What influenced US reaction to Soviet control over Eastern Europe?

Question 1

What was the message of Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech?

Answer 1

A warning that the soviet union was stronger than they thought
The soviet union is very powerful and had been taking important capitals of central and easctern european states

Question 2

Kennan’s view of Russia

Answer 2

Russia was an aggressive country and wanted to shelter itself from capitalism. It was ‘insecure’
Taught that conflicts in society couldn’t be solved peacefully
Justified russia’s hostility to ‘the outside world’
Resulted with decision making with other countries becoming very difficult
Said the only way to defeat the USSR was by ‘ a policy of firm containment’
USSR would never stop trying to take over the world
Could be stopped at any one point of pressure
Would one day collapse from internal struggle for control
Strongest to weakest

Question 3

Why was the situation in Greece and Turkey of concern to the US?

Answer 3

Feared that the war would spread communism further

Greece
Communists were fighting against royalist government
Yugoslavia and bulgaria agreed
Stalin demanded a naval and military base at Alexandroupolis
Britain supported royalists
Helped with money and 40 000 troops

Turkey
Under pressure from USSR
Stalin demanded naval base in Turkish straits
Soviet troops threatened turkish border
Britain supported turkey with money