Kennans 'long telegram' and Churcgills 'iron curtain speech'

what economic policy did us have towards Europe in 1945-46

provided emergency relief as part of the declaration of liberated Europe

provided short term loans to its allies ; 14 billion before June 1947

what us policy was there towards Germany in 1945-46

us troops remained in Germany however Truman was hoping to remove us troops and bases from Europe as soon as possible

what us policy towards Europe changes from before 1947 to after

by the end of 1947 the USA becomes increasingly committed to long term military and economic involvement in western Europe although before 1947 they wanted to remove us troops as soon as possible

when was the Bolshoi speech

February 1946

what is the quote from the Bolshoi speech which American politicians take as a threat for future war

world capitalism proceeds through crisis and the catastrophes of war

who wrote the long telegram and when was it sent

George Kennan

27th February 1946

what was Kennan view of the relationship between the us and ussr

he viewed compromise with the Ussr as futile as he saw the soviet union as aggressive and expansionist and believed the collapse relations with the us inevitable

what did kennan emphasises regarding the USSRs view of the west in the long telegram

that they viewed the west as hostile and menacing

what did he urge and argue for the us to do in long telegram

1. they must be prepared to threaten the use of force and ensure unity among its allies

2. urged USA to adopt a proactive role in Europe

3. urgency for action from the USA

how did kennan develop his thoughts

with the X article

what did he call for in the X article

systematic and focused containment of Soviet expansionist tendencies

why was Kennan’s analysis so influential for Truman

resonated with Trumans growing certainty that the Soviet Union was not only an enemy of western democratic values but also a threat to USA’s security

how did the long telegram influence Truman

1. confirmed USSR would not cooperate with USA and maintaining post war friendship

2. confirmed soviet union as a threat to US security and enemy of western democracy

3. returning to isolationism was no longer an option for the us in an post war world

4. Truman had to adopt a new stance towards USSR

when did churchill give the iron curtain speech

6 march 1946

what did the iron curtain speech lead Stalin to believe

convinced Stalin that the USA was complicit in a plot with Churchill and Britain to carry out an anti soviet ideological assault

when did stalin give his response to the iron curtain speech

16th march 1946

how did stalin deliver his response

via the soviet newspaper Pravda, meaning truth

what did Stalin’s response detail

the response defended the soviet union as peaceful, seeking eastern european allies in order to reinforce the USSR’s security