The Origins Of The Cold War 1945-1960 Flashcards
What was the Cold War?
A period of deep rivalry and hostility between the US and USSR
Instead of a direct war how did the rivals compete against each other? (5 ways)
- Each side used propaganda to say how bad its rival was
- Each side tried to influence other countries and get them to join its side
- Each side sold arms, made loans and gave aid to other countries to try to win them over
- Sometimes one side encouraged countries supporting it to attack countries supporting the other side (proxy wars)
- Each side built up its arms and military technology- arms race
What did the U.S.A think the USSR wanted to do
Spread communism throughout Europe, and so dominate Europe
What did the Soviets think that the USA and its allies wanted to do + what did it blame the western capitalist countries for?
The Soviets thought that the USA and its allies wanted to destroy Communism. They also blamed the western countries for “helping” Hitler make Germany strong again
What were the consequences of the two countries ideological differences?
Both sides were suspicious of each other’s different way of life. These fears and suspicions soon turned to policies designed to prevent the other side from getting too much strength, helping to cause the Cold War
The Americans had the Atom bomb in 1945 but the Russians did not until 1949 what were the consequences of this?
Made the Americans more confident and forceful in their dealings with the Soviets
What year was the Yalta conference?
1945
What was decided at the Yalta conference?
- Germany and Berlin what to be divided into four temporary zones
- Soviet union was to be allowed to have influence in Eastern Europe but Soviet union must allow free elections in the eastern European countries that the Soviet Army was capturing from the Germans
- Germany must pay reparations
- The UN would be set up
- Nazi war criminals would be put on trial
- Stalin would join in the war against Japan
What wasn’t decided on at Yalta and what were the consequences of this?
What should happen to Poland- USA and Britain was worried it was being taken over by the USSR
The issue of Poland would cause problems later especially at Potsdam, although Feb 1945 no one thought the allies would fall out so significantly
What year was Potsdam?
1945
What was difference at Potsdam compared to Yalta and why?
There was much more open distrust. US and Britain did not like the amount of control the Soviets had over Poland . Could see that free elections were not going to be held.
Americans also tested first atom bomb successfully. Truman told Stalin
Consequences of Potsdam conference?
Stalin and Truman grew suspicious of each other. Stalin showed he couldn’t be trusted because of the lack of free elections.
Truman did not try to negotiate with Stalin, no real attempt made to sort out the issues as thought he had the ‘trump card’ (atom bomb)- use its power to scare Stalin and give US upper hand
Which two cities in Japan were bombed in 1945?
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Throughout which years was Soviet Expansion in Europe?
1945-48
Why did the Soviets want to set up satellite states in Eastern Europe?
- Wanted communism to spread
- Defensive- wanted a buffer zone that would guard Russia against attack from the West. WW2 had inflicted large damage on Russia
- The wealth and resources of the satellite countries could be used to help rebuild Russia
- Germany must be kept weak. Dividing Germany up would make sure of this
What were the consequences of soviet expansion in eastern Europe?
Led to great suspicion about Stalin’s intentions. To the USA and Britain it appeared that Stalin was trying to spread communism across Europe and increase his power.
Stalin had broken agreements made at Yalta- further worried US and Britain who wanted people in Europe to have democracy and freedom.
USA angry and suspicious of Stalin
When was the Truman Doctrine created?
1947
What was the Truman Doctrine?
In 1947 Truman decided to protect Turkey and Greece from communism. Promised to help any country threatened by “outside pressure”- communism wasn’t publicly named.
What were the consequences of the Truman Doctrine?
Led to the policy of containment. To USSR appeared as almost a declaration of war against communism. Once Truman outlined this idea there was little chance they would solve their differences
What was the Marshall plan and when was it put into action?
A programme offering aid to the countries of Europe who were all trying to recover from the effects of WW2. June 1947
What were the consequences of the Marshall Plan?
Stalin banned communist countries from accepting Marshall aid, expelled Yugoslavia from cominform for taking it anyway.
Stalin called it dollar imperialism, claimed Truman was trying to bribe other countries- heightened suspicions
Why did the US offer Marshall aid?
- Wanted to contain communism- if they remained poor might choose communism because it promised to spread wealth evenly. France and Italy communists were doing quite well in elections. People less likely to turn to communism is their countries were recovering and getting richer
- Could spread capitalist propaganda and American influence
In what year did the Western zones merge into one?
1948
What was happening in the western zone of Germany in 1948 and what was the result of this?
It was becoming more prosperous, new German currency was introduced (Deutschmark). Angered Stalin who wanted Germany to stay weak, decided to act- Berlin Blockade
What was the Berlin Blockade? (1948-1949
The Soviets decided to force the Americans/British/French out of the western part of Berlin.
Closed road, railway and canal routes- couldn’t block air without shooting planes down which would have led to a “hot” war. Decided to only reopen routes if they left West Berlin, meanwhile West Berlin would starve
America, Britain and France decided to supply West Berlin with food and fuel by air- was successful and Stalin called off Blockade May 1949
