The origins of the Cold War 1945-60

USA and USSR
1. USA - Capitalist (private ownership of industry) Democracy - voting in elections and choosing government
2. USSR - Communist (state owned industry) One-party state - only communist party existed
Yalta Conference Feb 1945
1. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin
  1. Got on well together
2. DECIDED Germany to be divided into four zones. Berlin divided in four zones. USSR joined war against Japan. Germany would pay reparations.
  Annotations:
  - REMEMBER W44P
Potsdam Conference July 1945
1. Attlee, Truman and Stalin
  1. DID NOT get on well together
2. DECIDED on future borders between Poland and Germany.
3. Leaders suspicious of Stalin's motives in Eastern Europe
  1. He set up communist government in Poland
4. 16th July - Americans tested atomic bomb.
  1. This worried Stalin. Could bully war-torn USSR in future.
Soviet Expansion
1. Stalin felt vulnerable. USA much richer than USSR who had been devastated by war.
  1. Set up a BUFFER ZONE - protect western borders
  2. Ensured communists came to power in Eastern Bloc using RIGGED ELECTIONS and his RED ARMY.
2. The IRON CURTAIN - Churchill referred to division of East and West as an 'Iron Curtain'
Truman Doctrine 1947
1. To 'contain' the spread of communism
2. USA gave military help to countries resisting communism
3. Truman granted $400 million to support Greece and Turkey against Communist influence
4. EFFECTS
  1. America adopted 'policy of containment'.
    1. Reverts policy of Isolationism
  2. Communists felt it was a declaration of war against Communism
  3. Regarded as the start of the Cold War
The Marshall Aid
1. Other half of the Truman Doctrine >>
2. America granted $17 billion in aid to Europe
  1. To give huge economic aid to countries accepting American help - helped raise living standards torn apart by war.
  2. Helped American economy - increased exports to, and investments in, Europe.
3. Stalin rejected aid for Eastern Europe
  1. Believed it was designed to reduce appeal of communism - "dollar imperialism", controlling countries through money.
4. EFFECTS
  1. Stalin reacted through 'Comniform'
    1. Russian equivalent of Truman Doctrine - defend communism
      1. COMECON 1949 - united economies of communist states
    2. Increased Stalin's control of Eastern Europe
  2. Increased suspicions between America and Russia
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift
1. 1948 - French, US and British zones merged into West Germany. Began to prosper due to Marshall Aid.
2. Soviet-controlled East Germany had poverty and hunger. East Germans began fleeing to West.
  1. Stalin feared Allies would attack by building up West Berlin.
    1. Closed all road and rail connections from Berlin to West Germany to force Allies out of Berlin.
3. Allies air-lifted vital supplies into western sector - 8000 tonnes supplied daily
  1. SUCCESSFUL - Stalin didn't shoot down air-craft and risk war. May 1949 - USSR lifted Blockade.
4. IMPORTANCE
  1. Truman Doctrine put into action
  2. Britain and France stood up to Soviet Expansion
  3. Victory for West - lead to NATO
  4. Clear Germany would remain divided
  5. Set pattern of Cold War: threats, no war, hostility between East and West

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The origins of the Cold War 1945-60

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	Created by sabrinaiqbal9 over 11 years ago