Cold War
Revision Guide
By Nayim Mohammed
1
,Contents
Chapter 1: Origins of the Cold War 1945-1948 (International relations
between USA, USSR and Britain + aims towards Europe)
Chapter 2: Globalisation of Cold War 1948-1962 (Germany, Asia –
Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, - Ideology shifts, Arms Race, Cuban Missile
Crisis)
Chapter 3: Period of Détente 1962-1979 (Vietnam, SALT, Ostpolitik,
Third World Wars)
Chapter 4: End of Cold War 1979-1991 (International relations between
USA and USSR, summits, collapse of communism)
Chapter 5: How to answer Source and Essay Questions (Step by step
guide + A* example answers and what they include)
21st May 2019 Paper 1: Stuart Britain 1:30 – 4:00 pm
5th June 2019 Paper 2: Cold War 1:30 – 4:00 pm
When reading, always keep in mind…
Turning points during the Cold War (i.e. what is the significance of an
event in relation to the broader picture?)
Source Questions: provenance, tone, and value
Essay Questions: Keep in mind proposition questions, (i.e. is there a
counter argument here?)
2
, Contents Table
Chapter 1
1. Origins of the Cold War……………………………………………………………….Page 4-6
2. Developing tensions up to 1948…………………………………………………Page 7-10
Chapter 2
3. Germany…………..…………………………………………………………………….…Page 10-12
4. Japan and China…………………………………………..…………………………...Page 13-14
5. Korea War…...…….………..…………………………….……………………….......Page 14-15
6. Alliances and shifts...………………..…………..….………………………........Page 16-19
7. Arms Race……………………………….…………..……………………………………Page 20-21
8. Cuban Missile Crisis…………………….…….………………………………………Page 22-23
Chapter 3
9. Vietnam……………………….……………………………………………………………Page 23-27
10. Détente…….………..……………………………………………….………………….Page 28-35
11. ‘Third World’ Wars……….…………………………………………………………Page 36-38
Chapter 4
12. Superpower relations…………………………………..………………………….Page 39-40
13. Summits…………………………………………………….….………………………..Page 41-43
14. Collapse of communism…….…………………………………………………….Page 48-50
15. End of the Cold War…….………………………………………………………….Page 48-50
Chapter 5
Source Questions…………………………………………………….……………………Page 51-55
Essay Questions…………………………………………………….………………….…..Page 56-60
3
, Chapter 1.1: Origins of the Cold War 1945-1948
How did World War Two influence the Cold War?
The Grand Alliance can be described as a ‘marriage of convenience’, borne out of necessity,
as the USA, USSR and Britain allied against the Axis Powers. There were several strains
within the alliance:
Stalin furious at delay in opening second front against Germany until June 1944 – he
believed the West wanted to see Soviet Union defeated by Nazi Germany
Poland increased East-West differences – Britain wanted to maintain Polish
independence, whereas Stalin did not want an unfriendly government in Warsaw
(Poland was of strategic importance to Soviets to prevent further invasions)
These can be seen as the immediate reasons for the Cold War, but there were others:
1) Nazi Germany’s defeat left a huge power vacuum in Europe, and USA and USSR
differed on what government and economy should be installed.
2) USA wanted liberated countries to be given freedom of choice over government and
economy
3) Stalin favoured Soviet type regimes in Eastern Europe, making this clear in 1945
‘whoever occupies a territory imposes his own social system. It cannot be
otherwise’
4) Distrust came from both sides; many in the US (including Vice-President Truman)
despised communism and working with USSR, fuelled by Western support of Whites
during Russia Civil War and dislike of Stalin’s 1930s purges.
5) This was furthered by the USA’s military superiority, shown by atomic bomb of
August 1945 on Japan, which Stalin was furious with not being consulted about.
What were Soviet Attitudes in 1945?
There are two views on Soviet attitudes post-war. 1) Stalin was interested in expansionism
and influence of communism, shown by Red Army occupation in Eastern Europe and Soviet
style regimes imposed on Eastern European countries.
The second view was that Stalin’s aims were based security. 28 million Soviet citizens were
killed in the WW2, had been invaded by Germany twice in the 20 th century and were in a
very weak position with major food shortages. Therefore, Stalin sought to create a Soviet
controlled buffer zone in Eastern Europe for their survival (rather than spreading of
communism) and preventing future invasions.
It would be valid to suggest Stalin’s main aim post-war was to build security for the USSR,
rather than expand influence of communism.
What were US Attitudes in 1945?
