Superpowers

Detorioarting relations

• 1922 russian won their civil war (now called soviet union)

• 1938 britian, france , italy let hitler invade parts of czechslovakia

  → without Stalis opinion and near soviet borders

• before ww1 hilter wanted to take poland

  → soviet wanted to as well → 1939 nazi-soviet pact → betrayl of great alliance

• 1939 soviet and germany joined forces

Tensions and disagreements

• big three ‘roosevelt, churchil , stalin’

• us + britian feared stalin wanted to install communism is east european

• stalin feared usa + britian wanted to fight germany to weaken the soviet

  → reason why second front was delayed

• opposing idealologies and political beliefs

Tehran 1943

• grand alliance planned strategy to end the war

• usa + britian would open seconc front → easing pressure on soviet

• stalin declared war against japan and supplied soviet troops to help US

• big 3 decided what would happen to germany

  → stalin would get land that was invaded by nazis

  → stalin wanted to secure his western border

• united nations would be created in the future through negotiations

Affect of tehran on international relations

• eased tensions between stalin and roosevelt

  → stalin pleased that usa and britian agreed to open a second front

• hightened tensions with usa → churchill wanted second front in the balkans

  → roosevelt sided with stalin

One effect of tehran 1943

Stalin allowed sphere of influence

• soviet allowed to keep the land taken from poland to create a buffer zone

  → feared the spread of communism

• in return, poland would recieve land from germany

• stalin had control of many puppet communist governments → spread of communism

Another effect of the tehran conference

The US and UK opened the second front in 1944

• Stalin feared UK and US wanted soviet to weaken by not establishing the second front

  → germany mainly attacking soviet

  → could lead to fall of soviet

• Ended the war quicker due to germany having to fight east + west countries

  → lead to germany defeat in 1945

• Stalin agreed to declare war on japan in return

Yalta 1945

• big 3 discussed how to end the war sucesfully and how post-war europe governments will be managed

• second front launched in france

  → germany defeated

  → soviet had control of central and east europe

• united nations set up in 1945

• Stalin agreed to free elections in east europe

One effect of yalta 1945

Decleration on liberated europe

• stalin agreed to democratic elections in eastern europe

  → threatened his influence

• stalin could keep his sphere of influence for the countries that voted for communist government

• Stalin only paid lip-service to the idea : Lublin poles (communist) and London poles (pre-war) governed Poland together

  → BUT london poles started dissapearing

  → intimidated voters

  → increase influence

Another affect of Yalta 1945

Agreed to split germany

• split into 4 zones of occupation : US, UK, SOVIET, France

• Supposed to be temporary but due to increases tension they became permanent

• formation of United nations could prevent future warfare

London poles

• Polish gov in exile

• moved to London in 1940 after germans captured france

Potsdam 1945 events

• roosevelt died 1945 and replaced by Harry. S truman

• chuechill lost british general election → Clement attlee replaced him

• usa scientists developed atomic bomb (tested after conference)

• UN created via Treay Of San fracisco

  → 51 members signed the treaty

• truman suspicious of stalin delayed the date of the atomic bomb giving him an edge in discussions

Postdam 1945 decisions

• berlin split into 4 zones

• soviet wanted germany to pay heavy reperations → each administering country only take reperations from their own zone

• Truman objectified arrangements for poland to decrease spread of communism

One effect of Potsdam 1945

compromise on reparations

• germany and berlin split into 4 zones of occupation

• Didnt want germanys government to recover but not be so weak they will be susceptible to communism

• agreed each side take reperations from their own zone

Another effect of potsdam 1945

disagreement over eastern europe

• truman distrusted stalin as he was anti-communist

• stalin wanted buffer zones especially when truman revealed he had atomic bombs → deteriorating relations

• further disagreement and iron curtian speech 1946

  → europe split with commi east and capitalist west

One effect of soviet union and eastern europe

Broke decleration on liberated europe

• stalin agreed at yalta to have democratic elections

• stalin only paid lip-service: Lublin poles (communist) and London poles (post-war) → London poles dissapeared

• UK/US feared the spread of communism

  → stalin was spreading his influence using malign tactics across europe

Another effect of soviet europe and eastern europe

• truman feared stalins spread of communism into europe

• disagreements with stalin and the reveal of us having atomic bombs

• relations worsened → disagreements to reperations in germany

Attitudes of truman and stalin

• 1946 truman got the long telegram

• it talked about stalin wanting to spread his communism

• truman is very anti-natalist and tried to make stalin scared via atomic bombs in hiroshima in august

