CAIE 9489 Interpretations Paper 3 Origins of the Cold war

USSR Distrust

The USSR had deep distrust towards Western countries before WWII, fearing capitalism.

Western Fear

Western countries feared the spread of communism following the Russian Revolution.

Allies Against Hitler

The USA, Britain, and USSR formed an alliance against Nazi Germany after Hitler's invasion of the USSR in 1941.

Lend-Lease Aid

A program where the USA supplied the USSR with military equipment, food, and vehicles during WWII.

Tehran Conference (1943)

The first major meeting between Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill to plan military strategies against Germany.

Yalta Conference (February 1945)

A meeting where it was agreed that Germany would be divided into occupation zones, and free elections were to be held in Eastern Europe.

Potsdam Conference

A post-war meeting in 1945 where tensions rose over disagreements on Germany's future and reparations.

Iron Curtain Speech

A speech by Churchill in 1946 highlighting the division of Europe into East and West, symbolizing the ideological divide.

Long Telegram

A document by George Kennan in 1946 outlining the need for containment of Soviet expansion.

Novikov Telegram

A response from Soviet Ambassador Novikov claiming the USA was pursuing world supremacy and preparing for war against the USSR.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

A policy declaring US support for countries resisting communism, marking the beginning of the containment strategy.

Marshall Plan (1948)

An American program providing economic aid to rebuild Western Europe to prevent the spread of communism.

Berlin Blockade (1948-49)

A Soviet attempt to cut off access to West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift by Western Allies.

NATO (1949)

A military alliance formed by Western countries to deter Soviet expansion, treating an attack on one as an attack on all.

Korean War (1950-53)

An armed conflict prompted by North Korea's invasion of South Korea, escalating tensions in the Cold War.

Containment

The US strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism globally, initiating various supporting policies.

Cominform (1947)

An organization created to facilitate coordination among communist parties and solidify Soviet influence.

Comecon (1949)

The Soviet response to the Marshall Plan, designed to tie Eastern European economies to the USSR.

Atomic Bomb Use

The dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force Japan's surrender and demonstrate US military superiority.

Cold War Ideology

The ideological conflict between capitalism and communism that fueled the tensions between the USA and USSR.

Soviet Expansionism

The strategy employed by the USSR to establish influence over Eastern Europe and create a buffer zone after WWII.

Arms Race

The competition between the USA and USSR to develop and stockpile nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Salami Tactics

The method used by the USSR to gain control over Eastern European countries gradually and strategically.