Cold War Flashcards
(44 cards)
What was agreed at yalta?
Germany divided into four sections. Berlin also divided.
Germany had to pay compensation for damage they did in the war.
In Eastern Europe countries free to elect governments of their own choice.
A new international organisation to keep the peace would be set up
What happened at Potsdam?
four zones in germany split up
nazi war criminals to be brought to trial
polish government alllowed to hold unrestricted elections asap
russia was allowed to take reparations from its zone
What was the iron curtain?
Metaphorical divide between soviet and European influences
Idea introduced by Churchill in a speech
Curtain created as a result of stalins actions
Reasons why Truman announced the Truman doctrine?
To support countries who were vulnerable to communist takeover
To challenge the ussr in their takeover of Eastern Europe
Example of Truman supporting vulnerable countries and challenging takeover
A communist party in Greece appeared causing s civil war that Truman wanted to help with
Reasons the Marshall plan was offered to countries in Europe
Restore economies
Prevent the spread of communism
Restore political stability
What did Truman and Stalin disagree on?
Politics - capitalist/communist
Lifestyle - two party democracy/ one party state
Aims - America wanted Germany to recover as a trading partner but Russia wanted to weaken Germany
What did America have that the ussr didn’t?
Atomic bomb
When were yalta and Potsdam?
Feb and July 1945
What did Stalin want after World War Two?
A buffer zone of friendly state around Russia so it couldn’t be invaded again
how did russias and americas relationship break
stalin ignored usa eg set up communist government in poland
anticommunist america - truman much more anticommunist than roosevelt
america stopped lend-lease (money given to russia for equipment to help in war)
america had atomic bomb, russia knew due to spies
how successful was the USSRs takeover of Eastern Europe?
successful - took over many countries like poland, romania and hungary
unsuccessful - rigged elections in poland
what reasons showed who were most to blame for the cold war
stalins takeover of eastern europe
tough talking
truman doctrine and marshall aid
what was the truman doctrine?
speech saying the usa would offer money equpment and advice to protect other countries against the threat of communism
what was marshall aid?
the us offered countries in western europe a massive programme of economic aid hoping it would strengthen western democracies
an example of restoring economies in the marshall plan?
USA gave $13 billion to european countries
an example of stopping spread of communism in the marshall plan
money given increased production
an example of restoring political stability in the marshall plan?
civil war in greece
describe what happened in the berlin blockade?
stalin created a blockade on 24 june 1948 cutting off west berlin from supply routes
the allies started to airlift resources into berlin
the airlifting lasted 10 months but there were still shortages
blockade ends in 1949
reasons berlin caused tension between east and west between 1948 and 1948
stalin blocked off all transport links apart from air
berlin was already divided, countries started making different currencies in each zone so berlin was divided
example of stalin blocking off transport links to berlin
berlin bockade june 1948 lead to allies airlifting resources
reasons the bay of pigs invasion caused problems for the usa
failure showed Kennedy’s inexperience as a leader
castro’s regime was strengthened
explain why kennedy was successful in dealing with the cuban missile crisis?
- kennedy chose a less aggressive response (blockade) avoiding antagonizing the USSR
- kennedy kept open the lines of communication with Khrushchev creating opportunites for compromise
- kennedy compromised over the missile bases in Turkey making it possible to reach a deal with Khrushchev over missiles on cuba
What is the domino theory?
The fear that if Vietnam was allowed to become communist that other countries in south east Asia would too