Impacts of the atomic bomb on US-Soviet relations

• 6th august 1945 usa exploded an tomic bomb Hiroshima

• Trumans aims was to intimidate stalin and determine the negotiations at potsdam

• Soviets developed their first atomic bomb 4 years after USA

• increased tensions and made us and soviet relunctant to go to war

• entered arms race

Soviet expansion into europe - soviet satelite states in eastern europe

1944-45 soviet freed many countries from the nazis but used them as buffer zones

• baltic states (latvia, estonia) were invaded by the soviet in 1940

• yugoslavakia who were communists had more independence → no soviet occupation

• stalin turned 6 more coutnries into setelite states with communist gov → truman saw this as proof of stalin wanting to spread communism

• from 1919 czechslovakia the only democracy country in europe

  → stalin saw this as a threat and overthrew the president establishing communist go

Rising tensions 1945-49

Truman and stalin worried due to break of the great alliance

• tensions could lead to conflict

• 1946 both countries ask their embassies to report on attitudes

• reports came in a form of telegrams

Kennan Long Telegram

A secret report sent from Moscow in 1946 by George F. Kennan (usa ambassador)

• outlining the Soviet Union's view of capitalism as a threat and their military buildup

• which influenced US foreign policy during the Cold War → ‘containment’

Novikov's Telegram

1946 report from the Soviet ambassador to the United States, Nikolai Novikov

• portrayed the US as desiring world domination, engaging in military buildup, and preparing for war with the Soviet Union

• contributing to the escalation of tensions between the two countries.

One effect of the iron curtain speech

Promoted soviets sphere of influence

• declaration on liberated countries and stalin not promoting democracy

• Satelite states had control from moscow and under soviet influence

  → stalin forcefully removing politcal opposition

• Mentioned dissapearence of Poland gov → stalin can’t be trusted

Another effect of the iron curtain speech is

Churchill showed difference between capitalist and communist areas

• Showed both sides were opponents → both trying to take over the world

• differences in post-war europe : marshall aid meant west was recovering by 1952 and performing better than east

• clear difference of quality of life across iron curtain → people migrated across

Truman doctrine 1947

• usa nearly bankrupt having to aid other countries ^{→ usa stepped in}

• Truman's policy to contain the spread of communism by providing troops and financial aid to support non-communist governments

• all mentioned in 1947 trumans speech to us congress

One effect of truman doctrine

america commited to fight communism

• 1947 , usa gave economic aid $400 million to greece and turkey

• allowed greece to fight communists and maintain capitalist gov

• truman provided equipment and money to any country under communist threat

Another effect of truman doctrine

America implimented containment policy

• From the long telegram , truman feared spread of communism

• this was the best policy to contain it as it went against his political beliefs

Marshall Plan

An initiative providing $13 billion to rebuild Europe

• fostering a capitalist economy and with the US to receive aid.

• less likely for communism to spread into those countries

One effect of marshall plan

Europe was rebuilt

• 13 bullion given to 17 countries like france and britian

• money brought food, jobs, housing and healthcare (less susceptible to communism)

• US free trade agreements made boosting the economy to pre-war levels by 1952 (confirmed stalins belief of spread of capitalism)

Another effect of the marshall plan

created a rift in europe

• stalin accused us of dollar imperlism → making europe dependent on america

• stalin beleived it weakened UN international role

• SAtelitte states banned from taking the money making a rift on the iron curtain (west had better quality of life)

• hightened rivalry

One effect of Cominform 1947

communist information bureau → political organisation

strengthened stalins control over europe

• gave stalin a way of controlling gov in satelite states → ensured loyalty

• spread propaganda and accused us being like nazis → increased influence and attraction

• represented all eastern european countries

Another effect of cominform 1947

countries angered by marshall plan

• accused marshall plan of dollar imperialism

• communist countries had to reject marshall aid → slower recovery

• organized strikes in the west because better west economy made communism less attractive → 2 mil workers in france went on strike

One effect of Comecon 1949

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance

Eastern europe developed slower

• set up in 1949 to oppose marshal aid and improve satellite states

• didnt have enough money to impove jobs/food/healthcare so it failed

• stalin hated dollar imperilism → big rift along the iron curtain

Another effect for comecon 1949

Stalin affirmed his sphere of influence

• discouraged any us trade → wanted to be self reliant

• sateleite states put money into funding allocations → cash used on rebuilding soviet instead of satelite states

