2 effect questions Flashcards
Explain two effects of events prior to 1941 (pp6-7) on relations between the members of the Grand Alliance/’Big Three’.
· They made relations poor because the UK and US tried to help stop the Soviets/Communists take control of the Russia as a result of the Russian Revolution which obviously upset the Soviets.
· They made relations poor because Britain did not consult the USSR when dealing with Hitler’s territorial demands during the 1930s, even though those demand were threatening to the USSR; his made the USSR suspicious of Britain’s interests and motives.
· They made relations poor because the USSR worked with the Nazis prior to 1941, signing the Nazi/Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in 1939 and both taking over Poland soon after; this made the West feel that the USSR was willing to work with an enemy of the West if it suited the USSR.
Explain two effects of the November 1943 Tehran conference (pp10-11) on relations between the members of the Grand Alliance/’Big Three’.
· It strengthened relations because the USA and GB agreed at the conference to open a ‘second front’; this reassured Stalin.
· It strengthened relations because the USSR agreed at the conference to help fight Japan once the war in Europe was won; this showed support and cooperation between the powers.
· It strengthened relations because there was broad agreement at the conference about how to deal with Germany and Poland once the war was won.
Explain two effects of the February 1945 Yalta conference (p12) on relations between the members of
the Grand Alliance/’Big Three’.
· It strengthened relations because they all agreed at the conference on what to do about Germany and reparations after the war.
· It strengthened relations because Stalin agreed at the conference that future governments of countries in Eastern Europe would be decided by free elections, reassuring the USA and GB that democracy would prevail.
· It strengthened relations because there was agreement at the conference about the setting up of the United Nations.
· It strained relations because of disagreements at the conference about Soviet republic membership of the UN and about the expected government in Poland.
Explain two effects of the July 1945 Potsdam conference on relations between the members of the Grand Alliance/’Big Three’.
· Relations remained good because many things were agreed agreed/confirmed at the conference (list the agreements).
· Relations became strained (because of the change in personnel - Truman particularly – and disagreements over reparations and Poland at the conference).
· Relations also became strained because of Truman’s revelation at the conference about the successful US atom bomb test.
Explain two effects on superpower relations of Stalin’s establishment of satellite states/a buffer zone in Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1949 (pp21-22).
· Relations got worse because Stalin was taking over control of all of Eastern Europe by establishing satellite states/a buffer zone which was threatening to Truman/the West (give details of where).
· Relations got worse because of the undemocratic methods Stalin used in establishing satellite states/a buffer zone which went against Western beliefs in democracy (give details of how).
Explain two effects of Churchill’s 1946 iron curtain speech (p24) on superpower relations.
· Relations got worse because Churchill was criticising Stalin’s behaviour in Eastern Europe as part
of his speech (give details of what Churchill said)
· Relations got worse because it seemed like Churchill and Truman were working against Stalin because Truman was present when Churchill gave his critical speech (give details of the circumstances around the speech)
Explain two effects of the Long and Novikov telegrams (pp23-24) on superpower relations.
· Relations got worse because the USA was worried about/threatened by the USSR’s intentions because the Long Telegram contained details that made the USSR appear aggressive towards the USSR.
· Relations got worse because the USSR was worried about/threatened by the USA’s intentions because the Novikov Telegram contained details that made the USA appear very dominant and uncooperative towards the USSR.
Explain two effects of the Greek Civil War (pp25-26) on superpower relations.
· It caused relations to get worse because it seemed like Stalin was trying to spread communism even further than Eastern Europe because of his support of the communists in Greece on one side of the Civil War.
· They also got worse because it led to Truman supporting the Greek Royalists in the Civil War (against the communists) and giving his Truman Doctrine speech (promising further support for people in situations like the Greek Royalist in the Civil war).
Explain two effects of the Truman Doctrine on superpower relations
· Relations got worse because Truman was criticising the USSR’s ideology and methods of taking over countries in Eastern Europe when giving the speech that became the Doctrine.
· Relations got worse because Truman committed the USA to sending soldiers and money to help stop the further spread of communism when giving the speech that became the Doctrine.
· Relations got worse because the above points, both of which were set out in the speech that became the Doctrine, made it clear that Grand Alliance was dead.
Explain two effects of the Marshall Plan/Marshall Aid (pp26-28) on superpower relations
· Relations became more strained because Stalin saw the Marshall Plan as the USA trying to control Europe and even eventually destroy the USSR.
· Relations became more strained because a stronger Western Europe, as would be created as a result of the Marshall Plan, was threatening to Stalin.
· Relations became even more strained because the Marshall Plan led to Europe being clearly divided into two separate economic camps (Marshall Aid v Comecon, different currencies).
Explain two effects on superpower relations of the USA’s decisions about Germany between March and June 1948 (p31).
· Relations worsened because the agreements of the wartime conferences to make collective future decisions about Germany was being ignored as shown by the USA deciding to create Trizonia and the Deutschmark without consulting the USSR.
· Relations also worsened because these decisions were seen by Stalin as the West ganging up on the Soviet Union and deliberately forcing the Soviet Zone of Germany into poverty as Trizonia nbecame a separate economic unit which was also benefiting from Marshall Aid and the Deutschmark was a far more desirable currency.
Explain two effects of the Berlin Blockade (pp30-33) on superpower relations
· Relations worsened because Stalin acted aggressively in establishing and carrying out the Blockade (give details of how he did it).
