KQ4: Who was to blame for the Cold War

What was the Cold War?

 A period of political tension and rivalry (1945–1991) between the USA and the USSR, without direct military conflict between them.

What were the main ideological differences between the USA and USSR?

The USA was capitalist and democratic; the USSR was communist and a one-party state.

What was agreed at the Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)?

Churchill Roosevelt Stalin (YCRS)

Germany and its capital Berlin to be divided into 4 zones, free elections in countries freed from Nazi occupation, USSR to join the UN and fight Japan, There was to be no separate peace

What caused tension at the Potsdam Conference (July 1945)?

Stalin Truman Atlee (PSTA)

Stalin broke the agreements about free elections in Poland, when Truman revealed the Manhattan Project Stalin already knew through spies, Truman was anti-communist, Truman was not very fond of Stalin unlike Roosevelt was suspicious of him

What was the Iron Curtain?

A term used by Churchill to describe the division of Europe between communist East and capitalist West.

What was the Truman Doctrine President Truman (March 1947)?

A US policy to support countries resisting communism, marking the start of containment and to defend free countries threatened by aggressive neighbours

What was the Marshall Plan George Marshall (June 1947)?

US economic aid of $13 billion for European recovery, lasting 4 years. To stabilise the European economies and prevent growth of communism throughout Europe

How did Stalin respond to the Marshall Plan?

He created Cominform (1947) to control communist parties and Comecon (1949) to offer Soviet-style economic aid.

What was Cominform (September 1947)?

Set up to ensure all communist parties of eastern/western Europe followed the Soviet model of communism

What was Comecon?

Enforced Soviet economic policy on all Eastern European countries

What caused the Berlin Blockade (1948–49)?

Stalin opposed the introduction of a new currency and the unification of Western zones, so he blocked all routes into West Berlin.

 How did the West respond to the Berlin Blockade?

The Berlin Airlift — Western powers supplied West Berlin by air for 11 months until Stalin lifted the blockade. Planes landed every 2 minutes. Tempelhof airport was needed

What was the result of the Berlin Blockade?

It strengthened divisions between East and West and led to the creation of NATO in 1949

What was NATO (1949)?

A military alliance between the USA, Canada, and Western European countries to defend against the USSR

What was the Warsaw Pact ( 14 May 1955)?

In Poland,8 communist Countries agreed to unify their armed forces under a central command in response of the rearmament of West Germany and its incorporation into NATO

Why did the USA use atomic diplomacy?

To intimidate the USSR and strengthen its position in negotiations after the atomic bomb was developed.

Why did the USSR create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe?

To protect itself from future invasions and spread communism, increasing Soviet control.

Who was mainly to blame for the start of the Cold War — USA or USSR?

USSR to blame- broke Yalta agreements; establishment of Cominform — USA to blame Lack of trust for USSR; USA antagonised the USSR

What was containment?

US policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism beyond where it already existed.

What did Stalin’s control of Eastern Europe show?

He broke Yalta promises of free elections and created a communist bloc, increasing Western mistrust.

Why was the Marshall Plan seen as aggressive by Stalin?

He believed it was economic imperialism — using money to weaken Soviet influence in Europe.

What impact did the Cold War have on Germany?

Germany became divided into capitalist West (FRG) and communist East (GDR) by 1949.

What was the importance of the Berlin Airlift?

It was a victory for the USA; it showed determination to resist communism without direct war.

What year did the USSR successfully test its first atomic bomb?

1949 — ending the US monopoly on nuclear weapons.

What were the long-term causes of the Cold War?

Ideological differences, mistrust from WWII, and conflicting aims for post-war Europe.

What were the short-term causes of the Cold War?

Disagreements at Yalta and Potsdam, atomic bomb secrecy, and the implementation of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan.

Trizonia

An economic union of three Western zones into one zone, Britain, France and USA. Created a new currency in the four zones but refused in Stalin’s zone