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 a 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 3 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 which showed that the USA and the USSR had very different ideologies.
- Truman Doctrine
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
- Long Telegram
- Soviet expansion 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.
How did communism in Greece and Turkey cause the passing of the Truman Doctrine?
Greece and Turkey were not communist countries, but they couldn’t afford to fight against communist forces, meaning they would soon succumb.
How did the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe trigger the Truman Doctrine?
Countries in Eastern Europe had communism forced upon them and Truman didn’t want this to happen to other countries too.
When was the Truman Doctrine?
12 March 1947.
What did the Truman Doctrine state?
- The USA was committed to a policy of containment
- America would provide economic and military aid to countries resisiting commmunism
What was America’s policy of containment?
Preventing the spread of communism.
What was announced soon after the Truman Doctrine?
The Marshall Plan.
What did the Marshall Plan do?
The USA gave £13 billion of economic aid to countries in Western Europe between 1948-52. Satellite states were banned from accepting any aid.
What were two consequences of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan?
- The creation of Comecon and Cominform as retaliation from the Soviets.
- US-Soviet relations worsened as Stalin accused the USA of making European countries dependent on their aid, aka ‘dollar imperialism.’
What was Cominform and when was it set up?
It was a political alliance that organised all the communist parties in Europe. It was set up in September 1947.
What two things did Cominform do?
- Got rid of any opposition to the Soviet’s control in the satellite states
- Encouraged communist parties to block aid given by the Marshall Plan
What was Comecon and when was it set up?
It was set up in January 1949 as an economic alternative to the Marshall Plan.
What was the purpose of Comecon?
- It built up trade links between Comecon countries
- It included most Eastern European countries, including the USSR
What were two consequences of Comecon and Cominform?
- It highlighted the divide between Eastern Europe (which was communist and controlled by the USSR) and Western Europe (which was capitalist and pro-American).
- It triggered the formation of NATO.
What was NATO and when was it formed?
It was a military alliance between Western European countries and the USA, set up in April 1949.
What was the purpose of NATO?
It provided security to its members, because if one country was threatened, the other countries would back them up.
What were two causes of the Berlin Blockade?
- Ideological differences between the USSR and the West
- Merging of Western zones + creation of Deutsche Mark
How did ideological differences cause the Berlin Blockade?
The USA wanted to rebuild Germany and make it stronger, whereas the Soviets wanted to weaken Germany so it wasn’t a threat to the USSR. This disagreement caused tensions between the East and West.
What reforms did the West make to their German zones?
- The USA and Britain combined their zones to create ‘Bizonia’ and later the French joined, making it ‘Trizonia’ in 1948.
- The West then developed Germany’s economy by creating a new currency called the Deutsche Mark.
Why did the merging of Germany’s Western zones and creation of the Deutsche Mark build tension?
Stalin thought that this change went against agreements made at the Potsdam Conference and that they were ‘ganging up’ on the USSR.
What was the Berlin Blockade and why did Stalin do this?
It was when the Soviets closed all transport links into West Berlin, stopping the West from accessing essential supplies. Stalin did this to force the British, American and French out of their zone.
When was the Berlin Blockade?
From 24 June 1948 - 12 May 1949.
How did the West respond to the Berlin Blockade?
They decided to fly supplies into West Berlin as a peaceful solution.
How often did planes land in West Berlin during the Berlin Blockade?
Every 3-4 minutes.
What were two consequences of the Berlin Airlift and Blockade?
- Led to the permanant division of Germany, showing that the West were unable to work with the USSR.
- It improved the image of capitalism, but damaged Stalin’s reputation as he was forced to remove the blockade on 12 May 1949.
What was West Germany offically named?
The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
What was East Germany officially named?
German Democratic Republic (GDR).
When did America develop their first atomic bomb?
In 1945.
What happened on 6th and 9th August 1945?
America dropped an atomic bomb on Japanese city, Hiroshima. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on Japanese city, Nagasaki.
