Events leading up to the development of the Cold War- February 1945 to September 1949

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Created on: 24-10-13 10:32


	Events leading up to the development of the Cold War- February 1945 to September 1949
	Causes February 1945- Yalta Conference 17th July- 2nd August 1945- Potsdam Conference 6th August- Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima 2nd September End of Japan V US war and WW2 5th March 1946- Churchill Iron Curtain Speech Truman Doctrine- March 1947 Marshall Plan- June 1947 Czechoslovakia Communist Coup d etat- February 1948 Berlin Blockade- June 1948 NATO established- April 1949 Berlin Blockade lifted- May 1949 China becomes communist- October 1949	Effects FDR, CHL,Sta. Agree to split Germany into 4 zones. Russia invited to join the UN and Russia promised to support USA in the war against Japan. Free elections in Eastern Europe Tru,AT,Sta. Open disagreements. FDR dead. Truman against Polish Communist government. Truman hides atom bomb. Disagreements about Russian reparations. West feared soviet European influence. Atomic Bomb acted as a signal to the USSR of US power and ended the war with Japan. USSR already knew of US bomb power. Churchill classed as war monger by Stalin. Explicit reference to an East V West divide.It was Churchill's speech, which he titled "The Sinews of Peace," that changed the way the democratic West viewed the Communist East. He made spreading soviet control over Eastern Europe which was the other side of the iron curtain explicit. He also urged the West to stand together to protect nations that could be molested by soviet power. Truman Doctrine- Truman warns congress of Americas job to contain the spread of communism. US becoming alarmed by soviet influence on Europe as Greece remained as one of the few non communist countries in East Euro.Many Americans spoke of "rolling back" communism. Basically wherever communist forces would attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government the USA would help and intervene. Marshall plan- Provide economic assistance to Europe. After WW2 European economies were weak and could easily be at the risk of suffering from communism.This was viewed as US imperialism by Stalin. US Congress at first hesitated, but agreed in March 1948 when Czechoslovakia turned Communist. Over $17 Billion provided and by 1952 western economies were growing. Communist economies were singled out not to receive it.Most (70 per cent) of the money was used to buy commodities from US suppliers. US needed a strong foreign market to prevent another US recession. Also stronger economies would deter further spread of communism. This was labelled as Dollar Imperialism by Molotov.It showed a clear divide in Europe and what actions US would take to prevent spread of further communism. Czechoslovakia Coup- Communist takeover of Czech Government and police force. This increased psychological fear of communist expansion for the West and Britain felt guilty due to lack of action taken. Czech could have been a viable bridge between East and West. Berlin Blockade- Demonstrated a clear divide that both the East and West would maintain.First major crisis.Soviet unions drastic attempt to secure its influence. Stalin severed all rail, road and canal links with West Berlin. Food fuel had to be transported through planes. The operation was a success. Demonstrated that the West would need a more coordinated approach against the Soviets. It severely lowered any chance of the 2 nations coming back to common terms. NATO established as West realized the need for a much more coordinated approach against the USSR.Established military cooperation in the event of a war. It showed Russia that US would not return to isolationism. It acted as a defensive organisation to protect the west. Stalin saw this as a provocative action and responded by breaking the American nuclear monopoly. Added to Western fears of soviet power. Berlin Blockade lifted- Demonstrated that conflict and tension would remain ever present between the USA and USSR for the next 40 years. It also removed any basis of agreements between the 2 for the time being. Mao Zedong communist beat the nationalists and he announced the peoples republic of China in October. Sent shock waves around the world. Showed how much Stalin would be able to spread communism. US was guardian of China and had lost and important location to the Soviets. Now the US feared a domino effect around the far east. Forces of freedom and capitalism were seen to be under threat from Soviets.
	Overall summary Both conferences occurred in order to decide the future of Europe. By Yalta there was common ground that could be met in terms of splitting Germany and Russia helping the USA. However in Potsdam the open disagreements occurred as Truman was much less tolerant to communist and Russian ideologies compared to FDR. Similarly the west feared, a stronger Russia may try to spread its influence across Eastern Europe. Therefore tensions between the West and East were built by 1945 leading towards the strong possibility of a Cold war.

