The USA as a superpower. Truman's foreign policy Flashcards
what united America and the Soviets in 1945
they were united by the determination to defeat Germany
what did the determination to defeat Germany lead to?
They managed to have frequent, considerable cooperation during the war. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin held post war time conferences on how to achieve victory.
where did the 3 leaders hold conferences?
Tehran (1943) and Yalta (Feb 1945)
what was agreed at the Yalta Conference
- Germany would be divided into four parts, one for each- Britain, the USA, France and the Soviet Union.
- Stalin agreed to hold democratic elections in Poland (he lied)
- Roosevelt proposed setting up an International organization - The United Nation, in hopes that it’ll keep the peace in a post - war world. Though, wary Stalin agreed.
- Stalin agreed to join the war in the pacific as long as he was given occupational zones in Manchuria and North Korea.
was there tension during the yalta conference and why?
Stalin distrusted the west and Churchill
who was responsible for managing Stalin at Yalta?
Roosevelt
who described Yalta as a success?
Roosevelt said it a was start on the road to world peace.
what were the reasons for wartime tensions?
The atomic bombs and disagreement over Poland
why was the atomic bombs cause war-time tensions?
Because America, although reluctantly shared knowledge with the British over the development of atomic bombs, didn’t inform their other ally, the soviet union.
how did Stalin find out about America’s development of Nuclear Weapons?
Through Spies
what were the phases of Truman’s foreign policy?
Containment in Europe
Containment in Asia
Key Events in Truman’s Foreign Policy - Europe
Potsdam 1945
Sinews of Peace Speech 1946
The Truman Doctrine 1947
Marshall Plan
Berlin Blockade 1948
NATO 1948
National Security Act 1948
Key Events in Truman’s Foreign Policy - Asia
Occupation of Japan
Establishment of Communist China 1949
Involvement in Indo-China
Korean War 1950-53
what was Truman’s reputation
He had a reputation as a staunch anti-communist
Truman’s foreign policy aims
Containing Soviet Expansion and communism
Ensuring the security of US allies and trading partners
date of potsdam
Aug 1945
what did Truman aim to achieve in Potsdam
Truman was determined to stand up to Stalin and to establish his reputation on the world stage but the tensions between the two meant that little was achieved.
how did Stalin cause tensions at Potsdam
Stalin ignored Truman’s and Churchills protests about the imposition of communism on Poland, but confirmed that he would join the war against Japan
things agreed at Potsdam
the 5 D’s
Demilitarisation
Deindustralisation
Decentralisation
Denazification
Democratisation of Germany
what caused tensions in Potsdam
Truman failed to alert Stalin to the US’s atomic bombs before the end of the conference, four days later the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
who gave a Speech to heighten cold war tensions
Churchill
what was Churchill’s speech called
Sinews of Peace Speech
date of the Sinews of Peace Speech
March 1946
what was said during the Sinews of Peace Speech
Truman attended the speech and sat behind Churchill who declared that an ‘Iron Curtain’ has descended across Europe.
why did Truman Support the Sinews of Peace Speech
Truman supported it as the Soviet sphere of influence has increased rapidly and his aim was to stop the spread of communism.
how did Press spin the Sinews of Peace Speech
Press attention about the speech was hostile and Truman denied ever knowing about the speech, as it added to Americans’s fear about Soviet expansionism
dates of the cold war
1949 - 1989
who was the cold war between
It was between the US and the SU, there was no direct military conflict, both countries used covert warfare and war by proxy as each sought to gain and maintain allies and destabilise the other.
when did Stalin make a speech to increase cold war tensions
9th Feb 1946
how did Stalin’s speech heighten cold war tensions
Stalin made a speech where he condemned capitalism and believed that it would make future wars inevitable, this created the impression that he was war-mongering which showed that the USSR would be willing to fight. The USSR also backed Greek communists that destabilised the Greek monarchy which led to more tensions.
what was Truman’s cold war policy
Containment Policy
what was cold war policy
US cold war doctrine advocating military and diplomatic action to limit the expansion of communism