History P2 cold war

Which two superpowers were the central rivals in the Cold War?

The USA and the USSR

What years did the Cold War span (start and end year)?

1945–1989

What term describes a world order split between two dominant superpower blocs?

Bipolar world

What economic ideology did the USA and the "West" support during the Cold War?

Capitalism

What economic ideology did the USSR and the "Soviet bloc" support during the Cold War?

Communism

What is the definition of Capitalism as an economic system?

An economic system based on private ownership, designed to make profits, with growing capital regulated by supply and demand

What term describes a government policy of minimal interference in the economy?

Laissez faire

What type of political system typically accompanies Capitalism?

Multi-party, parliamentary democracy with regular elections

What is the definition of Communism as an economic and political system?

A system where the central government controls, owns, and plans the economy and political structure

In a Communist one-party state, from which single party are all election candidates drawn?

The Communist Party

What four basic rights did Communist systems typically guarantee citizens?

Housing, health, education, and employment

What is emphasized more highly under Communism: individual human rights or the good of society as a whole?

The good of society as a whole

What are the strengths of Capitalism?

Good system to make an economy grow; profit for investors; encourages creativity and innovation; makes products cheaply; encourages competition; drives people to work hard; incentive to get rich; lower prices for consumers through price competition; only successful businesses survive; individual responsibility; entrepreneurial energy — anyone can start a business; diversity in products; promotes democracy and individualism

What are the strengths of Communism?

All economy is centrally planned; wealth can be redistributed where needed; acts as a safety net protecting the poor from extreme hardship; full or close to full employment; everyone can contribute; state supports development of talents for all people; decisions benefit the country as a whole; money distributed where there is a need

What are the weaknesses of Capitalism?

Not good at distributing wealth to where it is needed; wealth gap between rich and poor; exploitation and low quality to make profits; many people can't compete equally as they start with nothing; poverty — people can lose their job easily; basic human rights not always ensured

What are the weaknesses of Communism?

Not good at making more money; only effective if there is enough money to redistribute or invest in infrastructure; collapse is seen as inevitable; people are employed whether they work well or not, so little incentive to achieve; if state planning is incorrect the outcome is disastrous; no alternatives or opposition to the state allowed; no individuality; state can move people where they are needed; massive state propaganda to persuade people to work for the common good

What four emotions/attitudes characterized the atmosphere of the Cold War?

Tension, distrust, antagonism, and fear

What global conflict spanned the years 1945–1989?

The Cold War (between the USA and the USSR)

When did the distrust between the USSR and the West begin?

After the communist Russian Revolution in 1917

Despite mutual distrust, against which common enemy did the USA and USSR form an alliance during WWII?

Germany

Which countries made up the Axis powers in WWII?

Germany, Italy, and Japan

Which countries made up the Allied powers in WWII?

Britain, France, Russia, and the USA

Why did the USA fear the spread of communism after WWII?

It originated from concerns dating back to the Russian Revolution of 1917

Why did the Soviet Union feel it needed buffer states after WWII?

Because it had been invaded twice by Germany in 30 years

What were the three conferences held to end WWII, and in what dates did each occur?

Tehran Conference (November 1943), Yalta Conference (February 1945), Potsdam Conference (July–August 1945)

Which three leaders made up the "Big Three" at the Yalta Conference?

Churchill (Britain), Roosevelt (USA), and Stalin (USSR)

What did the Yalta Conference (Feb 1945) agree regarding the division of Germany?

Germany would be divided into 4 zones, occupied by the USA, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union

What did the Yalta Conference agree regarding liberated countries and elections?

Liberated countries (from the Nazis) would hold free elections to form a government

What did the Yalta Conference designate Eastern Europe as?

A "Soviet sphere of influence"

On what issue did the Yalta Conference fail to reach agreement?

Poland

Which countries did Russia liberate and impose control over following Germany's surrender?

Baltic States, Poland, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania

Who replaced Winston Churchill as British Prime Minister partway through the Potsdam Conference?

Clement Attlee

Who were the three leaders who made up the "Big Three" at the Potsdam Conference?

Stalin (USSR), Attlee (Britain, replacing Churchill), and Truman (USA)

At Potsdam, what did Stalin want done to Germany, and who opposed this?

Stalin wanted to cripple Germany; Truman opposed this

Why did Stalin want reparations from Germany at Potsdam?

Because over 20 million Russians had died in the war

Why did Truman oppose the idea of pro-Soviet governments in Eastern Europe, while also wanting to avoid post-WWI mistakes?

He wanted to prevent the kind of bitter, hostile conditions after WWI that had helped bring Hitler to power

What did the Potsdam Conference decide about the division of Germany and Berlin into zones?

Germany would be divided into 4 zones of occupation, and Berlin (in the Soviet zone) would also be divided into 4 sectors

What percentage of dismantled industrial equipment from the Western zones was the Soviet Union to receive, according to Potsdam?

25%

What conference was held in November 1943?

The Tehran Conference

What conference was held in February 1945?

The Yalta Conference

What conference was held in July–August 1945?

The Potsdam Conference

Who became British Prime Minister on July 26, 1945, replacing Churchill during the Potsdam Conference?

Clement Attlee

What event took place in Russia in 1917 that started long-term Soviet–Western distrust?

The Russian Revolution

Which region of Europe fell under the USA's sphere of influence after WWII?

