Topic 4

Question 1

What ideological differences existed between the USA and USSR?

Answer 1

America = democracy, USSR = communism

Both believed society should be organized differently

Question 2

What was the US economy based on?

Answer 2

Capitalism (economy is privately owned)

Question 3

How did the USSR control religious beliefs?

Answer 3

Religious beliefs were not tolerated and few political rights existed

Question 4

What was the Lend-Lease program?

Answer 4

USA lent, leased, and sold goods to countries fighting Germany, Italy, or Japan

Question 5

What was the significance of the Enigma codes?

Answer 5

Machine that sent encrypted signals to German forces during WWII

Question 6

What happened between the Yalta Conference and the Potsdam Conference regarding the USA’s leadership?

Answer 6

Roosevelt died in April, Harry Truman became president

Question 7

Who replaced Churchill as British Prime Minister during the Potsdam Conference?

Answer 7

Clement Attlee (Labour leader)

Question 8

What was the Manhattan Project?

Answer 8

USA & Britain planned to develop an atomic weapon during WWII

Question 9

What was the Oder-Neisse Line?

Answer 9

The proposed border for Polish/German territory

Question 10

What was the role of the Allied Control Council?

Answer 10

Governed Germany; decisions required a unanimous verdict

Question 11

What was the aim of the Marshall Aid?

Answer 11

Stabilise economies of Europe and prevent the spread of communism

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The _______ was a commitment to defend free countries threatened by aggressive countries.

Answer 12

Truman Doctrine

Question 13

What was Cominform?

Answer 13

Communist Information Bureau to maintain unity under Moscow’s control

Question 14

What was Bizonia?

Answer 14

Merged American and British zones into a single economic unit

Question 15

What was the purpose of the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 15

To force the Western powers out of Berlin

Question 16

What was Operation Vittles?

Answer 16

Airlift operation to supply West Berlin with goods

Question 17

What was the outcome of the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 17

Stalin lifted the blockade in May 1949

Question 18

What alliance did the USA join in April 1949?

Answer 18

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Question 19

What was the German Democratic Republic?

Answer 19

East Germany, established by the Soviets in October 1949

Question 20

What was the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 20

Military alliance of communist countries established in 1955

Question 21

Who was primarily blamed for starting the Cold War according to historians?

Answer 21

Stalin, though some later rethought America’s role

Question 22

Who was primarily blamed for starting the Cold War?

Answer 22

Stalin

Historians have debated the responsibility since the late 1940s.

Question 23

What did the Soviet Union create around the world?

Answer 23

Their own style of government

This included installing communist governments in various countries.

Question 24

What agreement did Stalin not follow after Yalta?

Answer 24

Agreements made at Yalta

This led to tensions with the West.

Question 25

What was the purpose of COMECON?

Answer 25

To ensure every country followed Soviet economic policy ## Footnote It was a response to Western economic initiatives.

Question 26

What did COMINFORM aim to do?

Answer 26

Undermine capitalist society through communist parties ## Footnote It was a tool for Soviet influence in various nations.

Question 27

What was one defense for Stalin's actions?

Answer 27

A system was needed to aid Soviet post-war recovery ## Footnote The USSR suffered significant losses during WWII.

Question 28

How many Soviet losses were there compared to American losses during WWII?

Answer 28

Soviet losses were almost 20 million; American losses were less than half a million ## Footnote This highlighted the devastation in the USSR.

Question 29

What was a key point of blame against the USA?

Answer 29

Global free markets influenced US policy ## Footnote This led to actions perceived as hostile by the USSR.

Question 30

What was the Marshall Aid's purpose?

Answer 30

Market for US goods, not to prevent European economies from collapsing ## Footnote This created suspicion in the Soviet Union.

Question 31

What did the creation of Bizonia signify?

Answer 31

Failed to follow Potsdam agreement and attempted to start a capitalist system across all of Germany ## Footnote This was seen as a provocation by the USSR.

Question 32

What was the Truman Doctrine perceived as by the USSR?

Answer 32

Designed to isolate them ## Footnote It was part of the US strategy to counter Soviet influence.

Question 33

What was the primary reason for the Korean War?

Answer 33

NK invaded SK for communist control over all of Korea ## Footnote Kim Il-Sung aimed to unify Korea under communist rule.

Question 34

What was the 38th parallel?

Answer 34

The line separating North Korea and South Korea ## Footnote It became a significant boundary during the Korean War.

Question 35

What led to the UNO's involvement in the Korean War?

Answer 35

NK troops crossed into SK, prompting a Security Council meeting ## Footnote The absence of the Soviet representative allowed resolutions to pass.

Question 36

What was the USA's attitude towards the invasion of SK?

Answer 36

They wanted to stop communist expansion ## Footnote This was part of the broader containment policy.

Question 37

Fill in the blank: The Korean War began in _______.

Answer 37

June 1950 ## Footnote This marked the start of active conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Question 38

What was the role of the USA in the UNO's actions during the Korean War?

Answer 38

Primarily American-based, including leadership and military forces ## Footnote The USA played a significant role in organizing the response.