The Cold War Causes
April 7th
What was it : it was a state of tension and rivalry between the USSR and the USA over different
ideology ( communism and capitalism ) that lasted 45 years
- Fought using proxy wars while also using conventional warfare
Characterized By Propaganda and Nuclear Developments
The Superpowers would push each other right to the edge, making people feel as if World war 3
was imminent = Brinkmanship
Represented by : The USSR is represented by a Bear and the USA is represented by a bald
eagle or eagle of sorts
What is a proxy war?
A proxy war is a conflict where two opposing countries support rival groups or countries to fight
on their behalf, rather than directly engaging in battle with each other.
Why did they use Proxy Wars?
The USA and USSR fought the Cold War using proxy wars to avoid direct conflict, which could
lead to nuclear war. Instead, they supported opposing sides in smaller, local conflicts to spread
their ideologies—capitalism and communism—while maintaining their own security.
What were the opposing ideologies?
● Capitalism: Believes in private ownership, free markets, and minimal government
interference in the economy. It promotes individual freedoms and wealth creation
through competition.
● Communism: Advocates for a classless society where the government controls the
economy, and wealth is shared equally. It seeks to eliminate private property and
promote collective ownership.
THE GRAND ALLIANCE
1941 to 1945 = wartime alliance between the USA, Britain and the USSR
Aim : To defeat the Nazis
Tension in the party :
- The West’s delay in opening up a second front
- Western secrecy over the atom bomb
- Soviet actions in Poland during the war (Katyn Massacre of 15 000 Polish army
officers)
- Support of different groups in post war Poland: the West supported London Poles
(the Polish government in exile) and the USSR supported Lublin Poles
1
,The Big 3 is made up of ( in image order)
1. Winston Churchhill
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt
3. Josef Stalin
Tehran = thinking and planning for yalta
Yalta = how, when and planning and thinking - building on Tehran ideas
Potsdam = following through on ideas and fixing things after the war
Tehran Conference (1943)
Who: Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill
What was discussed; how to divide up Europe after the
allies had won the war against Germany
Conclusions reached:
● Agreed that person and the USA would leave the
Soviet Union to have control over eastern Europe
after the war
● UK and US agreed that the USSR would be left to fight Germany in the East – Balkans (
Yugoslavia,Hungry, Greece )
● France and the UK would have control over Western Europe
● Stalin was convinced that the USSR would have freedom to run East in Europe
What were they planning for?
They were preparing to fight The Nazis to draw them back into Germany into main/original
Germany, To try to stop the war and bring it to an end.
2
, Background information
When a question asks what is the sphere of influence, what is it?
This is referring to how much a country could donate or influence another country to do what they wanted;
this was discussed in Moscow in 1944. When they finalized the percent of influence each of the allies would
have indifferent Eastern European countries.
- Example grease was split with 10% was Soviet influence and 90% was to the other Allies
Soviet Sphere of Influence – Key Points
● Neo-Imperialism:
The USSR controlled Eastern European countries (e.g., Poland, Romania) through political and
military pressure—similar to imperialism, but without direct colonization.
● Cold War Impact:
The West saw Soviet control as communist expansion, increasing tensions. Contributed to East-West
divide, rivalry, and global conflict.
● Moscow Meeting (1944):
Churchill and Stalin secretly agreed on influence percentages in Eastern Europe (e.g., 90% USSR in
Romania). This informal deal showed how post-war control was being planned before WWII ended.
● None of the percentages ever came into control if they were east Europe 100% of Soviet
control other than Yugoslavia which was newly independent and the USSR had no
control over it – after the war.
Agreements reached:
● Britain & USA agreed to open a second front by invading France (May 1944).
● The USSR agreed to join the war against Japan after Germany’s defeat.
● United Nations to be established after the war.
● The USSR gained eastern Poland; Poland’s post-war borders set along Oder–Neisse
rivers (Stalin’s demand).