• Us didnt gain economic power so stalin kept his influence

Disagreements over germany

• soviet wanted to take resources to rebuild soviter union

• us wanted to rebuild germany to supress communist influence and better trade partner

Causes of Berlin crisis

• 1947 us and british german occupying zones combined to made bizonia → 1938 france joined making trizonia

• bizonia adopted a new currency (Deutschmark) seperating economic unit from the east

  → more sucessful than soviet zone

  → forced soviets into poverty

Berlin Blockade

• trizonia surrounded by soviet territory → easy to attack

• 1949 stalin shut off land routes across soviet controlled germany into berlin

• no access of communication with the capital and a shortage of food in the capital

• challenged truman to give up berlin completely → could lead to a propaganda success

Response to Berlin Blockade : Berlin Airlift

• 26th june 1948

• flew in coal, food and essential supplies from allied zones along air coridoors (1k tonnes of supplies flown in everyday)

• 1949 stalin lifted the blockade

  → humiliation for soviets

One effect of berlin crisis

East and germany created

• Trizonia became the federal republic of germany in 1949

• stalin retaliated and made the soviet zone the german democratic republic in 1949

• Former allies not collaberating , clear divide

• Trizonias own parliment called bundestag

Another effect of berlin crisis

NATO was created

• British foreign secretary (Ernest Bevin) made a speech in parliment

  → europe welcomed us involvement

• threat to berlin made uk and us make an alliance

• if one member was attacked they all come to support

• Us joined in 1955 which sparked stalin to retaliate via warsaw pact

Korean war

• freed of japanese control in 1945

• soviet entered the north and usa entered the south creating a division along the 38th parellel

• Truman determined to contain communism to prevent a domino effect

• left a border between north and south korea

An effect of the korean war

Showed us wanted to contain communism

• by stopping the north korea take over america commited themslves to the truman doctrine

• fought for 4 years and millions died

• when china joined the war → showed communism is joining forces

Another effect of the korean war

Led to rearmament and further military alliances

• us defense spending increased by 400% and marshall aid used for defense spending

• us worried by chinas joining in forces

• 1955 ussr organised warsaw pact in retaliation to NATO increasing tensions

Warsaw Pact 1955

when west germany joined nato stalin was scared

• communist military alliance

• members were soviet, poland , czechslovakia

One effect of warsaw pact 1955

Increase difference in europe

• A military alliance formed in 1955 by Eastern Bloc countries in response to NATO

• increasing tensions

• divide in miltary alliance along iron curtain

Another effect in the warsaw pact 1955

Cemented soviet control in east europe

• west germany recovered better after the war and were right next to the sateleite states

  → they could attack at any time

• increased competition between warsaw pact and nato (arms race)

• soviet could control other gov in terms of defense

Khrushchev and co-existence

from 1953 new leaders :

• usa = dwight and soviet = nikita

• co-existence was based on belief that communist philosophy was so superior it would cause capitalism to fall

One effect of peaceful Co-existence

decreased tensions between superpowers

• president einsinhower and nikita wanted a decrease of tenions after korean war

• neither side wanted war and forced capitalist to accept communism

• einsenhower wanted to improve relations after creation of nuclear weapons

Another effect of the peaceful co-existence

Less money spent on defense

• due to korean war and warsaw pact tehre was an increase of spending

• some countries used marshall aid for defense which didnt help their economies

• both sides had meetings, growing co-operation and less hostility

Reasons for invasion of hungary

since 1945 when red army liberated hungary from german occupation → strict soviet control

• unpopular stalinist ,communist leader of hungary ‘rakosi’ sent 30k hungarians to prison and 2k executed

• Hungarians protested about their leader and rakosi was replaced by Nagy in 1956

• De-stalinisation → nagy wanted less hard-line communism and wanted to leave the warsaw pact

• Nikita feared other countries may follow if hungary leaves → sent tanks into Budapest in 1956

One effect of the warsaw uprising 1956

Nikita strengthened his control on eastern europe

• ignoring protests tanks were sent into budapest killling 20k hungarians

• nikita asserted his control and didnt accept any anti-communist uprisings

• Nikita showed he only accepted loyalty from the satelitte states → didnt allow them to leave the warsaw pact

Another effect of hungarian uprising 1956

Us seemed weak

• they ecnouraged rebellion against communism but us refused to take military action → seemed weak

• they showed respect for soviet sphere of influence and no intention of fighting → no military intervention

• nikitas intolerence from anti-communism meant peaceful co-existence was unlikely

