Who was to blame for the Cold War? Flashcards
What was the dictionary definition of the Cold War?
It was a conflict that ran from 1946 to 1989 between the USA and the USSR and their various allies. They never fought each other but used propaganda, spying and similar methods against each other. Also sponsored other countries in regional wars.
Why did the USA-USSR alliance begin to break down in 1945?
- Allies against Hitler.
- Rivals with differing world views.
- Clash of ideologies.
- Superpowers.
What do I mean by saying Allies against Hitler?
The USA, USSR and Britain fought together as allies during the Second World War. However, it was a strategic wartime alliance not a bond of brotherhood. The USSR had been a communist country for more than 30 years. The majority of politicians and business leaders in Britain and the USA hated and feared communist ideas (see the Factfile on page 85). In the past they had helped the enemies of the communists. This made the USSR wary of Britain and the USA. So in many ways the surprising thing is that these old rivals managed a war-time alliance at all. But they did and by 1945 they had defeated Germany.
What do I mean about them being rivals with differing world views?
There was a clash of ideologies between communist and capitalist beliefs: the fact file explains, but this was tied up with strong national pride and a sense of identity as well:
- Most Americans believed passionately that their way of life was best a they were justifiably proud of the leading role the USA took in defeating Nazism.
- At the same time most Soviet people were equally proud of their country’s critical role in defeating Germany (which came at a devastating cost). They too believed their way of life was superior.
What were the USA’s main ideologies?
- The USA was capitalist. Business and property were privately owned.
- It was a democracy. Its government was chosen in free democratic elections.
- It was the worlds wealthiest country. But as in most capitalist countries, there were extremes - some people were very wealthy while others were very poor.
- For Americans, being free of control by the government was more important than everyone being equal.
- Most Americans firmly believed that other countries should be run in the American way.
- People in the USA were alarmed by communist theory, which talked of spreading revolution.
- Americans generally saw their policies as ‘doing the right thing’ rather than serving the interests of the USA.
What were the USSR’s main ideologies?
- The USSR was communist. All industry was owned and run by the state.
- It was a one-party dictatorship. Elections were held, but all candidates belonged to the communist party.
- It was an economic superpower because its industry had grown rapidly in the 1920’s and 1930’s, but the general standard of living in the USSR was much lower than in the USA. Even so, unemployment was rare and extreme poverty was rarer than in the USA.
- For communists, the rights of individuals were seen as less important than the good of society as a whole. So individuals’ lives were tightly controlled.
- Most Soviet people believed that other countries should be run in the communist way.
- Communism taught that the role of a communist state was to encourage communist revolutions worldwide. In practice, the USSR’s leaders tended to take practical decisions rather than be led by this ideology.
- Many in the USSR saw the USA’s actions as selfishly building its economic empire and political influence.
What do I mean about them being superpowers?
The USA and the USSR had emerged from the war as the two world ‘SUPERPOWERS’.
After the Second World War former wold-leading powers like Britain and France were effectively relegated to a second division. US leaders felt there was a responsibility attached to being a superpower. In the 1930s, the USA had followed a policy of isolation - keeping out of European and world affairs. The Americans might have disapproved of Soviet communism, but they tried not to get involved. However, by the 1940s the US attitude had changed. Roosevelt had set the Americans firmly against a policy of isolation and this effectively meant opposing communism. There would be no more appeasement of DICTATORS. From now on, every communist action would meet an American reaction.
When was the Yalta conference held?
February 1945.
What was the Yalta conference?
It was clear that Germany was losing the European warm so the allied leaders met at Yalta in Ukraine to plan what would happen to Europe after Germany’s defeat. The Yalta conference went well.
Why was it a shock that the Yalta conference went well?
Despite their differences, the big three - Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill - agreed on some important matters.
What was agreed on at Yalta?
- Japan.
- Germany.
- Elections.
- United Nations.
- War criminals.
- Eastern Europe.
What did the Yalta conference agree about Japan?
Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan once Germany had surrendered.
What did the Yalta conference agree about Germany?
They agreed that Germany would be divided into four zones:
- American.
- French.
- British.
- Soviet.
What did the Yalta conference agree about elections?
They agreed that as countries were liberated from occupation by the German army, they would be allowed to hold free elections to choose the government they wanted.
What did the Yalta conference agree about the United Nations?
The Big Three all agreed to join the new United Nations organisation, which would aim to keep peace after the war.
What did the Yalta conference agree about War criminals?
As allied soldiers advanced through Germany, they were revealing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. The Big Three agreed to hunt down and punish war criminals who were responsible for the genocide.
What did the Yalta conference agree about Eastern Europe?
The soviet union had suffered terribly in the war. An estimated 20 million Soviet people had died. Stalin was therefore concerned about the future security of the USSR and specifically the risk of another invasion from Europe. The Big Three agreed that Eastern Europe should be seen as a ‘Soviet sphere of influence’.
What were the disagreements at Yalta?
Poland.
What did the Yalta conference disagree on in regards to Poland?
- Stalin wanted the border of the USSR to move westwards into Poland. Stalin argued that Poland, in turn, could move its border Westwards into German territory.
- Churchill did not approve of Stalins plans for Poland, but he also knew that there was not very much he could do because Stalin’s Red Army was in total control of both Poland and eastern Germany.
- Roosevelt was also unhappy about Stalin’s plan, but Churchill persuaded Roosevelt to accept it, as long as the USSR agreed not to interfere in Greece where the British were attempting to prevent the communists taking over. Stalin accepted this.
What happened 3 months after the Yalta conference?
In May 1945, Allied troops reached Berlin. Hitler committed suicide. Germany surrendered. The war in Europe was won.
What was arranged for July 1945?
A second conference of the Allied leaders in the Berlin suburb of Potsdam.
What would be the disruptor in the Potsdam conference?
1) Stalins armies were occupying most of Eastern Europe.
2) America had a new president.
3) The Allies had tested an atomic bomb.
How did the absence of Winston Churchill affect the conference?
The conference was dominated by rivalry and suspicion between Stalin and Truman. A number of issues arose on which neither side seemed to appreciate the others point of view.
What were some disagreements at Potsdam?
- Germany.
- Reparations.
- Eastern Europe.
What was the disagreement regarding Germany?
Stalin wanted to cripple Germany completely to protect the USSR against future threats. Truman did not want to repeat the mistakes of the Treaty of Versailles.
What was the disagreement regarding reparations?
Twenty million Russians had died in the war and the Soviet Union had been devastated. Stalin wanted compensation from Germany. Truman, however, was once again determined not to repeat the mistakes at the end of the First World War and resisted this demand.
What was the disagreement regarding Eastern Europe?
At Yalta, Stalin had won agreement from the Allies that he could set up pro-Soviet governments in Eastern Europe. He said, ‘if the Slav people are united, no one will dare move a finger against them’. Truman became very unhappy about Russian intentions and soon adopted a ;get tough’ attitude towards Stalin.
How did the USSR gain control of Eastern Europe by 1948?
- The iron curtain.
- Stalin strengthens his grip.
What showed that Stalin achieved the domination he wanted to?
The Potsdam curtain ended without complete agreement on any of the previous disagreements. Over the next nine months, Stalin achieved the domination of Eastern Europe that he was seeking. By 1946 Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania all had communist governments which owed their loyalty to Stalin. Churchill describes the border between the Soviet controlled countries and the West as an ‘iron curtain’.
What is the dictionary definition of the iron curtain?
Term used by Churchill in 1946 to describe separation of Eastern and Western Europe into communist and non-communist blocs.
