The Cold War Flashcards
Some examples or forms of hostility during the Cold War between the east and west.
Mutual fear Proxy wars Military competition Rivalry for influence in many parts of the world especially third world countries Space race Race for superiority in technology On the sports field, Olympics Brinkmanship which is the task of pushing a dangerous policy to the limits before stopping
What does the term Cold War refer to?
It refers to the period of tension, hostility and struggle that developed after world war 2. This was between the two superpowers: USA and their Allies and the USSR and their Allies. It was also a conflict between competing social and economic systems and political ideologies- a clash between capitalism and communism.
Origin of the Cold War?
Started straight after World War Two ended
Three mains ideas:
The USSR was to blame. Stalin planned for communist takeover of the world= control over Eastern Europe was the first step towards world control.
The USA was to blame. Soviet actions were defensive. The USA wanted to control it’s area of influence but refused to allow the USSR to do the same.
Neither side was to blame. The Cold War was based on misunderstanding and forces beyond the control of both sides.
The period of the Cold War?
1945 to 1963
The USA and USSR were both enormously wealthy countries who had great natural resources. What was the main difference between the two countries?
They were starkly separated by their different political ideologies of capitalism and communism.
What ideals did American capitalism contain?
People should be free to make as much money as they can
Factories and other property should be owned by individuals and companies
The government should interfere as little as possible in the lives of ordinary people
At elections people should be allowed to chose anyone they want for the government
The press should be allowed to criticize the government
The government should not interfere with religion
What ideals did Soviet Communism contain?
Rich are wicked and selfish and should be forced to share their wealth
Factories and other property should be owned by the state or on behalf of all the people
A communist government should get involved in every aspect of life
At elections people should only be allowed to chose communists for government
The press should never criticize a communist government
Religious belief is nonsense and should be wiped out by the government
The YALTA conference in February 1945?
It was in the Crimea in the USSR
The leader of the Grand Alliance =Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill - met at Yalta
The three men were pleased on how the war was going
There was a friendly atmosphere at the meeting but underneath there were some serious disagreements
What was the attitude of Roosevelt at Yalta ?
He was keen that democracy should be into reduced into Eastern Europe. However he trusted Stalin and wanted to make sure that the USA and USSR remained on good terms after the war.
What was the attitude of Churchill at Yalta?
He was very concerned about the future of Poland and Eastern Europe. He did not trust Stalin.
He wanted to stop Stalin from imposing communism on the territory taken over by the red army. Britain had gone to war in 1939 to help Poland and Churchill did not want to abandon Poland to soviet control.
What was Stalins attitude at Yalta?
He was obsessed with the security go the USSR. He wanted the Soviet Union to retain the polish territory taken in 1939 as part of the nazi-soviet pact. He also wanted to make sure that the new government of Poland would be friendly towards the USSR
The main purpose of the Yalta conference?
Decide what to do with Germany, and the countries controlled by the Germans in Eastern Europe.( once the nazis were defeated)
Other decisions taken at Yalta?
Germany was to be defeated and disarmed
The soviets would join the war against Japan
The formation of the UNO(United Nations organization)
Why did the West mistrust the USSR?
The 1917 Bolshevik uprising
The fear of socialism and communism
The west saw the USSR as a problem
Why the Soviets mistrust the West?
The west aided the whites in the war against the Bolsheviks
The west disregarded the Soviet goals
The USSR was not invited to the Munich conference
The USA dropped the atom bomb on Japan without telling the USSR
