Why did the Cold War begin?

Question 1

What three conferences took place between the Allies before the Cold War?

Answer 1

1. Teheran Conference.
2. Yalta Conference.
3. Potsdam Conference.

Question 2

What was the Teheran Conference?

Answer 2

The Teheran Conference was when Stalin met with Roosevelt and Churchill for the first time. It was designed to make plans for the reconstruction of Europe following WW2.

Question 3

Where was the Teheran Conference?

Answer 3

Teheran, Iran.

Question 4

When was the Teheran Conference?

Answer 4

November 28th - December 1st 1943.

Question 5

Who attended the Teheran Conference?

Answer 5

‘The Big Three’ – Russian leader Stalin, American President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill

Question 6

Why did the Teheran Conference take place?

Answer 6

To make plans for the reconstruction of Europe following the Second World War.

Question 7

What three things were agreed at the Teheran Conference?

Answer 7

1. That the Soviet Union should have a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe at the end of the war. This would give the Soviet Union some security and prevent threats from its neighbours.
2. That Western Europe would be a British and American ‘sphere of influence’, where capitalism would be dominant.
3. That the USA and Britain would open a second front in 1944. At the same time as the Second Front, the USSR would begin an offensive in the East. However, Stalin felt that the other two wanted the USSR to take the major part and not open up a second front.

Question 8

What two things were there disagreement about at the Teheran Conference?

Answer 8

They couldn’t agree on Germany’s future:

1. Stalin believed Germany should be punished for starting WW2 by being forced to give up its territories and paying reparations, ensuring that Germany would never be a threat again.
2. Roosevelt and Churchill believed that Germany should be rebuilt as they thought that one of the causes of WW2 was Germany’s economic problems following WW1 and remembered the mistakes of the Treaty of Versailles. They argued that a peaceful Europe needed a prosperous Germany.

Question 9

What were two effects of the Teheran Conference?

Answer 9

1. The agreement to a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ guaranteed that the USSR was not threatened by any of its neighbouring countries. It would give the Soviet Union some security and prevent threats from its neighbours.
2. The differences of opinion led to tension within the Grand Alliance.

Question 10

What was the Yalta Conference?

Answer 10

The Yalta Conference was an attempt to work out what to do with Germany once the war was over. The Big Three got on well together at this conference.

Question 11

Where was the Yalta Conference?

Answer 11

Yalta, Ukraine.

Question 12

When did the Yalta Conference occur?

Answer 12

February 4th - 11th 1945.

Question 13

Who attended the Yalta Conference?

Answer 13

The Big Three.

Question 14

Why did the Yalta Conference happen?

Answer 14

To work out a clear strategy for ending the war against Germany and Japan and then sort out issues after fighting ended.

Question 15

What 7 things were decided at the Yalta Conference?

Answer 15

1. That Germany was to be divided and administered by the Big Three but after Churchill insisted, the French were also given an occupation zone.
2. That Berlin would also be divided but there would be a joint commission of the Allies to run the city.
3. Stalin agreed that Russian troops would help America defeat Japan once Hitler had been defeated.
4. Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to the establishment of a communist Poland.
5. The ‘Declaration on Liberated Europe’ committed the USSR, America and Britain to work for democracy in Europe.
6. The Allies agreed to establish the the United Nations, an organisation committed to maintaining peace.
7. The Big Three restated their agreement that the USSR should have a ‘sphere of influence’ in Eastern Europe.

Question 16

What were two effects of the Yalta Conference?

Answer 16

1. The agreement to a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ guaranteed that the USSR was not threatened by any of its neighbouring countries. It would give the Soviet Union some security and prevent threats from its neighbours.
2. It was successful largely due to Stalin’s relationship with Roosevelt.

Question 17

What was the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 17

The Potsdam Conference was held after WW2 ended in Germany, where Truman, Stalin and Churchill drew up plans for the administration of Germany and Poland.

Question 18

Where was the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 18

In Potsdam, Germany.

Question 19

When was the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 19

July 16th – August 2nd 1945

Question 20

Who attended the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 20

Harry Truman (who replaced Roosevelt after he died), Clement Attlee (who replaced Churchill after the election on July 24th) and Stalin.

Question 21

Why did the Potsdam Conference take place?

Answer 21

To make plans for how Germany and Poland were to be administered.

Question 22

What 3 things were agreed at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 22

1. It was decided that leading members of the Nazi Party would be put on trial as war criminals. These trials were to be held at Nuremberg.
2. That the Nazi Party would be banned and there would be a policy of de-Nazification which would remove the traces of Nazi rule in Germany.
3. The Oder-Neisse (two rivers) line was to form part of the border between Poland and Germany.

Question 23

What 3 things were there disagreements about at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 23

1. Britain and the USA denied Stalin a naval base in the Mediterranean as they saw no need for one. However, Stalin saw this as evidence that his allies mistrusted him.
2. Stalin wanted more reparations from Germany than Britain and the USA did. Britain and the USA didn’t want to cripple Germany; they had seen the results of the harsh reparations that had been put in place after World War I. This made Stalin suspicious though about why his allies seemed to want to protect Germany and even help it to recover.
3. Stalin had set up a Communist government in Lublin, the capital of Poland. Britain preferred the non-Communist Polish Government, which had lived in exile in Britain throughout the war. Truman and Attlee were very suspicious of Stalin’s motives in setting up a Communist government.

