The Cold War Flashcards
What was the Cold War?
The ‘Cold War’ is a term used to describe the relationship between the USA and the Soviet Union (USSR) after the Second World War. No direct fighting took place between the two countries. However, there was a high level of tension between them due to the threats made from each side. For many, the Cold War, was a ‘ war of words ’ sent from one side against the other.
How did the superpowers try to compete against each other?
Spies
Spies would be sent into each other’s or neighbouring countries to find out more about what each country were doing.
Media Propaganda
Both sides published and broadcast negative stories about each other to win the support of their public.
Finance
Both sides gave money to other states/groups who were willing to support them to get them on side.
The Arms Race
Both sides competed to develop nuclear, long range (distance) weapons or defence systems. The bigger and more powerful, the better.
The Space Race
Both sides competed to put the first man in space, on the moon and into orbit – all to try and prove who was the most technologically advance.
What was capitalism
Politics
Democracy: Several political parties and voting for who should be in power. Economy
• Industry owned by individuals - private ownership.
• Business owners able to make profit and keep any money made.
• Some people are wealthier than others.
• Trade with other countries around the world.
Freedom of speech and censorship.
• Little censorship of the media.
• Freedom of speech allowed.
What was communism?
Politics
Dictatorship: Only one political party – The Communist Party. No choice. No
democracy.
Economy
• All industry and business owned by the government.
• No private ownership allowed. Money shared equally for fairness.
• Trade within Communist countries only.
Freedom of speech and censorship.
• High levels of government censorship and control.
• Little freedom of speech or ability to criticise the government.
Tehran Conference Nov 1943
Leaders: Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin.
LAND CONSEQUENCE
It was agreed that Russia could keep land in eastern Europe
including Poland if they won the war. This would take land away from Germany who currently occupied it and so weaken Germany. Russia were very happy with this outcome as it gave them more land.
INTERNATIONAL CONSEQUENCE
It was agreed that an international organisation should be
created to settle arguments between countries using discussion not war.
MILITARY CONSEQUENCE
The USA and Britain would launch a second attack on Germany so the German army would have to reduce its troops in the East against Russia to send troops to fight in the west. This would give Russia a chance to take more land away from Germany and keep the land after the war.
Russia seemed to be getting everything it wanted including more land for its empire. Britain feared that Russia would become more powerful and Britain would lose its leading role in the world. It improved the relationship for Britain and the USA with Russia by giving Russia what they wanted. The fact the conference was held in Tehran, near the Soviet Union was important because it showed a trusting relationship between the USA and Britain with Russia. It eventually led to the creation of the organisation known as the United Nations.
Yalta conference feb, 1945
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE = Churchill was isolated Churchill felt isolated and powerless after Stalin and Roosevelt got on well & made most of the agreements.
TERRITORIAL CONSEQUENCE = Germany divided It was agreed that Germany would be divided into 4 zones which would be controlled by Britain, France, USA & Russia. This, to prevent more conflict.
TERRITORIAL CONSEQUENCE = Berlin was divided The capital of Germany, Berlin would be divided in 4 zones. Each to be governed as they wished.
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCE = Reparation payments Germany should pay $20 million in reparations. Half would go to the Soviet Union.
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE = Soviet Influence: That east Europe was looked after by Russia in their ‘Soviet Sphere of Influence’. There would be elections.
There were disagreements with Russia over how much Germany should pay for their reparations. Stalin also wanted more land from Germany in the east and were not happy with their small zone. Russia were not happy that there would be elections in each country to vote for new leaders. Stalin just wanted to rule them. They met in an area of Russia called ‘Yalta’. Meeting here was important for the status of Russia.
Potsdam conference July 1945
Winston Churchill was defeated in the next General Election in England and replaced witChlement Atlee. Roosevelt was also replaced byTruman. This was a major change. TERRITORIAL CONSEQUENCE:
The Soviet troops had defeated Germany andNOT taken away their troops from Eastern Europe. This proved they wanted to stay.
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE:
Stalin set up aCommunist government in Poland. He had previously promised not to do this. MILITARY CONSEQUENCE:
Stalin refused to cut down and d‘ emilitarise’ his Soviet army at a time when America and Britain reduced their army after the war. Germany would be demilitarised completely.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP CONSEQUENCE:
Stalin had got on well with Roosevelt but the next PresidentH, arry Trumandid not trust Stalin and their relationship suffered. Truman wanted to stand up to Stalin more.
TECHNOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCE:
The Americans had tested anotheratomic bombin the USA. Stalin was furious that he had not been told about this and that he was not involved in the testing of a nuclear bomb.
There were lots of important issues that the Grand Alliance could not agree on. The two new leaders, Atlee and Truman were not experienced and struggled to negotiate with Stalin. Stalin did not want democratic elections in the countries freed from the Nazis, he wanted them under Soviet control. This angered Truman who from then on began ag‘et tough’ policy against Stalin and the Soviet Union. Truman saw Russia’s ‘Red Army’ as a threat to peace. Truman was not able to challenge Russia too much however as this might cause yet another conflict.
CLEAR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAPITALIMS AND COMMUNISM:
It highlighted thedifferencesbetween the leaders in their beliefs about how to run a country. The differences between Capitalism and Communism were clear for the leaders and the world to see.
