US HISTORY 2 ID TERMS EXAM 2
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Describe 'Reparations' following the Potsdam Conference. - ANSWER-The USSR
wanted to impose heavy reparations on Germany, whereas America wanted
Germany to be rebuilt. The Conference agreed a compromise whereby each ally
would take reparations from the zone they occupied. This was far less than Stalin
wanted, as the part of Germany that he had controlled was poorer than the rest and
had much less industry. As a result, the Western Allies agreed that the USSR could
have a quarter of the industrial equipment from the Western zones, but stated that
they would have to pay for much of this with East German raw materials such as
coal.
What disagreement did 'The atomic bomb' cause? - ANSWER-Truman attempted to
assert his authority during the Potsdam Conference because he believed that
America possessed the ultimate weapon in the atomic bomb and therefore, in
Churchill's words, 'generally bossed the whole meeting'. The atomic bomb gave
America the power to destroy entire enemy cities without risking a single American
life. News of the bomb made Stalin more determined than ever to protect the
interests of the USSR. Stalin's plan was to protect the USSR by creating a 'buffer
zone'- a communist area in Eastern Europe between the USSR and the Capitalist
West.
What disagreement did Poland cause? - ANSWER-The relationship was further
strained by the USSR's actions in Poland. Stalin had agreed to set up a government
in Poland that included both communists and capitalists- but he broke his word.
There were also bitter divisions between America and the USSR which some
thought would lead to a new war.
What disagreement did Greece cause? - ANSWER-The German retreat in 1944 left
two groups fighting to rule the country: monarchists and communists. In 1945, British
troops were sent in to support the monarchists under the claim of restoring order and
supervising free elections. The USSR complained to the United Nations and a civil
war erupted. When the British decided to pull out, in 1947, the US stepped in to prop
up the king's government.
What was Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech? - ANSWER-It happened on March 1946.
In one of the most famous orations of the Cold War period, former British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill condemns the Soviet Union's policies in Europe and
declares, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has
descended across the continent." Churchill's speech is considered one of the
opening volleys announcing the beginning of the Cold War.
What were secret telegrams? - ANSWER-Truman and Stalin were concerned about
the breakdown of their alliance and the threat of a new war. Both men asked for
, secret reports from their embassies help them to understand how their opponents
were thinking. Both reports were sent as telegrams.
What was the Long Telegram? - ANSWER-1946- when Truman received worrying
news- a secret report from Kennan, America's ambassador in Moscow.
What did the Long Telegram report? - ANSWER-- Stalin had given a speech calling
for the destruction of capitalism
- There could be no peace with the USSR while it was opposed to capitalism
- The USSR was building up its military power.
When was the Novikov Telegram? - ANSWER-1946
What did Novikov's Telegram state? - ANSWER-Novikov to Stalin
It stated that:
- America desired to dominate the world
- Following Roosevelt's death, the American government was no longer interested in
co-operation with the USSR
- The American public was being prepared for war with the USSR
What happened after the telegrams were heard? - ANSWER-Stalin started to
prepare for war. By the end of 1946, the alliance was all but over. America had come
to believe that the USSR was planning world domination and many in the USSR
feared that America was planning the same.
What happened at the beginning of 1947? - ANSWER-Truman adressed the
American Government, setting out his belief that America must stand against
communism.
What was the Truman Doctrine? - ANSWER-The Truman Doctrine stated that:
- The world had a choice between communist tyranny and democratic freedom
- America had a responsibility to fight for liberty wherever it was threatened
- America would send troops and economic resources to help governments that were
threatened by communists
- Communism should not be allowed to grow and gain territory.
When was it? - ANSWER-1947
What was the significance of it? - ANSWER-The Truman Doctrine was important
because it suggested that America, rather than the United Nations, had a
responsibility to protect the world. This marked a reversal of the USA's traditional
policy of 'isolationism' by which America had stayed out of international affairs. It was
also significant because it divided the world according to ideology: it stated clearly
that capitalism and communism were in opposition.