· Relations also worsened because the USA committed themselves to the airlift, frustrating Stalin’s plan to force them out of West Berlin by establishing the Blockade.
· Relations worsened because the Blockade and subsequent airlift made it clear that the division of Germany would continue and hence the creation of the FRG and GDR.
· Relation worsened because of the creation of NATO; the West had created a military alliance as protection against the Soviets, needed because of Soviet ‘aggression’ demonstrated by the Blockade .
Explain two effects of the creation of NATO (p33) on superpower relations.
· Relations worsened because Stalin felt threatened by the defensive military alliance that was/is NATO (give detail of the countries and the key commitment).
· Relations also worsened because the USA was now committed to getting directly involved in the defense of Europe against future Soviet aggression, as shown by the establishment of NATO.
Explain two effects of the Korean War (pp39-41) on superpower relations.
· Relations worsened because both countries supported opposing sides in the war which showed that both were prepared to use force (the War) to deal with the other.
· Relations also worsened because the USA had committed itself to supporting other countries in Asia against the spread of communism (a spread shown by the invasion of the South by the North), hence threatening the USSR (discuss SEATO).
· Relations also worsened because both countries started to build up their armed forces, worried by what each saw as the other side’s’ aggression (the North’s initial attack) and strength, as shown by neither side being able to defeat the other during the Korean War.
Explain two effects of the Soviet concept of peaceful co-existence (p44) on superpower relations
· Relations improved because the map of Europe now seemed to be settled and there seemed to be little point in risking open confrontation when Khrushchev apparently wanted peaceful co-existence
· Relations improved because both sides felt that it would be good for both economies to reduce military spending, which would be possible in a world of peaceful co-existence.
Explain two effects on superpower relations of Khrushchev becoming leader of the Soviet Union.
· Relations eventually worsened because of the aggressive Soviet response (directed by Khrushchev) to events in Hungary; this seemed to go against everything Khrushchev had initially ‘promised’.
Explain two effects on superpower relations of West Germany joining NATO in May 1955 (p45).
· Relations worsened because there was now a real threat of an armed and powerful West Germany on the border of the Soviet Bloc, as shown by West Germany the already powerful defensive alliance of NATO.
· Relations worsened because the USSR responded to West Germany joining NATO by creating the Warsaw Pact which was a formal military alliance between the ‘Eastern Bloc’ countries that was entirely Soviet led and controlled, hence very threatening to NATO and the USA.
Explain two effects on superpower relations of the creation of the Warsaw Pact in May 1955 (p45).
· Relations worsened because there was now a formal military alliance between the ‘Eastern Bloc’ countries (the Warsaw Pact) that was entirely Soviet led and controlled, hence very threatening to NATO and the USA.
· Relations also worsened because Europe was now very definitely two separate Europes, one controlled by the USSR (as shown by the Warsaw Pact) and seeking to spread communism, and other under the protection of the USA and seeking to prevent the spread of communism; there was clearly a clash of aims.
Explain two effects of the outcome of the Hungarian uprising of 1956 (pp46-49) on superpower relations
· Relations worsened because the USA disapproved of Khrushchev’s actions in crushing the uprising.
· Relations also worsened because the USA felt more threatened, as well as powerless, in the face of Soviet aggression taking place behind the iron curtain in crushing the uprising.
Explain two effects of the outcome of the Hungarian uprising 1956 (pp46-49) on international relations
· Relations worsened between countries in the Warsaw Pact/Soviet sphere and the Soviet Union because they saw how ruthless and aggressive the USSR could be when crushing the uprising .
· Relations worsened between Hungary and USSR because the USSR invaded Hungary and crushed the uprising.
Explain two effects of the U-2 spy plane incident of May 1960 (pp56-57) on superpower relations.
· Relations worsened because it showed that there was little trust between them (spying was continuing as shown by the incident) even though they were both attending the Paris Summit at the time.
· Relations also worsened because Eisenhower was shown to be dishonest when presented with Gary Powers (the pilot of the U-2 spy plane) and this led to Khrushchev walking out of the summit before it was concluded.
Explain two effects of the Berlin Wall (pp58-61) on superpower relations
· Relations also worsened because the USA was powerless to stop Khrushchev building the Wall.
· Relations also worsened because Khrushchev had been forced to resort to building the Wall to resolve the situation regarding West Berlin.
Explain two effects of Castro’s takeover of Cuba in 1959 (pp63-64) on international relations.
· Relations worsened between the USA and Cuba because Castro did not want the US to control his country’s economy and so nationalised land and industries, taking them away from US control, upsetting the US.
· Relations also worsened between the USA and Cuba because the USA was worried about a socialist/communist country being so close to them, which is what Castro’s takeover led to, and therefore took several decisions which were aggressive towards Cuba, thereby worsening relations (stopping aid, stopping buying sugar, breaking off diplomatic relations, Bay of Pigs).
Explain two effects of the Bay of Pigs incident of April 1961 (pp64-66) on superpower relations.
· Relations worsened because it pushed Cuba closer to the USSR because Cuba feared a further invasion after the Bay of Pigs failed, which angered the USA as they did not want Soviet influence on their doorstep.
· Relations worsened because the USA was humiliated and embarrassed by their failure at the Bay of Pigs while the USSR looked strong as the people of Cuba had chosen communism by not supporting the invasion.