Arms race

Developing bombs as a use of deterrent

• 1945 - us develops atomic bomb

• 1949 - soviet develops atomic bomb

• 1952 - us tests the hydrogen bomb

• 1953 - soviet union tests hydrogen bomb

• 1957 - usa test inter-continental ballistic (ICMB) missile

• 1957 - soviet makes first sucess ICBM launch

One effect of the nuclear arms race

Us and Soviet are in direct competition

• soviet trying to catch up with americans nuclear abilities

• us looking for new technology

• both needed to develop to prevent any military attack

Another effect of the nuclear warms race

Both sides less likely to go to war

• with the abiloty to destroy the world they didnt perform nuclear war

• nuclear weapons acted as deterrants

• let to mutually assured destruction (MAD) in 1960’s

Summit meetings 1959-61, Geneva

1959

• held beteween foreign ministers on switzerland

• both sides made proposals about how germany should be governed

• no agreement reached

• eisenhower invited nikita to us for further talks

Camp david 1959

Eisenhower and nikita met irl for the first time

• no agreement about how to govern berlin

• soviet agreed to withdraw berlin ultimanium

• established better relations between the 2 leaders

U-2 Incident and paris summit conference

1960

• soviet shot down american U-2 spy plane as it flew over soviet union

• einsenhower said spying operations were needed

• hightened relations

One Effects of U-2 Incident

US and soviet relations broke

• shot down u-2 spy plane proved americans were spying

• showed distrust as einsenhower tried to claim it was a weather plane

• at paris summit conference nikita left after eisenhower didnt apologize

Another effect of U-2 incident

propaganda victory for soviets

• soviets had evidence us was decietful and betrayed their wartime ally

• humiliated us

• soviet put gary powers(pilot on u-2 plane) on trial

Reasons for berlin wall

• exodus of young unskilled workers across west and east germany (3 mil left east germany)

  → 1961 40k east germans crossed the border

• communism facing propaganda crisis → teachers wanted higher salaries and better quality of life

• Nikita gave an ultimatum to Kennedy: withdraw troops from berlin or be cut off

• Kennedy appointed in 1961 appeared strong but was inexperienced and didnt make concessions

One effect of the berlin wall

propaganda victory for us

• nikita ended refugee crisis

• kennedy claimed soviets had to wall them in to prevent people from escaping communism

• US accused east guards of shooing 130+ people who tried to cross → us propaganda victory

Another effect of the berlin wall

tensions calmed between soviet and us

• nikitas previous to unite berlin in complete soviet rule dropped → wall is permanent

• communism was unlikely to leave → germany was seperate

• nikita avoided war over west berlin and accepted us control

• → truman couldnt be coerced - kenny was strong

Bay of pigs 1961

Kennedy didnt want an ally of communism close to aerican teritory

• got suport from CIA → group of cuban exiles would be trained to launch the invasion and overthrow castro

• 1.4k soliders inexperienced

• 20k communist soliders ready to attack

• castro showed journalists failed us attack → humiliation

One effect of Bay Of Pigs

Strengenthed Cuban and Soviet relations

• cuba and america were close trading partners → america wanted cuba back

• us sent 1.4k cuban exiles as castro was afraid as would launch full-scale invasion

  → america didnt want a bad look by sending us troops

• castro was a communist and asked nikita to defend cuba

• nikita sent military equipment and a missile base with nuclear weapons

Another effect of bay of pigs

Tension increased between us and soviets

• Strain on relations → soviet took cuba as an ally

• kennedy concerned about a military base being 145km from us

• kenndy discovered nuclear weapons → communists could launch missiles

Cuban Missile crisis 1962 Reasons

• us had a nuclear missile base in turkey , near soviet → soviets retaliated

• 1961 us broke diplomatic relations with cuba → cuba turned to the soviets

• 1962 soviet u-2 spy plane spotted nuclear missile base in cuba

• kennedy launched blockade oct 22nd

  → soviet ships with weapons were turned around

  → us generals prepared for invasion

  → lasted 13 days

• 26th oct nikita agreed to remove missile base if kennedy didnt invade and removed missile base in turkey

One effect of cuban missile crisis

Tensions de-escelated

• close to nuclear war with 54 bombers with warheads ready during blockade

• hotline was set up in 1963 in moscow to ensure better communication

• non- poliferation treaty signed in 1968 stopped nuclear weapon shared to other countries