How did the dropping of the atomic bomb male relations between the USA and USSR worse?
The USA believed it made them look stronger as they
were the first nation to test and use an atomic weapon in war. However, Stalin felt that the USA were now a greater danger to the world with atomic weapons. Stalin believed the USA would be capable of using an atomic weapon on Russia as a way to remove Communism.
LAND
Stalin responded to the US by taking control of more land in Eastern Europe. The land between Germany and Russia was labelled as a ‘buffer zone’. If the US used Germany to attack Russia, they would need to go through this ‘buffer zone’ made up of Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary before they reached Russia itself.
AN ‘ARMS RACE’
The Russians hoped to show the USA that they could build their own nuclear weapons and a successful test was carried out in August 1929. There was now competition between countries to develop more nuclear bombs. This led to the ‘Arms Race’ between the USA and the Soviet Union.
What were the telegrams?
USA’s President Truman and Russia’s Stalin were worried that a breakup of the Grand Alliance would mean conflict between the countries. Both leaders wanted to find out what each other were thinking.
A form of communication called a telegram was used by diplomats (politicians) living in the other country. These telegrams are known as the Long Telegram and the Novikov Telegrams.
Kennans long telegraph
The American Report on the Russian attitude towards them
∙George Kennan worked as a diplomat for America in Moscow (Russia). He sent a detailed telegram about what the Russian attitude towards America was. It was so detailed that it was called the Long Telegram.
∙He believed that Stalin wanted to see the destruction of capitalism and that Stalin believed other capitalist countries were a threat to Russia and Communism.
∙Kennan said that Stalin did not trust the USA ∙Kennan believed that Russia would back down
if faced with a strong, tough response from the USA.
The ‘Long’ Telegram was important, as from that point onwards, America was tough towards Russia and carried out a policy called ‘containment’. This meant that America wanted to stop the spread of communism and ‘contain’ it in The Soviet Union only
The novikov telegram from the USA
∙ The telegram sent by a Russian diplomat who worked in America, showed that the Americans did not trust the Russians.
∙ It told the Russians that the Americans wanted to use their massive military to ‘dominate’ the world and would not be frightened of another war.
∙ This led the Russians to believe that they needed to occupy as much land in Eastern Europe as possible to protect themselves against attack if it came.
∙ The telegram confirmed that the USA wanted to defeat communism.
Churchills iron curtain speech, march 1946
Winston Churchill was no longer Prime Minister but he still had great respect and influence. On a visit to the USA he gave a speech which was remembered for his use of a famous phrase ‘ The Iron Curtain’. Churchill stated that an Iron Curtain had descended across Europe and behind the Iron Curtain there were states controlled by Moscow. In the speech he made it clear that the Soviet Union were a threat to freedom and world peace. He made
it clear that he did not like how Communist governments had been set up in Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia.
Consequences:
In the same year as the Long and Novikov telegrams and with the same message, it caused even more tension between the USA and Russia. Churchill made it clear that he thought Russia was a threat
to world peace and freedom. Making the speech in the USA
showed that the USA believed the same and Churchill was on their side. Russian backed Communist governments had been set up on Hungary and Poland. Churchill saw this as a huge threat to the rest of Europe. It increased tensions even more between the USA and Russia and led to both sides strengthening their forces against each other.
It was an important speech as it made the divide between Communism in the east and capitalism in the west a real idea, with the ‘Iron Curtain’ being the dividing line between the two.
Why did Britain and American give control of Eastern Europe to Stalin and the Soviet Union?
❑ Britain and America promised each country in eastern Europe an election to vote for the government they wanted in charge. This was an important part of capitalism and a way of freeing these countries of the dictatorship of Nazi Germany. They believed this would happen under Stalin’s control. (Look under the map – it didn’t!)
❑ Britain was in no position after the war to take care of the countries in eastern Europe. It was in massive war debt and needed to concentrate its energy on rebuilding Britain.
❑ With no organised government in the eastern European countries, it was better to give Stalin the control. This would stop uprisings and even more chaos after the war.
❑ The people of eastern Europe would be happy to live under the control of the country that had rescued them from Nazi control. The Soviet Union seemed to have the money and power to do this.
Why did Stalin want to keep the satellite stares?
❑ Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone between Russia and Germany. If
the Americans used Germany to attack from, they would still have to get
through the buffer zone before reaching the Soviet Union.
❑ It would show strength as a ‘super power’ and ‘empire’ against the USA.
❑ It would increase the area of Communist influence in Europe and the
Soviet Union would introduce Communist governments into these countries.
Which countries were satellite states?
❑ East Germany – given to Russia with the Western powers in control of West Germany. No elections .
❑ Poland – taken over by Russia in 1947 who put a Communist government in control after the Warsaw Uprising. No elections
❑ Czechoslovakia – taken over by Russia in 1948 with a Communist government. No elections held.
❑ Hungary – Taken over by Russia in 1949 when the Russians interfered in their elections to guarantee a win.
❑ Romania and Bulgaria – People voted in a Russian Communist government after being intimidated by the Communist Party in 1944