What was the Marshall Plan? - ANSWER-In June 1947, General George Marshall
made a visit to Europe to see what was needed. He came away thinking Europe was
so poor that the whole of Europe was about to turn Communist. Marshall and
Truman asked Congress for $17 billion to fund the European Recovery Programme
nicknamed the Marshall Plan - to get the economy of Europe going again. Congress
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Describe 'Reparations' following the Potsdam Conference. - ANSWER-The USSR
wanted to impose heavy reparations on Germany, whereas America wanted
Germany to be rebuilt. The Conference agreed a compromise whereby each ally
would take reparations from the zone they occupied. This was far less than Stalin
wanted, as the part of Germany that he had controlled was poorer than the rest and
had much less industry. As a result, the Western Allies agreed that the USSR could
have a quarter of the industrial equipment from the Western zones, but stated that
they would have to pay for much of this with East German raw materials such as
coal.
What disagreement did 'The atomic bomb' cause? - ANSWER-Truman attempted to
assert his authority during the Potsdam Conference because he believed that
America possessed the ultimate weapon in the atomic bomb and therefore, in
Churchill's words, 'generally bossed the whole meeting'. The atomic bomb gave
America the power to destroy entire enemy cities without risking a single American
life. News of the bomb made Stalin more determined than ever to protect the
interests of the USSR. Stalin's plan was to protect the USSR by creating a 'buffer
zone'- a communist area in Eastern Europe between the USSR and the Capitalist
West.
What disagreement did Poland cause? - ANSWER-The relationship was further
strained by the USSR's actions in Poland. Stalin had agreed to set up a government
in Poland that included both communists and capitalists- but he broke his word.
There were also bitter divisions between America and the USSR which some
thought would lead to a new war.
What disagreement did Greece cause? - ANSWER-The German retreat in 1944 left
two groups fighting to rule the country: monarchists and communists. In 1945, British
troops were sent in to support the monarchists under the claim of restoring order and
supervising free elections. The USSR complained to the United Nations and a civil
war erupted. When the British decided to pull out, in 1947, the US stepped in to prop
up the king's government.
What was Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech? - ANSWER-It happened on March 1946.
In one of the most famous orations of the Cold War period, former British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill condemns the Soviet Union's policies in Europe and
declares, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has
descended across the continent." Churchill's speech is considered one of the
opening volleys announcing the beginning of the Cold War.
What were secret telegrams? - ANSWER-Truman and Stalin were concerned about
the breakdown of their alliance and the threat of a new war. Both men asked for
, secret reports from their embassies help them to understand how their opponents
were thinking. Both reports were sent as telegrams.
What was the Long Telegram? - ANSWER-1946- when Truman received worrying
news- a secret report from Kennan, America's ambassador in Moscow.
What did the Long Telegram report? - ANSWER-- Stalin had given a speech calling
for the destruction of capitalism
- There could be no peace with the USSR while it was opposed to capitalism
- The USSR was building up its military power.
When was the Novikov Telegram? - ANSWER-1946
What did Novikov's Telegram state? - ANSWER-Novikov to Stalin
It stated that:
- America desired to dominate the world
- Following Roosevelt's death, the American government was no longer interested in
co-operation with the USSR
- The American public was being prepared for war with the USSR
What happened after the telegrams were heard? - ANSWER-Stalin started to
prepare for war. By the end of 1946, the alliance was all but over. America had come
to believe that the USSR was planning world domination and many in the USSR
feared that America was planning the same.
What happened at the beginning of 1947? - ANSWER-Truman adressed the
American Government, setting out his belief that America must stand against
communism.
What was the Truman Doctrine? - ANSWER-The Truman Doctrine stated that:
- The world had a choice between communist tyranny and democratic freedom
- America had a responsibility to fight for liberty wherever it was threatened
- America would send troops and economic resources to help governments that were
threatened by communists
- Communism should not be allowed to grow and gain territory.
When was it? - ANSWER-1947
What was the significance of it? - ANSWER-The Truman Doctrine was important
because it suggested that America, rather than the United Nations, had a
responsibility to protect the world. This marked a reversal of the USA's traditional
policy of 'isolationism' by which America had stayed out of international affairs. It was
also significant because it divided the world according to ideology: it stated clearly
that capitalism and communism were in opposition.
What was the Marshall Plan? - ANSWER-In June 1947, General George Marshall
made a visit to Europe to see what was needed. He came away thinking Europe was
so poor that the whole of Europe was about to turn Communist. Marshall and
Truman asked Congress for $17 billion to fund the European Recovery Programme
nicknamed the Marshall Plan - to get the economy of Europe going again. Congress
