The origins of the Cold War, 28 - 50

Question 1

What were the three conferences held between 1943 and 1945 to discuss the future of the world after WW2?

Answer 1

Tehran
Yalta
Potsdam

Question 2

What was agreed at the Tehran Conference in 1943?

Answer 2

I.The Grand Alliance agreed to cooperate.
II.The USA and GB would invade Nazi occupied France at the earliest chance.
III.the USSR would attack Japan.
IV.They would set up the UN.

Question 3

What was agreed at the Yalta Conference in Feb 1945?

Answer 3

I.Germany would be split into four zones and Berlin would be split into four, despite being in the USSR’s zone.
II.USSR would attack Japan
III.German war criminal would be punished
IV.Free elections in occupied countries
V.Free elections in Poland

Question 4

Who replaced FDR as President of the USA for the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 4

Truman (suspicious of Communism and did not like Stalin)

Question 5

What created tension at the Potsdam Conference in Jul-Aug 1945?

Answer 5

I.Change of leaders
II.Stalin wanted influence in Poland
III.The USA used the atom bomb on Japan without telling the USSR.

Question 6

When did the USA use the atomic bombs on Japan and what war ended as a result of their use?

Answer 6

August 1945, during the Potsdam Conference. WW2 came to an end.

Question 7

What were two consequences of the USA using the atomic bomb against Japan?

Answer 7

I.The USSR built their own and the arms race began.

II. The USSR tightened its control over countries it occupied in Eastern Europe.

Question 8

In what year did the USSR get its own atomic bomb?

Answer 8

1949

Question 9

What did George Kennan’s Long Telegram say about the USSR in 1946?

Answer 9

The USSR was expanding its control and was aggressively trying to take over land in Europe.

Question 10

What did the USSR’s Novikov telegram say about the USA in reply?

Answer 10

The USA were aggressive and looking to dominate the world with its power.

Question 11

What Eastern European countries became Satellite States of the USSR up to 1948?

Answer 11

Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria

Question 12

Give examples of how different countries, especially Poland, came to be Satellite States

Answer 12

I.Rigged elections.

II.Communists taking key roles in coalition governments.

III.The Red Army.

Question 13

What did Winston Churchill famously say, in 1946, was happening in Europe?

Answer 13

An ‘Iron Curtain’ was developing between free capitalist countries and Communist countries.

Question 14

How did the USA view the USSR’s creation of “Satellite States”?

Answer 14

As an aggressive move – empire building

Question 15

What was Stalin’s justification for Satellite States?

Answer 15

I.That it was a buffer against future invasion.

II.Communism was good for the people.

Question 16

What was the main message of the Truman Doctrine Speech in 1947?

Answer 16

To contain/stop the spread of communism

Question 17

What was happening in Greece and Turkey that moved him to make the speech when he did?

Answer 17

I.Civil War and Communist uprisings.

II.Britain couldn’t deal with the situation so the USA had to do the “Superpower” thing by stepping in.

Question 18

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

Answer 18

To help Europe recover from war and stop communism

Question 19

What are three examples of countries got money as a consequence of the Marshall Plan?

Answer 19

I.UK - $3,297 million
II.West Germany - $1,448 million
III.France - $2,296 million

Question 20

What was the importance of the Marshall Plan for the world?

Answer 20

I. It increased the USSR’s determination to secure influence of its own.

II.It increased the divide between Communist and capitalist countries because the USSR pressured their satellite states to reject Marshall Aid.

III.It led to the USSR setting up cominform and then later comecon.

Question 21

What country had a Communist takeover in February 1948?

Answer 21

Czechoslovakia

Question 22

What was the purpose of the USSR’s Cominform?

Answer 22

To spread communism and organise the economies of communist states

Question 23

What was the USSR’s alternative to the Marshall Plan, set up in 1949?

Answer 23

Comecon