1.1 - The Roots of the Cold War

Who did Joseph Stalin succeed as leader of the USSR by the late 1920s?

Vladimir Lenin

How did Stalin seek to rapidly industrialize the USSR?

Five Year Plans

What did Stalin's “Five Year Plans” include and what were the consequences?

Collectivization of all crops, widespread famine among the nation, death of millions of agricultural workers

What were Stalin's purges, in which he murdered or imprisoned any political opponents, known as?

The Great Terror (1930s)

What was Stalinism?

1) Dominance of Stalin over party and state

2) Powerful state security machine

3) Ruthless maintenance of power by eliminating opponents

4) Development of a regime associated with violence and paranoia

Why did Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Adolf Hitler in 1939?

To delay conflict with Germany indefinitely

How had Stalin acquired much of Eastern European territory?

Due to pushing Germany back to Berlin at the end of WWII

Who was anti-communist, distrusting of Joseph Stalin, and took the USSR as an enemy immediately after the end of WWII?

Winston Churchill

Which nation faced the most casualties during WWII?

The USSR

What was one of the reasons that contributed to political tension between the USSR and other allied leaders?

Stalin's demand for compensation for his losses during WWII

Which nations emerged as the world's largest superpowers and who did they replace?

The USA and USSR, replacing France and Britain

What were the military reasons for USA and USSR emergence as superpowers?

1) USA having #1 air force and having a significant military presence in the West Europe

2) USSR having #1 army and significant military presence in East Europe (also, no strong neighbors)

What were the political reasons for USA and USSR emergence as superpowers?

1) For USA (and West Europe) capitalism triumphed over fascism

2) For USSR, communism triumphed over fascism (they also had the power to restore smaller East European countries)

What was the first wartime conference?

Tehran Conference, 1943

Who attended the Tehran Conference?

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

What was discussed in the Tehran Conference?

1) Roosevelt and Churchill should open a front in France, Stalin should wage war on Japan

2) Germany should surrender but what happens after wasn't agreed upon

3) Discussion over how Poland's borders should be drawn

4) Stalin wanted all his Eastern European territories from before WWII back

5) Discussion of making the UN

What was the second wartime conference?

Yalta Conference, 1945

Who attended the Yalta Conference?

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

What was discussed in the Yalta Conference?

1) Stalin agreed to join war with Japan once war in Europe ended

2) Decided that Germany would be divided temporarily and then unified

3) Poland's borders were drawn; democratic elections were to take place

4) Stalin agreed that Eastern Europe would undergo democratic elections (everyone doubted him)

5) UN was starting to be established

What was the third wartime conference?

Potsdam Conference, 1945

Who attended the Potsdam Conference?

Stalin (USSR), Clement Atlee (Britain), Harry Truman (USA)

What was discussed at the Potsdam Conference?

1) War in Europe ended; discussion over atomic weapons on Japan

2) Initially decided to govern Germany together; settled on each power governing its own zone

3) Truman challenged Poland borders and sought to reorganize the government to prevent communist victory

4) Truman objected to the Percentages Agreement regarding Soviet control over Eastern European

5) UN was officially created in San Fran. in 1945