Question 24

What created tension at the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 24

The atomic bomb further worsened tensions. Stalin had been told about the bomb at the beginning of the conference and was furious that it had been kept a secret. He was convinced that the USA was using the bombs as a warning to the USSR. Truman was convinced that the USA had the ultimate weapon and this made him determined to stand up to Stalin and prevent further Soviet expansion.

Question 25

What were two effects of the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 25

1. There were clear signs that Stalin didn’t trust the USA and Britain and that they didn’t trust him. This led to increased tensions.
2. The use of the atomic bomb increased rivalry between the superpowers and an arms race emerged.

Question 26

What kind of government did the USA have?

Answer 26

It had a democratic system of government where the President and Congress of the USA were chosen in free democratic elections.

Question 27

What kind of government did the USSR have?

Answer 27

It had a communist system of government. People could vote in elections for the Supreme Soviet, but they could only vote for members of the Communist Party and the Supreme Soviet had no real power.

Question 28

What kind of economical system did the USA have?

Answer 28

It had a capitalist economy where the economy was based on free trade. Business and property were privately owned. Individuals could make profits in business or move jobs if they wanted. However, they could go bankrupt or lose their jobs.

Question 29

What kind of economical system did the USSR have?

Answer 29

The USSR had a government planned economy. The government owned all industry and planned what every factory should produce.

Question 30

What was the American view on individuals and freedom?

Answer 30

Americans believed firmly in the freedom of the individual and in government by consent. The capitalist government focused on individual rights and valued individual freedom.

Question 31

What was the Soviet view on individuals and freedom?

Answer 31

People’s lives were controlled closely and the rights of individuals were seen as less important than the good of society as a whole. This communist government focused on the rights of the working class and valued equality.

Question 32

What policy had the USA followed surrounding international policies in the 1920s and 1930s?

Answer 32

In the 1920s and 1930s, the USA had followed a policy of isolationism. It withdrew from international politics and policies.

Question 33

What did the USA do as it faced the problem of Communism extending into Eastern Europe?

Answer 33

The American Government was prepared to help and support people and countries who wanted democratic states with capitalist economies.

Question 34

Why did Stalin want the countries on his borders to be controlled by Communist governments?

Answer 34

Because he believed that this was the only way the USSR could be truly safe. The USSR had been attacked many times before and Stalin was determined that this would never happen again.

Question 35

What is ‘congress’?

Answer 35

The American representative assemblies (the equivalent of Parliament in Britain). There are two houses; the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Question 36

What is the ‘Supreme Soviet’?

Answer 36

An elected body of representatives (the equivalent of the British Parliament) but have no real power. It only met for two weeks a year. It was the Communist Party under Stalin that made the important decisions.

Question 37

When did Churchill give his Iron Curtain speech?

Answer 37

During a trip to America in March 1946 and it was understood that Truman agreed with what he said.

Question 38

What did the Iron Curtain speech describe?

Answer 38

How an ‘iron curtain’ was in place around the Eastern block and that all the countries within this ‘curtain’ were subject to both Soviet influence and an increasing measure of control from the USSR.

Question 39

How did Stalin respond to the Iron Curtain speech?

Answer 39

By saying that Churchill was a ‘warmonger’ and that he and his friends bore a resemblance to Hitler and his friends.

Question 40

Why did Truman ask for the Long Telegram?

Answer 40

Because he was concerned about the breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the threat of new war.

Question 41

What was the Long Telegram?

Answer 41

A secret report from the American embassy in the USSR to help Truman understand what Stalin was thinking.

Question 42

What 3 things did the Long Telegram report that?

Answer 42

1. Stalin had given a speech calling for the destruction of capitalism.
2. There could be no peace with the USSR while it was opposed to capitalism.
3. The USSR was building up its military power.

Question 43

What did Truman think after receiving the Long Telegram?

Answer 43

Truman believed that he was facing the possibility of war.

Question 44

When was the Long Telegram sent?

Answer 44

In 1946.

Question 45

Why did Stalin ask for Novikov’s Telegram?

Answer 45

He was concerned about the breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the threat of new war.

Question 46

What was Novikov’s Telegram?

Answer 46

A secret report from the Soviet embassy in America to help Stalin understand what Truman was thinking.

Question 47

What 3 things did Novikov’s Telegram report that?

Answer 47

1. America desired to dominate the world.
2. Following Roosevelt’s death, the American government was no longer interested in cooperation with the USSR.
3. The American public was being prepared for war with the USSR.

Question 48

What did Stalin think after receiving Novikov’s Telegram?

Answer 48

That war was inevitable.

Question 49

When was Novikov’s Telegram sent?

Answer 49

In 1946.