?

Answer 11

Agreement was also not reached over the government of Eastern Europe. Truman objected to the control the Soviet Union had as it would influence communism and there would no longer be capitalism.

Question 12

What did Roosevelt strongly believe in?

Answer 12

He beleives strongly in democracy but compromised and formed an alliance with Stalin. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbour in 1941 , Roosevelt thought that he would need Soviet support against Japan. Roosevelt also believed any long-term settlement would only be possible if the Soviet Union was accepted as a super power and partner in peace

Question 13

What did Churchill strongly believe in?

Answer 13

Churchill had very traditional values as he was from an aristocratic Family- He beleived strongly in the British Empire when at a time many beleived colonies should be allowed to rule themselves, his attitude also made him suspicious of Stalin

Question 14

What did Stalin strongly believe in?

Answer 14

Stalin had strengthened his one party rule in the Soviet Union and cut back on individuals rights. He was convinced that the West wanted to so destroy communism,so the Soviet Union was forced to stand firm in any negotiations with the “Western Superpower” the USA and its close ally Britain.

Question 15

Why is it difficult for the US,USSR and UK governments to work together?

Answer 15

These governments would find it hard to work together as all three people beleve the way they rule their country is correct though they are weary of other countries as they have different beleifs

Question 16

What did the development of the atomic bomb in America make countries feel?

Answer 16

The development of the atomic bomb made countries in Western Europe Felt that they would be more secure about placing themselves under American Protection, rather than looking to reach agreement with the Soviet Union

Question 17

How did Stalin react to the development of the atomic bomb in the USSR?

Answer 17

Stalin felt he had to make the soviet Union secure with America having Atomic Bombs,so he tried to create buffer zones of countries sympathetic to communism between Germany and the soviet Union’s western borders having an opposite outcome for what the Americans were hoping from

Question 18

How did the development of the atomic bomb increase cold war tensions?

Answer 18

The atomic bomb increased cold War tensions between USA and the Soviet Union with an incredibly overpowered weapon to kill millions and destroy the world.Instead they enter an arms race, in which each side tried to make sure their nuclear weapons were more powerful than their rival

Question 19

What was the Long Telegram,1946?

Answer 19

George Kenan , US ambassador to Moscow sent a telegram discussing US-Soviet relations. He said that Stalin wanted to destroy Capitalism and advised the US govemment to act tough. This act played a key roll in the US policy towards the USSR and they adopted a policy of “containment” to stop communism spreadings

Question 20

What was the Novikov telegram,1946?

Answer 20

Nikolai Novikov was a Soviet ambassador in the US, who reported that the Soviets thought equally of the West, and said that the Us wanted to use their military power to dominate the world. Additionally, he reported that the US did not want to cooperate with the Soviet Union since Roosevelts death. He belived it was vital to gain as much protection in Eastern Europe as possible to maintain their power.

Question 21

What do both the Long and Novikov telegrams show?

Answer 21

These two telegrams show that by 1946, the US and the Soviet Union distrusted each other greatly, despite that they were allies during WW2. Their methods are clever as they felt the necessity to send “embassadors” into each others country. Furthermore, the telegrams sent between the two powers suggest that the two countries opposed each others imperialist and political stances

Question 22

What is a satelite state?

Answer 22

A satelite state is a country that is officially independent but in reality is controled by another country

Question 23

Why did Stalin believe satelite states are important?

Answer 23

Stalin felt that satellite states were important because it creates a buffer zone between the USSR and Germany

Question 24

Why did the creation of satelite states worsen relations between the US and USSR

Answer 24

Stalins creation of satellite states made relations worsen because Freemen saw the satellite states as evidence of Stalin trying to spread communism along the whole world

Question 25

Why do satelite states increase tension?

Answer 25

The Satelite States increase tension between the USSR as communism is continuously spreading through Europe which is a threat to British and French Empires. By making East Germany Communist Western Powers worry about Stalin’s motives and where it may be next.