Topic 1:US-soviet relations 1945-6: post atomic bomb drop + telgrams

Question 1

How did the dropping of the atomic bomb cause decline in USA-Russia relations?

Answer 1

Power:
* USA-stronger =1st to use+ test atomic in war
* Stalin-Usa=danger to world as LISA= capable of atomic wepon on Russia= remove communism
Land:
* Stalin’s responce- take more land in eastern europ (buffer zone) If USA was to attack they would need to go through it.

Buffer states- Poland, Czechoslovakia + Hungary

Question 2

Give two consequences of the dropping of the atomic bomb

Answer 2

1)-Stalin= wants mor Soviet security
-immedeate buffer zone of comm simpathisers between geramny and Russia
-Overall US-Soviet relation= opposite of American aims
2)-Russians= show USA they could could build their own neclears, 1929 Aug-susseful test
-competion to develp bombs
-Arms race

Question 3

What was the Long telgram & what were the consequneces?

Answer 3

Kennans Long telgram 1946:
* George Keanan-> US diplomat in Moscow. Has sent detailled telgram about Russian attitudes towards US
In it he said:
-Stalin wanted to see destruction fo Capitalism + Stalin saw capitalist nations as threat to Russia+ communism.
-Stalin didn’ trust US
-Thought Russia would back dow if faced with strong, tought responces
-Soviet were building military power
-Peace= impossible
=>Containament policy to be tough on russia= stop spread of communism

Telagram sa so long they called it the Long telgram

Question 4

What was the Novikov telgram & what were the consequneces?

Answer 4

Novikov telgram- 1946:
* From Novikov Soviet diplomat to US (+ in US)
Told Stalin that:
-American= wanted to use massive military to dominate world + not frightend by new war.
-US building up military strength.
-SU only ones left to stand up against US
-US preping it’s people for war with SU
=>Russinas felt they need to occupy as much alnd as possile in Eastern Europe ( protection against attack).
=>Conformation that US wanted to defet communism.

Question 5

What were satilite states? what was the impact of them?

Answer 5

-Satellite state-> formally independant bu under heay political+ ecominic+militray influnce of Russia.
-At Postdam Sovets agree to free elections in countryes in shere of influnce
-SU thought people would chose comm in election, most didn’t=> fixed ( salami tactics) election to make sure a comm won=> shut down oppostion= one party state.
=>USA saw take over of Eastern Europe= betral ( Yalta promised democratic elections)
=> evidance of SU expainstion Eastern Europe=stepping stone to take over west Europe.
=>SU argued needed control as buffer from Wes attack ( US saw as unnecessary + unreasonable).

Question 6

What was the Truman doctrine + what were the consequences?

Answer 6

Truman doctrin 1947:
In speech Truman set ou why US should get involved:
-Countrys face chose:comm vs capitalist
-Comm=bad=>no freedom
-US must contain
-US= troups + Money if necicary to help free GOV to combat comm take overs
=>US= world policeman
=>CApitalism+ comm= incompatable
=>aboandons tradonal isolationsim= more invoved in foregn affairs
=> contaiment

Question 7

What was the Marshal plan + consequneces

Answer 7

Marshall plan 1947
-$13B form US to rebuild Europe
-Stop comm by giving stake in capitalist system
-Countrys must trade with US to get money
-Country that took money( 16 overall): Western Europe e.g Britain, France + West Germany.
=>SU criticiced plan as threat to comm control in Eastern Europe.
=> Stalin applys X2 rejected both times
=>Spread of US compains + franchies e.g MacDonalds + ford.