Unit 1.1 - Kennan's Long and The Novikov Telegram

Question 1

Who was George Kennan?

Answer 1

U.S. Ambassador to Russia and Yugoslavia - sent ‘Kennan’s Long Telegram’

Question 2

What did Kennan’s Long Telegram explain?

Answer 2

• The Soviet Union saw capitalism as a threat to communism and that it had to be destroyed.
• Soviets building military power and at that point, peace between the communist Soviet Union and capitalist West, specifically the USA was not possible.

Question 3

Why was Kennan’s Long Telegram important?

Answer 3

Kennan’s Long Telegram spurred intellectual policy debate that formed the basis of American policy towards the Soviet Union for the next 25 years, including the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan.

Question 4

Who was Nikolai Novikov?

Answer 4

Soviet diplomat

Question 5

What did The Novikov Telegram explain?

Answer 5

• The USA wanted world domination and was also building its military.
• The Soviet Union was the only power left after the war that could make pace with and stand up to the US.
• The USA was preparing its military as well as its people for war with the Soviet Union.

Question 6

Why was the Novikov Telegram important?

Answer 6

This view had a huge impact on Moscow. If what the telegram explained was true, then it was vital for Russia to develop as much military protection as much as possible in Eastern Europe - this included the employment of the Satellite States.