The seeds of conflict, 1917-1944 Flashcards
What are the economic differences between capitalism and communism?
Communists saw capitalism as a reason for division between classes. They believed that all businesses and factories should be taken over by the government on behalf of the people.
Capitalism worked with the incentive of personal wealth.
What are the political differences between capitalism and communism?
The West saw itself as upholding liberal democracy.
In a communist state, there are no different political parties. Communism promoted class unity over nationalism.
The West felt threatened and was scared of communist expansionism.
What was Comintern?
An international organisation to coordinate communist groups around the world and support their attempts to undermine capitalism by any means necessary.
What was Wilsonian Liberalism?
A clear vision of US attitudes towards foreign policy. Wilson issued his 14 points, a statement of America’s values and war aims.
What principles did Wilsonian Liberalism promote?
Self-determination, open markets and collective security.
What was new about Wilsonian Liberalism compared to American ideology previously?
He wanted to implement his ideas on a global level. He believed that the US had a moral obligation to spread their values and it marked the beginning of US involvement in foreign affairs.
Why did Wilsonian Liberalism have little short-term impact?
The US rejected the Treaty of Versailles and went back to its policy of isolationism.
Whose ideologies planted the seeds of the conflict and why?
Lenin and Wilson’s ideas. They were so drastically different that if they were to succeed, the Cold War was inevitable.
What were some of the causes of tension between the US and the USSR?
-Ideological differences
-Refusal of the Soviets to pay debts owed to the West by previous Russian governments.
-Execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family
-Tension created by Comintern activities
-Bolshevik decision to pull out of WW1, which resulted in the Brest-Litovsk Treaty of 1918
-Allied plot for the downfall of the Bolshevik government
