The USSR and the USA: the creation of spheres of influence (4) Flashcards
How did the USSR and the USA create spheres of influence?
In the atmosphere of tension and suspicion after the war, both superpowers tried to strengthen over parts of Europe.
Define sphere of influence.
An area under the influence or control of a dominant country.
What was the issue which caused tension between the former Allies (USA and USSR)?
The issue was Western concern about the extension of Soviet control over much of Eastern Europe.
Was Western concern about Soviet Expansionism justified? (2)
- Yes, during the war, the USSR had annexed the independent Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and at the end of the war, it annexed the eastern part of Poland.
- In addition, the presence of the Soviet Army which had liberated Eastern Europe from the Nazis ensured that Soviet-friendly governments came to power in Polan, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and East Germany.
The countries in which the USSR liberated and established Soviet governmentš in became known as Soviet ___.
satellites
Define satellite state.
A state under the strong influence of another country.
True or False
The free elections, which the USSR had agreed at Yalta to hold in these countries did not take place
True
What event in 1948 seemed to confirm Western Suspicions that the USSR was trying to extend its control and influence?
The communist coup in Czechoslovakia
What did the USSR and USA think that the USSR’s main reason for joining the Grand Alliance was?
They believed that the USSR’s main aim in joining the Grand Alliance during the war had been to increase Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe.
The West were also worried that communist governments would take control in the rest of the Europe, especially___, ____ and France (_______________)
Greece
Italy
Where there were strong Communist parties
How did Sir Winston Churchill express disapproval of the USSR’s expansion?
He did so in a speech at Fulton, Missouri, in the uSA in 1946. In this speech he warned that an ‘iron curtain’ was diving Europe into East and West.
Define Iron Curtain.
The Iron Curtain specifically refers to the imaginary line dividing Europe between Soviet influence and Western influence.
What does the Iron Curtain symbolise?
It symbolizes efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and non-Soviet-controlled areas.
What did concerns about the extension of the Soviet Union lead to?
It led to a radical change in American foreign policy.
What had America’s foreign policy been like prior to fear of Soviet Expansionism? What policy did it now adopt?
It was a policy of ‘isolation, the USA become actively involved in world affairs. It adopted a policy of containment, to contain or check the spread of communism.
Which events made the USA and USSR decide to take action in this way?
It was the events in Greece and Turkey.
What had happened in Greece?
In Greece, a civil had broken out between communist-led guerillas and the Greek government. A similar situation had developed in Turkey
What conclusions did the USA make about the events in Greece and Turkey?
The USA believed that in both cases the USSR was supporting the communists.
When the USA announce their policy change?
In March 1947.
What did the policy of containment entail?
The USA was prepared to send money, military equipment, and advice to any country that was threatened by a communist takeover.
What became of the basis of American policy during the Cold War?
The Truman Doctrine.
Almost immediately, the USA sent aid to ____ and ____ governments. This helped them defeat the communist guerillas.
Greek
Turkish
Define subjugation.
One country bringing another under its control.
Define guerillas.
Irregular, informal army, soldiers that use informal hit and run tactics.
What was the Truman Doctrine?
Truman established that the United States would provide political, military equipment and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from communist takeover.
What was another policy of containment?
The Marshall Plan
What did Truman believe was also necessary to stop the spread of communism?
Truman believes that more than just military aid was necessary
Who did Truman send to Europe to investigate the post-war situation there?
US Secretary of State, George Marshall
What did Marshall report back?
He reported that much of Europe had been destroyed by the war and that people were suffering.
What was the result of Marshall’s plan?
The result of this visit was a plan for economic aid, called the Marshall Plan.
What was the plan of the Marshall Plan?
The aim was to rebuild the post-war European economies and, in this way, destroy the conditions under which, Truman believed, the appeal of communism would spread.
Between ___ and ___, the USA gave __ billion of Marshall Aid to countries of Western Europe to help them rebuild their economies. This included former allies, such as ____ and ____, as well as former enemies, such as ____.
1948 1952 $17 France Britain Germany
How did the Marshall Aid help?
It helped to bring about a remarkable economic recovery in Western Europe.
Why was Stalin suspicious of the Marshall Plan?
He saw it as a form of ‘dollar diplomacy’.
True or False
Stalin allowed some of the Soviet States to accept Marshall Aid.
FALSE, Stalin allowed NONE of the Soviet States to accept it.
The Marshall Plan increased the ____ between Eastern and Western Europe.
Divisions
What did the Soviet Union set up in 1947?
Stalin set up the Communist Information Bureau or Cominform.
Why did Stalin set up Cominform?
He set it up to co-ordinate the communist parties of Eastern Europe in the post-war years. He used it to keep firm control over the Soviet satellite states.
What did Stalin do to independent leaders?
Replaced them with those loyal to him.
Communist parties from ___ and ___ were also members of Cominform.
Italy
France
What was formed in 1949?
The communist bloc formed another organization called Comecon, also dominated by the USSR.
What was Comecon?
Comecon was an economic agreement amongst communist nations loyal to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Comecon stands for Council for Mutual Economic Aid. The Soviet Union created Comecon as a response to the U.S. Marshall Plan for European recovery after WWII.
