The Iron Curtain Speech The Road To Truman Doctrine Flashcards
(20 cards)
Q1: Where and when did Churchill deliver his Iron Curtain speech, and what did he warn about?
A: In Fulton, Missouri, in March 1946, Churchill warned that an “iron curtain” had descended across Europe, dividing the democratic West from the communist East.
Q2: How did Americans initially react to Churchill’s speech?
A: Many Americans reacted negatively, thinking it was too confrontational and threatened postwar peace. They were not yet ready for a Cold War mindset.
Q3: What was the postwar atmosphere like in the USA compared to the USSR and Germany?
A: The USA was economically strong and optimistic. The USSR was devastated, with cities and villages in ruins. Germany, especially Berlin, was in complete physical and social collapse.
Q4: What was the Allied solution for postwar Germany and Berlin?
A: Germany was divided into four zones (U.S., U.K., France, USSR), and Berlin, though in the Soviet zone, was also split. This forced East and West to interact daily, creating tension.
Q5: What problems did the division of Berlin cause?
A: Daily cooperation between rival ideologies created mistrust, especially as political systems diverged. Berlin became the epicenter of Cold War confrontation.
Q6: Why was Poland of such strategic importance to the USSR?
A: Poland had been the historical invasion route into Russia. Stalin wanted control of Poland to prevent future Western aggression.
Q7: How did Stalin manage politics in Eastern Europe?
A: He created coalition governments with communists in key positions, especially in police and security. Elections were held but often manipulated, with opposition figures eliminated.
Q8: Why was Greece important to Britain, and how did Stalin respond to the crisis there?
A: Greece was key to controlling access to the Suez Canal and Middle Eastern oil. Stalin chose not to intervene in Greece, respecting the British sphere of influence.
Q9: What was Britain’s postwar situation and what role did the USA eventually take?
A: Britain was financially exhausted and announced in 1947 it could no longer support Greece. The U.S. responded with the Truman Doctrine, pledging to contain communism worldwide.
Q10: What was the significance of Stalin’s 1946 Bolshoi Theatre speech?
A: He argued that capitalism inevitably leads to war. Though a restatement of Marxist ideas, Americans interpreted it as a hostile warning.
Q11: What was the “Long Telegram,” and why was it important?
A: Written by George Kennan in 1946, it explained Soviet behavior as ideologically driven and called for containment. It heavily influenced U.S. Cold War strategy.
Q12: What was the relationship like between Churchill and Truman?
A: They were close and ideologically aligned. Both viewed the USSR as a growing threat and supported resisting communist expansion.
Q13: How did Stalin respond to the Iron Curtain speech?
A: He was outraged, comparing Churchill to Hitler and accusing the West of warmongering.
Q14: Why was Turkey important in the Cold War?.
A: Turkey controlled key waterways to the Mediterranean. The USSR wanted influence there to secure access and limit Western movement.
Q15: What tensions arose in Iran, and how were they resolved?
A: The USSR kept troops in northern Iran after WWII, sparking conflict. Under pressure from the U.S., Britain, and the United Nations, the Soviets withdrew.
Q16: Why did Stalin fear returning Soviet prisoners of war?
A: He feared they had absorbed Western ideas and might challenge Soviet ideology. Many were arrested or sent to labor camps.
Q17: What was the significance of the U.S. atomic bomb test in 1945?
A: The test marked U.S. nuclear dominance and triggered the USSR to accelerate its own nuclear program, starting the arms race.
Q18: What did the Clifford-Elsey Report conclude in 1946?
A: It warned that the Soviet Union posed a unique ideological and military threat and required a sustained American response.
Q19: What was Molotov’s role in postwar negotiations over Germany?
As Soviet Foreign Minister, Molotov worked with the Allies but aimed to secure maximum influence and reparations for the USSR.
Q20: What did James Byrnes say in his 1946 Stuttgart speech, and why was it a turning point?
A: Byrnes advocated for German economic recovery and indirectly criticized Soviet control in Eastern Europe, signaling a tougher U.S. stance.