Another effect of cuban missile crisis

USSR and nikita seemed weak

• by removing missiles in cuba → made kennedy look formidable

• kennedy challenged nikita gaining popularity

• communist humilation decreasing popularity

  → nikita dismissed 1984

Causes of the prague spring 1968-69

• czechs were fed up by the lack of freedom of speech, low quality of life, censorship and arrests for being anti-communist

• 1968 dubeck (secretary of czech communist party) wanted socialism with a human face

• censorship relaxed

  → increased trade with west

• more regional gov powers

• promised democratic elections

• dubeck convinced brezhnev it wasnt an invasion

• 20th aug 50k invaded and dubeck was arrested and replaced

One effect of invasion of czechslovakia

Brezhnev secured loyalty in eastern europe

• showed that he’d use military action if anyone defied communsit beliefs

• formed Brehznev doctrine → used forced on countries who took a liberated approach to communism

• more soviet control over warsaw pact → brezhnev asserted authority

Another effect of czechslovakia invasion

increases tension with other countries

• us were less confrontational due to them facing the vietnam war

• western countries were angered and distanced themselves from ussr → disliked their force

• Mao (china) didnt approve of use of force , didnt think it was socialist

  → hightened china-soviet relations

  → hightened satletite state relations like yugoslavakia

One effect of Hotline 1963

Decreased tensions between soviet and us

• establishing a hotline in 1963 in washington and moscow → less conflicts , less miscommunication

• easy communication and more clarity in discussions

• less fear of nuclear war and decrease in nuclear weapons

Another effect of hotline 1963

Showed thaw in cold war

• hotline proved increase co-operation between us and ussr

• ended nuclear arms race and lead to signing test ban treaty → common goal to ease tensions

• increase awareness of environmental dangers of nuclear warfare

One effect of Test Ban treaty 1963

Decreased tensions

• didnt perform tests in the atmosphere

• nuclear weapon testing was expensive - less weapons tested

• recognized dangers of nuclear war

Another effect of Test Ban treaty 1963

Showed increased knowledge of environmental dangers

• more scientific research → better understanding of radioactive fallout and radiation damage to environment

• 100+ signed showing global decrease in nuclear weapons

• thaw in cold war abandoning nuclear weapons

One effect of the outerspace treaty 1967

Decreased tensions

• no nuclear weapons in space

• no nuclear arms race in space → decreasing competition

• less nuclear weapons → no nuclear war

Another effect of the outerspace treaty 1967

Thaw in cold war

• states responsible for damage caused by their objects in space

• coutries more aware of nuclear weapon danger

• 112 signed it decreasing likelyhood of nuclear war

One effect of nuclear non-poliferation treaty 1968

Decreased tensions

• Nuclear weapons states and non nuclear weapons states worked towords disarmament

• nuclear war likelyhood decreased

• no more arms race → less competition

Another effect of nuclear non-poliferation treaty 1968

Nuclear weapons were not shared

• lots of countries like china didnt share weapons incase they fell in the hands of terrorists

• learn their lesson from sharing nuclear weapons with castro

• decreased in financial pressure of nuclear weapon manufacturing

Reasons for detante

• nixon became us president promising end of vietnam war

  → 20k died and tired of constant US military action

• $170billion spent on defense → needed to decrease spending

  → wanted the money to go into reducing inequality

• nixon wanted to be friendlier with China

• soviet 30% of their GDP on defense spending

• Mao was in favour of US as disliking prague spring → nixon visited china feb 1972

• better relations between both sides → ostpolitik

strategic arms limitation treaty 1972 (SALT)

negotiation about which weapons should be limited

• anti-ballistic missile treaty → only 2 allowed in each country with 100 missiles each

• interim treaty → restrictions on number of inter-continental missiles and submarine-launched missiles

• basic principles agreement - rules for conduct of nuclear warfare

  → no missiles on seabed → prevent spread of nuclear weapos

One effect of SALT

decreased tensions

• increased co-operation , signed 1972

• limitations to 100 missiles

• both sides making efforts to not use nuclear weapons → more awareness of dangers

Another effect of SALT

Limited nuclear programmes of both countries

• submarine-missiles limited to 740 → slowing arms race

• ICBM limited relevent to how many bombers they had (us had less)

• nixon and brezhnev became closer

  → SALT 2 1979

Extent of detente 1972

• both sides had enough nuclear weapons to begin a war and programmes were still going

• BUT diplomacy was established →better awareness of nuclear dangers

• more treaties to limit use of nuclear weapons

• better international relations