3
April 7th
What was it : it was a state of tension and rivalry between the USSR and the USA over different
ideology ( communism and capitalism ) that lasted 45 years
- Fought using proxy wars while also using conventional warfare
Characterized By Propaganda and Nuclear Developments
The Superpowers would push each other right to the edge, making people feel as if World war 3
was imminent = Brinkmanship
Represented by : The USSR is represented by a Bear and the USA is represented by a bald
eagle or eagle of sorts
What is a proxy war?
A proxy war is a conflict where two opposing countries support rival groups or countries to fight
on their behalf, rather than directly engaging in battle with each other.
Why did they use Proxy Wars?
The USA and USSR fought the Cold War using proxy wars to avoid direct conflict, which could
lead to nuclear war. Instead, they supported opposing sides in smaller, local conflicts to spread
their ideologies—capitalism and communism—while maintaining their own security.
What were the opposing ideologies?
● Capitalism: Believes in private ownership, free markets, and minimal government
interference in the economy. It promotes individual freedoms and wealth creation
through competition.
● Communism: Advocates for a classless society where the government controls the
economy, and wealth is shared equally. It seeks to eliminate private property and
promote collective ownership.
THE GRAND ALLIANCE
1941 to 1945 = wartime alliance between the USA, Britain and the USSR
Aim : To defeat the Nazis
Tension in the party :
- The West’s delay in opening up a second front
- Western secrecy over the atom bomb
- Soviet actions in Poland during the war (Katyn Massacre of 15 000 Polish army
officers)
- Support of different groups in post war Poland: the West supported London Poles
(the Polish government in exile) and the USSR supported Lublin Poles
1
,The Big 3 is made up of ( in image order)
1. Winston Churchhill
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt
3. Josef Stalin
Tehran = thinking and planning for yalta
Yalta = how, when and planning and thinking - building on Tehran ideas
Potsdam = following through on ideas and fixing things after the war
Tehran Conference (1943)
Who: Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill
What was discussed; how to divide up Europe after the
allies had won the war against Germany
Conclusions reached:
● Agreed that person and the USA would leave the
Soviet Union to have control over eastern Europe
after the war
● UK and US agreed that the USSR would be left to fight Germany in the East – Balkans (
Yugoslavia,Hungry, Greece )
● France and the UK would have control over Western Europe
● Stalin was convinced that the USSR would have freedom to run East in Europe
What were they planning for?
They were preparing to fight The Nazis to draw them back into Germany into main/original
Germany, To try to stop the war and bring it to an end.
2
, Background information
When a question asks what is the sphere of influence, what is it?
This is referring to how much a country could donate or influence another country to do what they wanted;
this was discussed in Moscow in 1944. When they finalized the percent of influence each of the allies would
have indifferent Eastern European countries.
- Example grease was split with 10% was Soviet influence and 90% was to the other Allies
Soviet Sphere of Influence – Key Points
● Neo-Imperialism:
The USSR controlled Eastern European countries (e.g., Poland, Romania) through political and
military pressure—similar to imperialism, but without direct colonization.
● Cold War Impact:
The West saw Soviet control as communist expansion, increasing tensions. Contributed to East-West
divide, rivalry, and global conflict.
● Moscow Meeting (1944):
Churchill and Stalin secretly agreed on influence percentages in Eastern Europe (e.g., 90% USSR in
Romania). This informal deal showed how post-war control was being planned before WWII ended.
● None of the percentages ever came into control if they were east Europe 100% of Soviet
control other than Yugoslavia which was newly independent and the USSR had no
control over it – after the war.
Agreements reached:
● Britain & USA agreed to open a second front by invading France (May 1944).
● The USSR agreed to join the war against Japan after Germany’s defeat.
● United Nations to be established after the war.
● The USSR gained eastern Poland; Poland’s post-war borders set along Oder–Neisse
rivers (Stalin’s demand).
3
