Increasing Cold War Tensions​

What events around 1949–50 increased Cold War tensions?

The Soviet atomic bomb test (1949), the Communist victory in China (1949), formation of NATO (1949), and the outbreak of the Korean War (1950).

How did NSC-68 contribute to rising tensions?

It recommended a massive increase in US military spending and a more aggressive containment policy.

What role did Europe play in heightening tensions?

Germany’s division, the Berlin Blockade (1948–49), and integration of West Germany into the Western bloc increased rivalry.

What was McCarthyism?

A period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the US led by Senator Joseph McCarthy (1950–54), marked by accusations without evidence.

What caused McCarthyism?

Fear after the “Loss of China,” Soviet spy cases (e.g., Alger Hiss), and domestic political advantage for Republicans.

What tactics did McCarthy use?

Public accusations, Senate hearings, media pressure, and claims of communist infiltration in government and the army.

How did McCarthyism end?

The 1954 Army–McCarthy hearings exposed McCarthy’s methods on national TV, leading to his censure by the Senate.

How did McCarthyism affect Britain?

It increased US suspicion of British institutions, especially after the Burgess and Maclean defections (1951).

What impact did it have on Anglo-American intelligence cooperation?

McCarthyist fear slowed intelligence sharing and created mistrust, temporarily weakening the “special relationship.”

How did McCarthyism affect Western Europe?

It pushed European governments to take a harder anti-communist stance and justified crackdowns on left-wing groups.

What was Europe’s reaction to McCarthyism?

Many Western Europeans viewed it as excessive, undemocratic, and damaging to US moral authority.

Why did the US dominate the UN in the early Cold War?

Because the USSR often boycotted sessions, most member states were aligned with the West, and the US had strong economic and political influence.

How was US dominance shown during the Korean War?

The UN authorised military intervention in Korea while the USSR was boycotting, enabling a US-led coalition.

What structural advantage did the USA have in the UN?

Many UN agencies and funding mechanisms relied heavily on US resources.

Why was Soviet influence initially limited in the UN?

Smaller communist membership and frequent use of the Security Council veto.

Why was China isolated after 1949?

The US refused to recognise the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and instead recognised the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the UN.

How did US policy contribute to China’s isolation?

Trade embargoes, diplomatic pressure on allies, and containment strategies aimed at preventing communist expansion in Asia.

What role did the Korean War play in isolating China?

China’s entry on the side of North Korea confirmed US fears and hardened US policy against the PRC.

How did China’s exclusion from the UN impact its global position?

It limited diplomatic influence and reinforced reliance on the USSR.

What was the overall effect of domestic fears in the US during the early Cold War?

They intensified anti-communist policies, influenced foreign policy, and strained relations with allies.

What connected McCarthyism with wider Cold War tensions?

Both were driven by fears of communist expansion, espionage, and the belief that containment was failing.

How did early Cold War tensions reshape global politics?

They solidified ideological blocs, strengthened US-led alliances, and marginalised communist China.

Why was the UN a key arena for early Cold War competition?

It became a stage for superpower influence, with the US initially holding the advantage.