Gcse OCR History - Cold War part 1 - exam questions

What was agreed at Yalta 1945?

1. Split Germany into 4 zones of occupation
2. Nazi war criminals to trial
3. War against Japan - revenge for attack on Pearl Harbour
4. Europe - 'soviet sphere of influence' for Stalin

What was going on behind the scenes at Yalta 1945?

1. Churchill feared rapid spread of communism
2. Roosevelt suspicious of Churchill's aims
3. Stalin feared that Churchill an Roosevelt would intervene in his plan to turn countries communist
4. Churchill feared Roosevelt was too easy on Stalin

Explain why it was difficult to reach agreement at the Potsdam Conference. (6 mark) - 1st para

P. Soviet policy in Europe was a main disagreement between the superpowers
E. Stalin = wanted pro-Soviet governments in Europe, by expand his territory and so he could enforce a communist government in each country- aim
Truman = feared Soviet invasion, as it would result in rapid spread of communism, therefore took the policy of containment, to stop communism spreading so it couldn't reach America and take over the democratic government
E. This means these contrasting views conflicted with each other, because they were completely unnegociable, as Truman was very anti-communist and Stalin was very pro-communist

What decisions about Germany were taken at Yalta and Potsdam?

1. 4 zones of occupation
2. Reparations - Russia allowed to take
need more....

Explain why it was difficult to reach agreement at the Potsdam Conference. (6 mark) - 2nd para

P. Reparations was another disagreement between the Big Three
E. Stalin - wanted compensation from Germany, felt strongly than Germany should pay as it was their fault that the terrible war had to be fought and caused loss of so many people but also land
Truman - Not want to repeat mistake of TofV - all the paying back of Germany aroused more hatred and anger of the Germans resulting in WW2. These reparations will damage international relations severely
E. This again meant the leaders were so firm in their views, that they could not find any way to negotiate and come somewhere in the middle. None of them wanted to change or negotiate, not only due to their conflicting political ideologies but here due to their poor experiences from the war or the treaty.

Explain why the wartime allies disagreed about Poland in 1945? (6mark) - 1st para

P. The main reason why the war time allies disagreed about Poland was due to the communist ideology.
E. In this ideology, there was no voting as part of the procedure to choose which candidate becomes dictator, and the Polish public would have no right to choose the way they want to live and the leader they want to rule. They would have no freedom and therefore no true happiness and state of mind.
E. Therefore, the allies were worried about these people, and how they would make the transition from being in a republic country to a communist state.

Explain why the wartime allies disagreed about Poland in 1945? (6mark) - 2nd para

P. Truman and Atlee were both anti-communist and didn't want Poland to be ruled by the Soviet Union mainly due to fear of communism (the Red Scare).
E. Communism was an ideology completely against the the democratic system of government Britain and America were used to. They were frightened by the ideology, as it meant that property and wealth was shared equally between everyone, property was state-owned and it was all ruled by one person - dictator.
E. They were worried as every country was becoming communist (including Poland), communism would become stronger and spread across the world including America. This is why America took on the policy of containment, to stop communism spreading from the first place, at its beginning, Europe. This is why they disagreed.

How did the Soviets expand? (4 mark)

1. Lies - Stalin claimed to help countries rather than invade.
2. Army - big and large army, to keep Soviets strong when overthrowing countries and threatening people.
3. Propaganda - indoctrinate people's minds to make them believe Stalin was a good leader
4. Secret Police - Stalin had control over everyone, and could assassinate anyone at any time, anyone who came in his way.

Why did the tensions between the Allies turn into a cold war (CW)? (6 mark) - 1st para

P .Leaders involved - 1 of most important causes of CW
E.
• 3 most important superpowers in world - SU, Am, Br ruled by leaders.
• Stalin - SU leader- dictator, ruled with communism, HOWEVER, Churchill - Br's leader and Roosevelt - Am's leader, ruled with democracy/capitalism
• Lots of differences between SU and Br, SU and Am, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, PERSONALITIES DIFFERENT, contributed to actions towards each other
• E.g: Churchill - firm view against communism, Roosevelt - not as persistent against Stalin, Stalin - hatred against capitalism
• Truman new Pres after Roosevelt, more hatred, arrogance an attitude against SU, THEREFORE change of pres imp.
• Truman wrote to secretary: Russia needs an attitude as that of an 'iron fist' and needs to use 'strong language' to stop Stalin from conquering the world

Why did the tensions between the Allies turn into a Cold War? (6 mark) - 2nd para

P. Stalin's actions and aims also played a role in turning tension into Cold War
E.
• Stalin aimed to bring communism to as many countries as possible + achieved to spread communism in East Europe
• Big role - because - Churchill + Truman hated communism, would be horrified at finding news of Stalin's expansion of his dictatorship
• This kept on building and adding more tension between the leaders, as Attlee and Truman were completely anti-communist, and Stalin was therefore challenging their ideology and forever causing misery to them

The most important cause of the Cold War was the suspicion an rivalry between Truman and Stalin. Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. - list factors

1. Personality differences
2. Ideological Differences
3. Provocative actions of the USA and USSR

The most important cause of the Cold War was the suspicion an rivalry between Truman and Stalin. Do you agree with this statement? - para 1

P. Personality differences- very imp, influences views and behaviour

E. Churchill - unwilling to accept communism, Roosevelt - more tolerant with Stalin and communism
Roosevelt replaced with Truman, Truman personality differed from Roosevelt to great extent, more anti-communist and hatred and arrogance shown
Stalin - claimed to have paranoia - tendency to think no-one liked him and everyone against him, reason to understand his vast communist expansion in Europe,

E. Consequently, inner personalities very important, especially Stalin's case

The most important cause of the Cold War was the suspicion an rivalry between Truman and Stalin. Do you agree with this statement? - para 2

P. ideological differences present between Am and SU

E. America- democracy, capitalist country, free elections, property owned by individuals
Russia - dictatorship, communist country, property state-owned
Capitalism and communism were imp matters, America feared communism greatly, aimed to contain it, so it could not spread and reach America and ruin the lifestyle of Americans. SU hated capitalism on other hand, wanted communism to take over world

E. Differences did not allow cooperation between the 2 countries at all

The most important cause of the Cold War was the suspicion an rivalry between Truman and Stalin. Do you agree with this statement? - para 3

P. another crucial part - provocative actions of USA and USSR

E. Stalin - took over Europe so quickly and greedily, leading USA to become suspicious of Stalin's aims
Truman- USA introduces Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, which undoubtedly build up rivalry between Stalin and Truman as they both have divided sections of Germany, and America and Russia are competing between communism and capitalism in Europe.

* can talk about Berlin Blockade here as part of Stalin's provocative actions, if you get the question:
The Berlin Blockade was most to blame for the Cold War tension
as you have to therefore include it

The most important cause of the Cold War was the suspicion an rivalry between Truman and Stalin. Do you agree with this statement? - para 4 conclusion

I do not agree with statement:
I believe differences in personalities are the most important cause of CW
Because their actions reflected in personalities, and so didn't have any tolerance and patience to cooperate and avoid war
If both countries had put their full effort in keeping up a good relationship with each other, it could have been possible to avoid any sort of war at all. - peaceful co-existence if had pure and good hearts, and co-operated for peace regardless of ideologies or anything else.

'The USA was successful in containing communism in Europe up to 1949'. How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer (10 mark)

...coming soon