When and why did the USSR develop their first atomic bomb?
The USSR felt threatened by America’s monopoly of nuclear weapons, so they felt they had to develop their own. In 1949, they successfully tested their first atomic bomb.
What did the powers development of nuclear weapons cause?
The nuclear arms race.
What two new weapons were developed by the USSR and USA in the 1950s? What was significant about these weapons?
- The hydrogen bomb which was 1000× more powerful than the atomic bomb
- ICBMs (Intercontinental ballistic missiles) that could hit a target more than 4500km away
What were two consequences of the arms race?
- Led to the idea of MAD (mutually assured destruction) which meant that any disagreements could end in a nuclear war.
- Period of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’ between the USA and USSR.
What were the two causes for the period of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’?
- Cost of the nuclear arms race
- The threat of nuclear war
Why did the cost of the arms race encourage the powers to reach a period of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’?
Both the USA and the USSR were spending lots of money on their military. However, the ‘satellite states’ had begun to experience shortages, so the USSR wanted to free up money to improve the standards of living.
Why did the threat of nuclear war lead to the era of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’?
The USA and USSR realised how dangerous nuclear weapons were and the destruction they could cause. Therefore, they took steps to improving their relationship to prevent the risk of nuclear war.
What US President came into power in 1953?
Dwight Eisenhower.
Who took over from Stalin after he died in 1953?
Nikita Khrushchev.
What was Eisenhower and Khrushchev committed to doing?
Improving relations between the USSR and the USA.
What two agreements were made during the period of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’?
- In 1955, they agreed to unite Austria, after it had been divided into four zones like Germany.
- For the first time in 10 years, leaders of the USA and USSR met in Geneva to discuss key issues.
What were two consequences of the era of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’?
- The US-Soviet relationship improved as both showed their willingness to reduce the likelihood of nuclear war.
- Tensions were still high as the Warsaw Pact was formed in May 1955.
When and why was the Warsaw Pact formed?
It was formed as a counter in 1955, when West Germany was added to the West’s military alliance - NATO.
What were two consequences of the Warsaw Pact?
- It gave the Soviet Union direct control over the armies of Eastern European countries.
- It meant there were two opposing alliances in Europe separated by the Iron Curtain.
Why did Hungarians dislike being under communist rule?
- There was no freedom of speech
- Everything was censored
- There were shortages of resources due to the Soviet’s spending on arms
What was Khrushchev’s policy of de-Stalinisation?
He wanted to remove Stalin’s legacy and relax Soviet control over Hungary.
What were the two causes of the Hungarian Uprising?
- Policy of de-Stalinisation
- Nagy’s reforms
What did Khrushchev’s policy of de-Stalinisation encourage the Hungarians to do and why?
Khrushchev’s policy of de-Stalinisation made it seem like he was more lenient than Stalin. This inspired people to protest about their lack of political freedoms and shortages to get more rights.
How did Khrushchev respond to the protests?
He appointed Imre Nagy as the new Hungarian Prime Minister. He hoped that Nagy could end the protests since he was popular.
What two reforms did Nagy introduce?
- Allowed freedom of speech
- Wanted Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact
Why did Khruschev dislike the reforms Nagy introduced?
Khrushchev disproved of these reforms because they threatened communist rule in Hungary.
What were the events of the Hungarian Uprising?
- In November 1956, 1000 Soviet tanks invaded Hungary
- 2500 Hungarians were killed and Nagy was executed
- Janos Kadar was appointed as the new leader of Hungary
What were two consequences of the Hungarian Uprising?
- Khrushchev’s position was strenghthened as he made an example out of Nagy which warned other countries to stay in the Warsaw Pact.
- The West appeared weak because they didn’t provide military support to Hungary, despite encouraging communist countries to stand up to the USSR.
What was the international reaction to the Soviet invasion of Hungary?
The USA and NATO countries opposed the Soviet invasion of Hungary and took in thousands of refugees. However, they didn’t want to provide military support and risk nuclear war.
