The Origins of the Cold War: 1941–58 Flashcards
What ideology did the USA and Britain believe in?
Capitalism.
What ideology did the USSR believe in?
Communism.
What are the three main ideas that capitalism is based on?
- Believes in individual ownership
- Wealth is unevenly distributed
- There should be freedom of speech and democracy
What are the three main ideas that communism is based on?
- Believes in collective ownership
- Wealth is distributed evenly
- There should be censorship and one party should rule
When was the Grand Alliance formed?
1941.
What countries were part of the Grand Alliance?
- USA
- Britain
- USSR
Who were the leaders of the countries part of the Grand Alliance and what were they known as?
- USA - Frankiln D. Roosevelt
- Britain - Winston Churchill
- USSR - Josef Stalin
These leaders were known as the ‘Big Three’.
What was the purpose of the Grand Alliance?
To defeat Nazi Germany (and its ally Japan) to end WW2.
When and where was the Tehran Conference?
It took place in Iran in November 1943.
What 3 agreements were made at the Tehran Conference?
- USA and Britain agreed to open second front, forcing the Germans to split their army across Europe
- The USSR would declare war on Japan, once the Nazis were defeated
- They agreed to set up an international organisation to settle future disputes between countries
What were two consequences of the Tehran conference?
- The ‘Big Three’ showed their ability to cooperate, showing they were commited to ending WW2.
- There were some tensions arising as Roosevelt saw the British empire as more of a threat than Stalin.
When and where was the Yalta Conference?
It took place in Soviet territory in February 1945.
What 4 agreements were made at the Yalta Conference?
- Germany would be divided and would have to pay £20 billion of reparations to the allies
- All 3 powers agreed that European countries would be able to have free elections
- Part of Poland would be declared Soviet land
- Peace-keeping organisation, UN (United Nations) would be set up
What were two consequences of the Yalta Conference?
- The powers showed their ability to work together to create a plan for post-war Europe.
- Churchill didn’t want the USSR to have control over Poland, which created tensions.
When and where was the Potsdam Conference?
It took place in Germany from July-August 1945.
What 4 agreements were made at the Potsdam Conference?
- The final decision was that Germany and Berlin would be split into 4 ‘zones of occupation’ run by the USA, France, Britain and the USSR
- Nazi Party was banned
- USSR would recieve ¼ of output from other three zones as it had the poorest zone
What three changes took place before the Potsdam Conference?
- Roosevelt died and was replaced with Harry S. Truman
- Churchill lost the election and was replaced with Clement Attlee
- The USA had successsfully tested the only atomic bomb in the world
What were two consequences of the Potsdam Conference?
- Tensions rose as the ‘common enemy’ was defeated.
- New leaders of the USA and Britain changed the dynamic.
What tensions arose as Truman replaced Roosevelt as President?
Truman saw the atomic bomb as leverage in the Potsdam Conference and made it clear that he didn’t trust Stalin. He also disagreed with promises made over Poland. This made tensions rise between the USA and the USSR.
Why two reasons caused Stalin to create a ‘buffer zone’ in Eastern Europe and why?
The USSR was left vulnerable after their losses in WW2 and America’s development of the atomic bomb. Stalin wanted to create a barrier between the USSR and America to ensure his safety.
What was the impact of WW2 on the USSR?
The Soviet Union had suffered 27 million deaths which significantly weakened them. The Red Army was also positioned in many Eastern European countries as they had freed them from Nazi rule.
What is meant by the term ‘satellite state’?
A country that is formally independent, but actually under heavy political and economic control of another country.
How and when did Bulgaria become a ‘satellite state’?
In 1945, a communist government was elected. Other political opponents were executed.
How did Poland become a ‘satellite state’?
After rigged elections in 1947, the communists won the vote. Non-communist politicians were forced to flee or imprisoned.
How and when did Hungary become a ‘satellite state’?
In 1947, voters were intimidated by the USSR to elect a communist government. By 1949, Hungary was a one-party state.
What were three consequences of Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe?
- Tensions increased as the USA saw the expansion as a betrayal of the agreements made at Yalta, about holding free elections
- George Kennan’s Long Telegram.
- Encouraged the USA to contain communism through the Truman Doctrine.
What was a cause of the USA’s Long Telegram?
The Long Telegram was triggered by Soviet expansion in the East.
Who was the Long Telegram sent by and when?
By George Kennan (a US ambassador in Moscow) in February 1946.
What did the Long Telegram state?
- Stalin wanted to destroy capitalism
- Truman needed to take a tougher approach for the USSR to back down
What were two consequences of the Long Telegram?
- The Novikov Telegram
- It increased tensions as it showed that the USA and the USSR had very different ideologies.
Who was the Novikov Telegram sent by and when?
It was sent by Nikolai Novikov (a Soviet ambassador in the USA) in September 1946.
What did the Novikov Telegram state?
- The USA aimed to use their nuclear power to control the world
- That the Soviet Union was the only country that could stand up to America
What were the three events that led to the passing of the Truman Doctrine?
- Poor state of European economies
- Communism in Greece and Turkey
- Soviet exapansion in Eastern Europe
Why did the poor state of European economies lead to the Truman Doctrine?
After WW2, many European countries (including Britain) were left poor and in ruins. Truman feared that this would make communism seem more attractive.
