Cold war
Cold war: ideological conflict – state of military rivalry and political tension
Great powers: Britain and France
Super powers: Soviet Union and USA
Time period: 1945 – 1991
The Cold War was an ideological war between the 2 superpowers, the USA and the
USSR, beginning after the end of WW2. After the war, Europe was shattered and
countries such as France and Britain were no longer able to play leading roles in the
world as they had before. This opened the way for 2 superpowers to emerge: the
Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States of America (USA). The tensions
between them that re-emerged after WW2 led to decades of rivalry and tension,
which became known as the Cold War
Methods of Cold War
- Espionage
- Propaganda
- Proxy wars
- Space race
- Nuclear arms race
Causes of Cold War
- WW2 created a rift between the USA and USSR
- Poland was occupied by the USSR and Germany was divided into 4 zones of
occupation
- Nuclear weapons further developed suspicion and rivalry
Led to an arms race
- Communism vs capitalism
The US, USSR and Britain were all in alliance together against Germany, and
became known as the Big 3. Their leaders during the war were Roosevelt, Stalin and
Churchill. Tensions between the Big 3 emerged during the 2 conferences held to
decide the future of Germany and Europe. When all the leaders met at Yalta in
February 1945, there was an agreement over the division of Germany, but not
Poland
The Big 3 met again on the 25th of July 1945 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin. By time,
Hitler was dead and Germany had signed an unconditional surrender. President
Roosevelt had died and was replaced by vice-president Truman who was much
more strongly against communism and was suspicious of Stalin. Churchill was
replaced by Clement Attlee, and to add to this, the USSR were occupying most of
Eastern Europe that had been liberated from German control. The Big 3 disagreed
over Soviet policy in Eastern Europe and over reparations from Germany
, Tensions increased when the USA successfully tested an Atomic bomb without
informing Russia. Truman felt that the USA was in a strong position, so he took a
tough attitude towards Stalin over eastern Europe. In response, Stalin gave orders
for Soviet scientists to develop their own nuclear weapon. The arms race had begun.
On the 27th of October, Truman made a speech about US foreign policy. He stated
that the US did not want any territory and did not intend to go to war with any
country. However, the US would be setting up military defence bases, and that they
would not be sharing the secrets of the atomic bomb with anyone. This speech
alarmed Britain as they thought it would increase tensions between the 2
superpowers, and that it was also an insult to Britain who had a close relationship
with the USA. The stage had been set for the development of the cold war over the
next few decades.
The main issue for the 2 superpowers for the
first 2 years after the war, was who would
control Europe. Between 1945 and 1947 the
Soviet Union had taken control over Eastern
Europe, setting up a number of satellite
states – a country that is formally
independent but under heavy political and
economic control by another country, i.e. the
Soviet Union.
As the Red Army advanced through Europe,
in the last months of the war, pro-communist
governments were set up. According to allied
agreements, elections were held in former
German-occupied countries soon after the
war. However, in Eastern Europe, where the
Red Army was still occupied, the communist
governments came into power. The West did
not regard these as free elections but could
not do anything to change the outcome. By
1948, the Soviet Union had loyalties all over
Eastern Europe which caused the climax.
Cold war: ideological conflict – state of military rivalry and political tension
Great powers: Britain and France
Super powers: Soviet Union and USA
Time period: 1945 – 1991
The Cold War was an ideological war between the 2 superpowers, the USA and the
USSR, beginning after the end of WW2. After the war, Europe was shattered and
countries such as France and Britain were no longer able to play leading roles in the
world as they had before. This opened the way for 2 superpowers to emerge: the
Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States of America (USA). The tensions
between them that re-emerged after WW2 led to decades of rivalry and tension,
which became known as the Cold War
Methods of Cold War
- Espionage
- Propaganda
- Proxy wars
- Space race
- Nuclear arms race
Causes of Cold War
- WW2 created a rift between the USA and USSR
- Poland was occupied by the USSR and Germany was divided into 4 zones of
occupation
- Nuclear weapons further developed suspicion and rivalry
Led to an arms race
- Communism vs capitalism
The US, USSR and Britain were all in alliance together against Germany, and
became known as the Big 3. Their leaders during the war were Roosevelt, Stalin and
Churchill. Tensions between the Big 3 emerged during the 2 conferences held to
decide the future of Germany and Europe. When all the leaders met at Yalta in
February 1945, there was an agreement over the division of Germany, but not
Poland
The Big 3 met again on the 25th of July 1945 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin. By time,
Hitler was dead and Germany had signed an unconditional surrender. President
Roosevelt had died and was replaced by vice-president Truman who was much
more strongly against communism and was suspicious of Stalin. Churchill was
replaced by Clement Attlee, and to add to this, the USSR were occupying most of
Eastern Europe that had been liberated from German control. The Big 3 disagreed
over Soviet policy in Eastern Europe and over reparations from Germany
, Tensions increased when the USA successfully tested an Atomic bomb without
informing Russia. Truman felt that the USA was in a strong position, so he took a
tough attitude towards Stalin over eastern Europe. In response, Stalin gave orders
for Soviet scientists to develop their own nuclear weapon. The arms race had begun.
On the 27th of October, Truman made a speech about US foreign policy. He stated
that the US did not want any territory and did not intend to go to war with any
country. However, the US would be setting up military defence bases, and that they
would not be sharing the secrets of the atomic bomb with anyone. This speech
alarmed Britain as they thought it would increase tensions between the 2
superpowers, and that it was also an insult to Britain who had a close relationship
with the USA. The stage had been set for the development of the cold war over the
next few decades.
The main issue for the 2 superpowers for the
first 2 years after the war, was who would
control Europe. Between 1945 and 1947 the
Soviet Union had taken control over Eastern
Europe, setting up a number of satellite
states – a country that is formally
independent but under heavy political and
economic control by another country, i.e. the
Soviet Union.
As the Red Army advanced through Europe,
in the last months of the war, pro-communist
governments were set up. According to allied
agreements, elections were held in former
German-occupied countries soon after the
war. However, in Eastern Europe, where the
Red Army was still occupied, the communist
governments came into power. The West did
not regard these as free elections but could
not do anything to change the outcome. By
1948, the Soviet Union had loyalties all over
Eastern Europe which caused the climax.