Western Europe

Which region of Europe fell under the USSR's sphere of influence after WWII?

Eastern Europe

Which three Baltic/border territories did the USSR annex outright after WWII?

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Eastern Poland

What tactic did the USSR use, via the Red Army, to install pro-Soviet governments in Eastern European countries?

Salami Tactics

Which countries had pro-Soviet governments installed via Salami Tactics?

Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Eastern Germany

In which country did a Communist Coup take place in 1948?

Czechoslovakia

What term describes the Eastern European countries that became Soviet-controlled without free elections?

Satellite states

What did Eastern European states become as a result of Soviet control?

Soviet satellites

Which three Western European countries did the West fear might also become communist?

Greece, Italy, and France

What two factors created a power vacuum in Eastern Europe after WWII?

The defeat of Germany, and Britain & France being exhausted

What filled the power vacuum left in Eastern Europe after WWII?

Soviet armies

What promises had reinforced Stalin's position, made by which two Western leaders?

Promises made by Churchill and Roosevelt

What policy did the USA abandon in order to protect Europe after WWII?

Isolation

What policy did the USA adopt to stop the spread of communism after abandoning isolationism?

Containment

In which two countries did the USA believe communists wanted to seize power, prompting the Truman Doctrine?

Greece and Turkey

In what month and year was the Truman Doctrine announced?

March 1947

What did the USA promise to countries threatened by Communism under the Truman Doctrine?

Money and military aid

What did the Truman Doctrine become the basis of for the rest of the Cold War?

US policy during the Cold War

What four post-war conditions in Europe made economic aid necessary?

War damage, homelessness, poverty, and hunger

In what year was the Marshall Plan introduced?

1948

What was the aim of the Marshall Plan?

To rebuild the economies of Europe and prevent the spread of communism

How much money (in total) did the USA give in Marshall Aid?

$17 billion

Which was the only communist country to accept Marshall Aid?

Yugoslavia

Which Yugoslav leader refused to be dictated to by Moscow, allowing Yugoslavia to accept Marshall Aid?

Tito

What term did Stalin use to describe the Marshall Plan?

"Dollar diplomacy"

What did Stalin refuse to allow Soviet satellite states to do, in response to the Marshall Plan?

Accept Marshall Aid

What organization did Stalin set up to control the satellite states, in response to the Marshall Plan?

Cominform

What organization did Stalin set up as a communist economic aid organization, in response to the Marshall Plan?

Comecon

What US policy, promising aid to countries threatened by Communism, was announced in March 1947?

The Truman Doctrine

What US economic aid programme was introduced in 1948 to rebuild Europe and prevent the spread of communism?

The Marshall Plan

In which city were Cold War tensions over Germany greatest?

Berlin

Which two countries were in favour of dismantling Germany's war-making potential at Yalta?

The Soviet Union and France

Which two countries were opposed to dismantling Germany at Yalta?

The USA and Britain

What percentage of dismantled industrial equipment from Western zones was the Soviet Union confirmed to receive at Potsdam, in exchange for what?

25%, in exchange for food supplies

What was Stalin's overall aim regarding Germany in the Soviet zone?

To keep it weak and use it to rebuild Soviet industry

What type of economic system did the Soviet zone of Germany operate?

Nationalised industry and state collective farms

What type of economic system did the Western zone of Germany operate?

Free enterprise, helped by the Marshall Plan

Did the Soviet zone of Germany receive Marshall Aid?

No

What caused bitterness to develop between the Soviet and Western zones regarding reparations?

Disagreement over the relative value of equipment vs food

In what year did the West refuse to continue dismantling and shipping industrial equipment to the Soviet zone?

1946

Which two Western zones of Germany were fused into one in order to make it economically viable?

The American and British zones

Which Western Allied country refused to join the fusion of zones, and why?

France, because it feared an enlarged, threatening Germany

In what year was the currency reformed in the fused Western zones?

1948

What action by Stalin in response to Western moves in Germany showed his displeasure with the West?

The Berlin Blockade

What two Western actions did Stalin believe went against the terms of Yalta?

The fusion of Western zones, and the introduction of a new currency

What did Stalin believe the West was trying to achieve in Germany's economic system?

Make its economic system the dominant one in Germany

From what date to what date did the Berlin Blockade last?

June 1948 to May 1949

What supply routes did Stalin close during the Berlin Blockade?

Road, rail, and canal

What was Stalin's aim in blockading Berlin?

To use it as a bargaining weapon to prevent the Western Zones uniting into a strong West German state

What did the USSR offer to West Berlin during the blockade, in an attempt to persuade citizens to accept Soviet control?

Food supplies

What three options did the West consider in response to the Berlin Blockade?

A forceful reaction risking war; no reaction (risking communist takeover); or supplying West Berlin by air

What method did the Western powers use to supply West Berlin during the blockade?

The Berlin Airlift

What types of supplies were airlifted into West Berlin during the blockade?

Food, fuel, medicines, clothing, and building materials

Approximately how long did the Berlin Airlift last?

Almost 1 year

In what month and year did the Soviet Union call off the Berlin Blockade?

May 1949

Why was the Berlin Blockade considered a failure for the Soviet Union?

Because it did not risk war by attacking Allied aircraft, and had to call off the blockade

What did the Berlin Blockade/Airlift result in, in terms of superpower relations and future risk?

A tense balance between the superpowers, and Berlin became a potential flashpoint for future crises