Events leading up to the development of the Cold War- February 1945 to September 1949

Causes

February 1945- Yalta Conference
17th July- 2nd August 1945- Potsdam Conference
6th August- Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
2nd September End of Japan V US war and WW2
5th March 1946- Churchill Iron Curtain Speech
Truman Doctrine- March 1947
Marshall Plan- June 1947
Czechoslovakia Communist Coup d etat- February 1948
Berlin Blockade- June 1948
NATO established- April 1949
Berlin Blockade lifted- May 1949
China becomes communist- October 1949

Effects

FDR, CHL,Sta. Agree to split Germany into 4 zones. Russia invited to join the UN and Russia promised to support USA in the war against Japan. Free elections in Eastern Europe
Tru,AT,Sta. Open disagreements. FDR dead. Truman against Polish Communist government. Truman hides atom bomb. Disagreements about Russian reparations. West feared soviet European influence.
Atomic Bomb acted as a signal to the USSR of US power and ended the war with Japan. USSR already knew of US bomb power.
Churchill classed as war monger by Stalin. Explicit reference to an East V West divide.It was Churchill's speech, which he titled "The Sinews of Peace," that changed the way the democratic West viewed the Communist East. He made spreading soviet control over Eastern Europe which was the other side of the iron curtain explicit. He also urged the West to stand together to protect nations that could be molested by soviet power.
Truman Doctrine- Truman warns congress of Americas job to contain the spread of communism. US becoming alarmed by soviet influence on Europe as Greece remained as one of the few non communist countries in East Euro.Many Americans spoke of "rolling back" communism. Basically wherever communist forces would attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government the USA would help and intervene.
Marshall plan- Provide economic assistance to Europe. After WW2 European economies were weak and could easily be at the risk of suffering from communism.This was viewed as US imperialism by Stalin. US Congress at first hesitated, but agreed in March 1948 when Czechoslovakia turned Communist. Over $17 Billion provided and by 1952 western economies were growing. Communist economies were singled out not to receive it.Most (70 per cent) of the money was used to buy commodities from US suppliers. US needed a strong foreign market to prevent another US recession. Also stronger economies would deter further spread of communism. This was labelled as Dollar Imperialism by Molotov.It showed a clear divide in Europe and what actions US would take to prevent spread of further communism.
Czechoslovakia Coup- Communist takeover of Czech Government and police force. This increased psychological fear of communist expansion for the West and Britain felt guilty due to lack of action taken. Czech could have been a viable bridge between East and West.
Berlin Blockade- Demonstrated a clear divide that both the East and West would maintain.First major crisis.Soviet unions drastic attempt to secure its influence. Stalin severed all rail, road and canal links with West Berlin. Food fuel had to be transported through planes. The operation was a success. Demonstrated that the West would need a more coordinated approach against the Soviets. It severely lowered any chance of the 2 nations coming back to common terms.
NATO established as West realized the need for a much more coordinated approach against the USSR.Established military cooperation in the event of a war. It showed Russia that US would not return to isolationism. It acted as a defensive organisation to protect the west. Stalin saw this as a provocative action and responded by breaking the American nuclear monopoly. Added to Western fears of soviet power.
Berlin Blockade lifted- Demonstrated that conflict and tension would remain ever present between the USA and USSR for the next 40 years. It also removed any basis of agreements between the 2 for the time being.
Mao Zedong communist beat the nationalists and he announced the peoples republic of China in October. Sent shock waves around the world. Showed how much Stalin would be able to spread communism. US was guardian of China and had lost and important location to the Soviets. Now the US feared a domino effect around the far east. Forces of freedom and capitalism were seen to be under threat from Soviets.

Overall summary

Both conferences occurred in order to decide the future of Europe. By Yalta there was common ground that could be met in terms of splitting Germany and Russia helping the USA. However in Potsdam the open disagreements occurred as Truman was much less tolerant to communist and Russian ideologies compared to FDR. Similarly the west feared, a stronger Russia may try to spread its influence across Eastern Europe. Therefore tensions between the West and East were built by 1945 leading towards the strong possibility of a Cold war.

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Events leading up to the development of the Cold War- February 1945 to September 1949