The cold war: context
Das Capital - written by Karl Marx led to the ideas of communism and capitalism.
Capitalism vs communism - communism developed as a result of capitalism through class wars
an the working classes triumphing over the rich and wealthy. In capitalism all the profits would go
to the owners and all the money would be inherited etc.. whereas the workers would be underpaid
and of lower classes. With workers rights and fair treatment of workers in capitalism, it would
have been highly likely for a class struggle to stand up and fight against the rich. Communism
belief was that ordinary people should seize power and have a strong government should control
the country and make sure everyone is equal, control the land and decide what is made/how
much it costs.
Problems with capitalism - extremes of wealth, hierarchy, class division.
The cold war:
There was little to no fighting. Words are used as weapons to increase tension. Main countries
included USA and USSR trying to make the other look stupid. Lasted about 40 years. America
and Russia were both following very different ideologies. Reasons the relationship struggles -
- WW1 when the USSr pulled out of the war
- Fears of Russian expansion
- America tried to join the civil war on the side of the whites
- Nazi-soviet pact
Key words = CONTAINMENT, DOMINO EFFECT
At the end of ww1 - it was agreed that to repeat punishing the bad countries, was a bad idea. The
league of nations was set up. America didn’t join. This was a problem because America was the
only country that had the money and power to stand up to any aggressors. The league of nations
was mainly based on encouraging countries to work together through trade and economy -
without America, this was a weak connection.
The league of nation completely failed. And the 2nd world war broke out. And the UN was formed
to replace the league.
Civil war going on in China, between government and communists, but it was stopped in various
places to focus on other wars I.e when Japan invaded in 1931 to take control of big parts of the
country. The unity made between the two sides of China faded when Japan lost the 2nd world
war, and further withdrew from China.
Free china was established in Taiwan - which became a separate country to communist china. UN
vetoed the communist china’s government and only recognised the republic china’s government.
The UN - there are 15 member countries, 5 of which are permanent members of the security
council who all have the power to veto a decision. The other 10 members attend meetings on a
rota basis. China was a permanent member along with Britain, France, the USSR and the USA.
When China became communist, the security council met to agree to let the new Chinese
government join in replacement of the communist Chinese government. This angered the USSR
who being a fellow communist country wanted the communist Chinese government to stay - but
the USSR was agreed against and they stormed out of the meeting.
Korea:
Korea had been occupied by Japan before and during ww2 - the north was then liberated by the
soviets and the south liberated by the Americans, thus splitting the country in half. The north
became communist, and the south became capitalist. From historical events, we know that from
Germany’s split - the two zones having different systems caused increasing tensions and created
a possible theatre of invasion as both leaders wanted to unite the country under one ideology.
The split was supposed to be temporary until the UN could arrange elections so that the people
could decide their own faits after the war.
Das Capital - written by Karl Marx led to the ideas of communism and capitalism.
Capitalism vs communism - communism developed as a result of capitalism through class wars
an the working classes triumphing over the rich and wealthy. In capitalism all the profits would go
to the owners and all the money would be inherited etc.. whereas the workers would be underpaid
and of lower classes. With workers rights and fair treatment of workers in capitalism, it would
have been highly likely for a class struggle to stand up and fight against the rich. Communism
belief was that ordinary people should seize power and have a strong government should control
the country and make sure everyone is equal, control the land and decide what is made/how
much it costs.
Problems with capitalism - extremes of wealth, hierarchy, class division.
The cold war:
There was little to no fighting. Words are used as weapons to increase tension. Main countries
included USA and USSR trying to make the other look stupid. Lasted about 40 years. America
and Russia were both following very different ideologies. Reasons the relationship struggles -
- WW1 when the USSr pulled out of the war
- Fears of Russian expansion
- America tried to join the civil war on the side of the whites
- Nazi-soviet pact
Key words = CONTAINMENT, DOMINO EFFECT
At the end of ww1 - it was agreed that to repeat punishing the bad countries, was a bad idea. The
league of nations was set up. America didn’t join. This was a problem because America was the
only country that had the money and power to stand up to any aggressors. The league of nations
was mainly based on encouraging countries to work together through trade and economy -
without America, this was a weak connection.
The league of nation completely failed. And the 2nd world war broke out. And the UN was formed
to replace the league.
Civil war going on in China, between government and communists, but it was stopped in various
places to focus on other wars I.e when Japan invaded in 1931 to take control of big parts of the
country. The unity made between the two sides of China faded when Japan lost the 2nd world
war, and further withdrew from China.
Free china was established in Taiwan - which became a separate country to communist china. UN
vetoed the communist china’s government and only recognised the republic china’s government.
The UN - there are 15 member countries, 5 of which are permanent members of the security
council who all have the power to veto a decision. The other 10 members attend meetings on a
rota basis. China was a permanent member along with Britain, France, the USSR and the USA.
When China became communist, the security council met to agree to let the new Chinese
government join in replacement of the communist Chinese government. This angered the USSR
who being a fellow communist country wanted the communist Chinese government to stay - but
the USSR was agreed against and they stormed out of the meeting.
Korea:
Korea had been occupied by Japan before and during ww2 - the north was then liberated by the
soviets and the south liberated by the Americans, thus splitting the country in half. The north
became communist, and the south became capitalist. From historical events, we know that from
Germany’s split - the two zones having different systems caused increasing tensions and created
a possible theatre of invasion as both leaders wanted to unite the country under one ideology.
The split was supposed to be temporary until the UN could arrange elections so that the people
could decide their own faits after the war.