Roosevelt had been prepared to cooperate and compromise with Stalin, in particular over
the future of Eastern Europe, and committed to the Grand Alliance. However, his death in
April 1945 led to Truman becoming President, who was inexperienced with foreign policy
4
Revision Guide
By Nayim Mohammed
1
,Contents
Chapter 1: Origins of the Cold War 1945-1948 (International relations
between USA, USSR and Britain + aims towards Europe)
Chapter 2: Globalisation of Cold War 1948-1962 (Germany, Asia –
Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, - Ideology shifts, Arms Race, Cuban Missile
Crisis)
Chapter 3: Period of Détente 1962-1979 (Vietnam, SALT, Ostpolitik,
Third World Wars)
Chapter 4: End of Cold War 1979-1991 (International relations between
USA and USSR, summits, collapse of communism)
Chapter 5: How to answer Source and Essay Questions (Step by step
guide + A* example answers and what they include)
21st May 2019 Paper 1: Stuart Britain 1:30 – 4:00 pm
5th June 2019 Paper 2: Cold War 1:30 – 4:00 pm
When reading, always keep in mind…
Turning points during the Cold War (i.e. what is the significance of an
event in relation to the broader picture?)
Source Questions: provenance, tone, and value
Essay Questions: Keep in mind proposition questions, (i.e. is there a
counter argument here?)
2
, Contents Table
Chapter 1
1. Origins of the Cold War……………………………………………………………….Page 4-6
2. Developing tensions up to 1948…………………………………………………Page 7-10
Chapter 2
3. Germany…………..…………………………………………………………………….…Page 10-12
4. Japan and China…………………………………………..…………………………...Page 13-14
5. Korea War…...…….………..…………………………….……………………….......Page 14-15
6. Alliances and shifts...………………..…………..….………………………........Page 16-19
7. Arms Race……………………………….…………..……………………………………Page 20-21
8. Cuban Missile Crisis…………………….…….………………………………………Page 22-23
Chapter 3
9. Vietnam……………………….……………………………………………………………Page 23-27
10. Détente…….………..……………………………………………….………………….Page 28-35
11. ‘Third World’ Wars……….…………………………………………………………Page 36-38
Chapter 4
12. Superpower relations…………………………………..………………………….Page 39-40
13. Summits…………………………………………………….….………………………..Page 41-43
14. Collapse of communism…….…………………………………………………….Page 48-50
15. End of the Cold War…….………………………………………………………….Page 48-50
Chapter 5
Source Questions…………………………………………………….……………………Page 51-55
Essay Questions…………………………………………………….………………….…..Page 56-60
3
, Chapter 1.1: Origins of the Cold War 1945-1948
How did World War Two influence the Cold War?
The Grand Alliance can be described as a ‘marriage of convenience’, borne out of necessity,
as the USA, USSR and Britain allied against the Axis Powers. There were several strains
within the alliance:
Stalin furious at delay in opening second front against Germany until June 1944 – he
believed the West wanted to see Soviet Union defeated by Nazi Germany
Poland increased East-West differences – Britain wanted to maintain Polish
independence, whereas Stalin did not want an unfriendly government in Warsaw
(Poland was of strategic importance to Soviets to prevent further invasions)
These can be seen as the immediate reasons for the Cold War, but there were others:
1) Nazi Germany’s defeat left a huge power vacuum in Europe, and USA and USSR
differed on what government and economy should be installed.
2) USA wanted liberated countries to be given freedom of choice over government and
economy
3) Stalin favoured Soviet type regimes in Eastern Europe, making this clear in 1945
‘whoever occupies a territory imposes his own social system. It cannot be
otherwise’
4) Distrust came from both sides; many in the US (including Vice-President Truman)
despised communism and working with USSR, fuelled by Western support of Whites
during Russia Civil War and dislike of Stalin’s 1930s purges.
5) This was furthered by the USA’s military superiority, shown by atomic bomb of
August 1945 on Japan, which Stalin was furious with not being consulted about.
What were Soviet Attitudes in 1945?
There are two views on Soviet attitudes post-war. 1) Stalin was interested in expansionism
and influence of communism, shown by Red Army occupation in Eastern Europe and Soviet
style regimes imposed on Eastern European countries.
The second view was that Stalin’s aims were based security. 28 million Soviet citizens were
killed in the WW2, had been invaded by Germany twice in the 20 th century and were in a
very weak position with major food shortages. Therefore, Stalin sought to create a Soviet
controlled buffer zone in Eastern Europe for their survival (rather than spreading of
communism) and preventing future invasions.
It would be valid to suggest Stalin’s main aim post-war was to build security for the USSR,
rather than expand influence of communism.
What were US Attitudes in 1945?
Roosevelt had been prepared to cooperate and compromise with Stalin, in particular over
the future of Eastern Europe, and committed to the Grand Alliance. However, his death in
April 1945 led to Truman becoming President, who was inexperienced with foreign policy
4
