The development of the Cold war Flashcards
beginning of The Truman Doctrine
Between 1945 and 1949 the USA sought to contain the spread of communism, first in Europe but
later around the globe. The USA believed that the USSR was determined to expand and that the
USA should use any means possible to stop that expansion.
Greece’s benefit from The Truman Doctrine
Greece was the first country to benefit from this policy. During WW2 the Greek resistance to
the German occupation had been divided into supporters of the monarchy and the communists. At the end of the war British troops had helped to
restore the monarchy but were now under attack from the communists. By 1947, Britain could no longer afford to continue to keep troops in Greece and so they asked for help from the USA. The USA provided money to keep the British troops in Greece.
The Truman Doctrine
In 1947 President Truman outlined the USA’s response in what became
known as the Truman Doctrine.
This policy was designed to stop the spread of communism - it was called containment
Policy was driven by a belief in the ‘Domino Theory’ – the USA should prevent one country from
falling to communism to stop others from following suit.
It was believed that it was America’s duty to protect democracies from the threat of communism.
It would do this by providing money, aid, advisors or even weapons to any country threatened
by communism.
USA showed this policy in action when it installed ballistic missiles in Turkey - the USSR had no
such missiles and therefore saw this action as hostil
The Marshall Plan
Europe’s economy had been shattered by WW2. Europe had to tackle the devastation caused by the
war, the impact of the bombing, the loss of lives, the destruction of industry, refugees and a
mountain of debt. Europe owed the USA $11.5 billion.
US Secretary of State George Marshall believed that countries suffering from poverty and
unemployment were more likely to turn to communism. The aim of the Marshall Plan was
therefore to rebuild the shattered European economy so that it could contain the spread of
communism. A fund of $15 billion was made available to any nation who applied for it
The Marshall plan aim
The Marshall Plan aimed to:
- Raise living standards in Western Europe to reduce the appeal of communism.
- To rebuild Germany
- To weaken Soviet control over Eastern Europe
- To help the US economy by increasing US exports to Europe. They did not want a repeat of the
1920s.
The US government was initially insure about providing so much money to Europe, however, events
in Czechoslovakia soon changed their minds
Consequences of Truman doctrine
- Greek government were able to beat the communists
- Rivalry between USA and SU increased - Truman had publicly stated that the world was divided into two diff ways to live - the free and the unfree
- USA committed to policy of containment and more involved in EU affairs
- USA decided to provide Marshall plan although motivated by US self interest
Consequence of Marshall plan
By 1953, the USA has provided $17 billion to help EU countries rebuild their economics and raise there living standard. US machinery helped EU factories to recover from effects of WW2
Europe became more firmly divided between east and west . Stalin did not trust USA and prevented Eastern European countries such as Poland and Czechoslovakia from joining
Stalin accused USA of using the plan to dominate Europe and boost US economy
Stalin’s Reaction to the Marshall Plan
Stalin called the Marshall Plan ‘dollar imperialism’ and claimed the USA
was trying to control industry and trade in Europe. He believed that it
sought to undermine communism and to promote the spread of
capitalism across the globe. He refused to accept any economic aid and
stopped any Eastern bloc country applying for it
How did Stalin react to the actions of the West?
Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949)
To try to prevent any eastern European countries applying for Marshall Aid, Stalin offered help and
support to eastern Europe by setting up two organisations, Cominform (1947) and Comecon
(1949).
Cominform 1947
was an alliance of European communist parties to help
them plan and to work together and spread Stalin’s ideas. It increased the control Stalin had over
these countries, and limited their independence. Only leader of
Yugoslavia, would not accept Stalin’s total leadership and split with Mosco
Comecon 1949
coordinate the production and trade of
the eastern European communist countries. They were expected to trade with each other and not
the West. However, it favoured the USSR more than any of its other members.
Causes of the Berlin Crisis/Berlin Blockade
Britain, France and the USA had merged their zones into one in March 1948
- Britain, France and the USA had then introduced a new currency called the ‘Deutsch mark’ to western Germany, which was intended to help it become economically stronger.
- There was a crisis as capitalism was drawing many people away from the communist east towards greater opportunities and freedoms in the west.
As a result:
- Stalin felt threatened by Germany’s growing strength
- Stalin was angry that the west had not consulted him before making changes in their zones of
Germany
- Stalin wanted the ‘cancer’ of west Berlin to be removed from East Germany.
What happened?
In June 1948 Stalin cut off all road, rail and canal links to West Berlin –
the Berlin Blockade. The city only had 6 weeks supplies of food and fuel.
Stalin aimed to starve the 2 million inhabitants in West Berlin into
submission. He believed that Truman would either have to give up West
Berlin or go to war.
But the West responded with a massive airlift - food, fuel and supplies
were flown into Berlin for 10 months. Stalin dared no shoot down any
planes – it would be an act of war. Stalin called off the Blockade in May
1949.
Outcomes:
- A propaganda victory for the West - Truman had shown he would not allow the policy of
containment to fail. - Stalin was humiliated - the USSR had failed to extend its influence
- The division of Germany into two separate states - in May 1949 the new Federal Republic of
Germany (FRG) was set up. In October, the eastern zone became the German Democratic Republic
(GDR) - The formation of NATO.
- Deepened hostility between East and West
Consequence of berlin Crisis
led to NATO
Confirmed division of Germany though FRG and GDR
increased east west TENSIONS
The North Atlantic _________ Organisation (NATO) was formed in April 1949 by the Western powers. This was during the period of the Berlin _________, and was partly in response to Stalin’s aggression. The original twelve members of NATO in
1949 were the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, _________, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg. NATO was a ______ ________
that committed all members to the defence of all the others. promise of American help in an emergency. The alliance was to be supported by large numbers of troops on the ground. In particular, there were a large
number of ______ in West Germany. By 1953, 5 divisions of US troops were permanently based there.
Stalin, unsurprisingly, saw NATO as a _____ to the USSR and Eastern Europe.
treaty, blockade, France, military alliance, troops, threat
Consequences of NATO
- USA now fully committed to the defence of WE
- Stalin believed it was aimed at the SU = increasing tensions
- intensified arms race
- led to Warsaw pact
- USA set up its own missile bases in WE
What was the Warsaw Pact?
The Warsaw Pact was set up in ____. The Warsaw Pact was a defensive military alliance of the
USSR and its ________ states in ________ Europe. It was intended as a counter-force to
NATO, which was a military alliance of western powers.
The Warsaw Pact, like NATO, relied on collective security – if one nation was attacked, the others
would come to its support. The Warsaw Pact helped to make Eastern Europe an effective ‘_______
zone’ for the USSR against the West.
1955
satellite
Eastern
buffer zone
