The origins of the Cold war to 1945 Flashcards
What was the impact of the First World ?
There was a huge loss of life in WW1 which sparked a desire among world leaders to avoid war and dissolve disputes through diplomacy.
What was the Treaty Of Versailles?
It was signed in 1919 where Germany had to pay repetition of 6.6 billion. They also had to accept war guilt and established the League of Nations with idea that it would consist the world’s most powerful leaders to solve disputes. Russia was not invited join the League of Nations until 1934. ( Increase tension?)
What was the relationship like between USA and USSR after WW1?
The relationship was tense because the Western powers saw communism as a direct threat to their way of life and intervened in 1918 in the Russian civil war in an attempt to overthrow the Bolsheviks.
The Soviet Union was also a great threat to Western liberal democracies from 1920. There was great tension until the arrival of The Nazi party where the Soviet Union could be seen as an ally.
What was the main cause of tension between USA and USSR after WW1?
The main cause of tension was their opposing ideologies. Communism directly opposed the traditional ideas of democracy held in countries like Britain, France and USA. In capitalist economies the main incentive is for individual gain which is the opposite for Communism.
What was the early causes of tensions ? (12 causes )
- 1917 the Bolshevik revolution
- 1918 Russia. Withdraws from WW1
- Tsar Nicholas and family executed
- 1917-22 the Russian Civil war
- 1919 Comintern
- 1920s The red scare
- 1919-20 Polish -soviet Civil War
- 1924 Lenin replaced by Stalin
9.1930s British spies - 1930s show trials & oppression
- 1938 Appeasement
- 1939 Nazi-soviet pact
When was the Russian Civil War?
It was from 1917- 1922.
What was the Bolshevik Revolution? Who was it led by?
In February 1917 after three years of fighting in the first world war, the Russian people rose in revolt against the government of Tsar Nicholas.
It was led by Vladimir Lenin.
A group of Marxist revolutionaries exploited the fears of workers and in October they seized power by force an overthrew the government.
What was the Russian Civil War?
There was immediate hostility between Russia and the western states. The Bolsheviks had to fight the whites. The whites were openly supported by The western states like the USA, France and Britain. These allies wanted to prevent the spread of Bolshevism and prevent it spreading to Germany.
The red army won and Russia was now communist.
How did The Bolshevik Revolution and the Russian civil war impact relations?
This led to increase of tension because the soviets now had 4 main opponents after the War which is seen through the support of the Whites.
There was a huge loss of men along with war in the Russian Civil war.
What were the soviet foreign policies created ?( what year?)
- Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939 —>
- Non- aggression pact in 1939
- Anglo - French guarantee. In 1940s
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
- In August 1939, Stalin stunned the West by
signing a non-aggression treaty with Germany (the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact). The two countries agreed not to attack each other and to also divide Poland between them.
Stalin was trying to buy time and wanted to weaken the red army. Stalin would make an agreement with Germany. in order to delay or stop the war.
Why was the Nazi-Soviet pact important?
The Nazi soviet Pact was important because it bought time for the Soviets and would hopefully give them more time to prepare for war whilst Germany would hurt.
What was the Non- aggression Pact?
Stalin’s main aim was to defend USSR especially from Germany. So he signed this agreement on the 24th of August which outlined soviet- German spheres of interest in Eastern Europe.
They agreed to not fight each other and would split Poland between each other.
What was the impact of the Non- agreement Pact?
This would have increased tensions between the East and West as it would have stunned the West because they were hoping to form a front against Germany.
What was the Anglo- France guarantee in 1939?
This was when Britain and France had been negotiating with USSR throughout 1939. The wanted a united font against Germany and form an alliance. Fascism and communism are opposite. However, when Poland accepted the Nazi-Soviet pact this was no longer valuable.
