AQA Cold War: Soviet Expansion, Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan Flashcards
(12 cards)
What did the USSR do to tighten control over Eastern Europe by 1947?
Established communist governments in all Eastern European states except Czechoslovakia using rigged elections and intimidation.
Why did the USSR justify its control over Eastern Europe?
- To create a buffer zone
- Due to fear of the A-bomb
- Fear of a Western attack
- The ‘sphere of influence’ agreed at Yalta.
What did the USA claim about Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe?
That the USSR was aggressive and a threat to the West, trying to extend its influence globally.
What was the Truman Doctrine (1947)?
A policy where the USA aimed to contain the spread of communism by supporting free peoples resisting oppression.
Which country first benefitted from the Truman Doctrine and why?
Greece, as it was facing civil war and Britain could no longer support it. The USA gave financial help instead.
How did Stalin react to the Marshall Plan?
- He called it ‘dollar imperialism’
- Banned Eastern bloc countries from applying for aid
- Created Cominform and Comecon.
What was Cominform?
Communist Information Bureau set up in 1947 to coordinate communist parties and spread Stalin’s ideas.
What was Comecon?
Council for Mutual Economic Aid set up in 1949 to control Eastern bloc economies and prevent them from accepting Western aid.
What was the Berlin Blockade (1948-49)?
Stalin blocked all access to West Berlin to force Western allies out. The West responded with a massive airlift.
What were the outcomes of the Berlin Blockade?
USSR ended blockade in 1949. Propaganda victory for the USA. Germany was divided. NATO was formed. Tensions deepened.
Why was the USA hesitant to offer Marshall Aid initially?
They feared the cost. But the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948 changed their mind.
What event in 1948 changed the USA’s mind about the Marshall Plan?
A communist coup in Czechoslovakia and the murder of a pro-western minister convinced US Congress to grant Marshall Aid.
