Higher History Causes of the Cold War

Introduction

The Cold War began in 1945 after the Second World War and was fought between the United States of America, a capitalist state, and the USSR, a communist state. Despite being allies throughout the war many disagreements and differences led the collapse of the alliance.

TITWA

K1- In 1945, USA didn’t tell Stalin about their creation of the atomic bomb or how they were planning on dropping it on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They did tell their western allies such as Britain.

K2-Stalin believed he was doing the majority of fighting on the Eastern Front and wasn’t receiving support. He believed the West wanted to the USSR and Germany to be weak so they could come and beat both

Eval- Disagreed on the outcome of Poland as the USSR wanted a communist state and the West wanted them to be a free country. Stalin wanted Poland to be communist so he would have a friendly state and for it to be part of a buffer zone

Ideological Differences

K1- The USA announced the Truman Doctrine in 1947 which said that the US would have active involvement in containing communism.

K2- In 1947, the USA offered Marshall Aid to all European countries, this offered economic aid to prevent countries from accepting communism. They even offered it to the USSR and the satellite states but they turned it down.

Eval- We could see the clear difference in ideologies with the formation of alliances. the US formed NATO which was to counter the threat of communist expansion. The USSR then formed the Warsaw Pact which was to counter NATO.

Disagreements over Germany

K1- From 1948-49, the USSR cut of all road, rail and canal links into West Berlin, hoping the allies would be forced to move out, called the Berlin Blockade. Instead of using military action the West instead flew in supplies from the West to help the people in Berlin

K2-Stalin demanded reparations to be paid to the USSR for damages caused during WW2. The Western allies didn’t want to have Germany reparations and wanted to see future growth of Germany.

Eval- The ‘Iron Curtain’ speech by Winston Churchill made it clear that there was a divide in the middle of Europe. As one side was ran by communism and the other by capitalism. it also made it clear that it is impossible for the 2 ideologies to run side by side without there being conflict.

Korean War

K1- In 1950 communist North Korea invaded South Korea, with aims to turn all of Korea into a communist state. This feared the USA as if Korea turns communist then what’s stopping other parts of Asia.

K2- After a ceasefire was arranged in July 1953, a border was created between the North and South with a 2.5km demilitarised zone.

Eval- North Korea was in the Soviet sphere of influence so leader Kim Il Sung wanted to spread the communist ideology throughout all of Korea.

Arms Race

K1- In 1952, the US exploded their first hydrogen bomb, this feared the USSR making them explode their own bomb a few years later.

K2-