The Cold War

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State the ideological differences between the USA and the USSR.
Russia was a Communist couuntry, ruled by a dictator who cared little about individual human rights. America was a Capitalist democracy, which valued freedom.
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What happened at Yalta, February 1945?
1) Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt agreed to divide Germany and Berlin into four zones (France, Britain, USA, USSR). 2) They agreed to hold free elections in Eastern European countries. 3) Russia would join the UN.
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What happened regarding the Polish at Yalta, February 1945?
They set up a Polish Provisional Government of National Unity 'pledged to the holding of free and unfettered elections as soon as possible.'
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What happened at Potsdam, July 1945?
1) To set up the four 'zones' of occupation' in Germany. The government and laws and education were now controlled. 2) Russia was allowed to take reparations from the Soviet Zone and 10% of the industrial equipment of the western zones.
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What did the Allies disagree about at Potsdam?
1) The details of how to divide Germany. 2) The size of reparations Germany ought to pay. 3) Russian Policy in Eastern Europe.
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What happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 1945?
May 1945, Japan asked for peace, but at Potsdam Japan was asked to surrender. The Japanese offered to, but it was declined (not unconditional). On 6th August, the bomber Enola Gray dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Nagasaki was 9th August.
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Why was the atom bomb dropped at Hiroshima/Nagasaki? State traditional and revionist views.
Trad: The bomb was dropped to end the war in Japan quickly, to save American lives. Rev: Truman wanted to end the war before the USSR could enter the war in the Pacific & claim the lands promised @ Potsdam. He wanted to impress the Soviets.
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How did the atom bomb help to cause the Cold War?
It changed Stalin's attitude: Stalin was angry because Truman did not tell him about the Atomic Bomb. It changed Truman's attitude: He developed an attitude of confrontation and aggressiveness.
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Describe the Truman Doctrine.
The principle that the US should give support to countries or peoples threatened by Soviet forces or Communist insurrection. His policy towards the USSR was one of containment - he didn't want to destroy it, but he wanted to stop it growing.
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What was the date of the Truman Doctrine?
March 1947
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Describe the Marshall Plan.
The American general George Marshall wanted to give $13million in economic support to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of WW2.
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What was the date of the Marshall Plan? (when was it proposed?)
June 1947
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What was Cominform?
The Soviet Union hated Marshall aid. Stalin forbade Communist countries to ask for money. Instead he set up Cominform; every Communist party in Europe joined. Stalin controlled the Communists now.
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What date was Cominform introduced?
October 1947
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What was Comecon?
An economic union of the Communist countries in eastern Europe. This allowed Stalin to control the Iron Curtain economies for the benefit of Russia - for instance, one of its rules was that all inventions had to be shared.
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When was Comecon introduced?
In January 1949.
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How did the events in Czechoslovakia affect the Marshall Aid?
At first, the American Congress did not want to give the money for Marshall Aid. But then the Communists took power in Czechoslovakia. Congress was scared, and voted for Marshall Aid.
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What date did the Communists take over Czechoslovakia?
February 1948
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What date was the Marshall Plan voted in?
31 March 1948
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What was the Soviet's view of the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine?
They saw it as an attack on Communism and felt that Truman was using his money to pressurize Communist countries into becoming Capitalist.
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What was the situation in Greece and Turkey that meant Truman wanted to give them aid?
There was a civil war occuring between the Greek government army and the Greek Communist party.
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What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?
It was to assure countries that if they came under attack from other countries (Soviets) that the Americans would protect them.
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What caused the Berlin Blockade?
CABAN: Cold War; Aims; Bizonia; American Aid; New Currency.
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Why did the Cold War cause the Berlin Blockade?
It was just beginning to become serious.
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Why did Aims cause the Berlin Blockade?
Stalin wanted to destroy Germany – Britain and the USA wanted to rebuild Germany.
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Why did Bizonia cause the Berlin Blockade?
The Russians were taking German machinery back to the USSR. In January 1947, Britain and the USA joined their two zones together to try to get German industry going. They called the new zone Bi-zonia (‘two zones’).
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Why did American Aid cause the Berlin Blockade?
Congress voted for Marshall Aid on 31 March 1948. Immediately, the Russians started searching all road and rail traffic into Berlin.
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Why did New Currency cause the Berlin Blockade?
On 1 June, America and France announced that they wanted to create the new country of West Germany; and on 23 June they introduced a new currency into ‘Bizonia’ and western Berlin. The next day all road and rail traffic into Berlin was stopped.
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What happened during the Berlin Blockade?
The American Army wanted to fight its way into Berlin – that would have caused a war. Instead, Truman decided to supply Berlin by air. The situation was bad at first, but things got better as the blockade went on.
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What date was the Berlin Blockade enforced?
24th June 1948
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What date did the Berlin Blockade end?
12th May 1949
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What happened during the airlift?
It lasted 11 months; at its peak, one flight landed every 45 seconds; 275,000 flights took 1.5m tons supplies; in winter, Berliners lived on dried eggs and potatoes; 4 hours of electricity a day; US had B29 bombers on standby.
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What were the results of the Berlin Blockade?
CENA: Cold War got worse; East/West Germany became more divided; NATO and the Warsaw Pact; Arms Race.
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What was NATO?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was twelve countries at first, but became fourteen in 1952.
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Who were the twelve original countries and the two extras that joined later?
USA, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Portugal and Canada. The two extras in '52 were Greece and Turkey.
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When was NATO formed?
April 1949
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What was the purpose of NATO?
It was to stop the spread of Communism.
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The Americans had an atom bomb at Potsdam. When did the Soviets first explode theirs?
1949
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When did the Americans first develop their hydrogen bomb?
1952
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When did Russia develop their H-bomb?
1953
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What happened at Yalta, February 1945?

Back

1) Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt agreed to divide Germany and Berlin into four zones (France, Britain, USA, USSR). 2) They agreed to hold free elections in Eastern European countries. 3) Russia would join the UN.

Card 3

Front

What happened regarding the Polish at Yalta, February 1945?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What happened at Potsdam, July 1945?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did the Allies disagree about at Potsdam?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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