Emerging Superpower rivalry and its consequences.docx

Emerging Superpower rivalry and its consequences

Actions of the USSR in Eastern Europe

• By 1945, the Soviet Army had taken over most of the countries in Eastern Europe, such as :

• Albania

• Bulgaria

• Hungary

• Poland

• Romania

(All Buses Have Planned Routes)

• Czechoslovakia - became communist in 1948 after communists organised armed demonstrations and a strike

• The USA thought the Soviets were building an empire in Eastern Europe

• Stalin wanted to create a ‘buffer zone’ to protect the USSR from future invasion

• To take over other countries the USSR would control elections to ensure communist victory as well as controlling the population using secret police

Each side was suspicious of the other

• Truman adopted the policy of containment - meaning the USA would act to stop further communist spread

Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech

• In a speech in Missouri in March 1946, Churchill said that Stalin had spread communism behind an ‘iron curtain’ as well as arguing that the USA and USSR should stop communism from spreading.

The Truman Doctrine

• Truman told the US Congress that it was now America’s policy (policy of containment) to stop countries becoming communist due to invasion or revolution.

• Congress released $400 million to end the communist threat in Greece (Truman worried if Greece became communist, communism would spread to the oil-rich Middle East)

The Marshall Plan

• Truman also believed that if the USA could help build up the economies of poorer countries they would not become communist

• US Secretary of State, George Marshall, wanted to invest $13.3 billion into Europe, if countries agreed to open their markets to American goods

• The money was spent on defence, roads, machinery and factories

Reactions to the Marshall Plan

• Congress was not sure about the Marshall Plan. They then changed their mind after the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948

Sixteen countries, including Britain and Western Germany had benefited from the Plan. Stalin argued that the USA was trying to gain influence over countries by controlling their economies. Stalin rejected the offer of money.

Impact of Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan

• Both the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan had made significant development in the Cold War.

• The Marshall Plan played a vital part in the economic reconstruction of Europe.

• However, it might have also worsened the Cold War relations