TOPICS:
REASONS FOR COLD WAR
EARLY DEVELOPMENTS: 1945-49
COLD WAR: 1950s
1960s:THREE CRISES: BERLIN, CUBA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA
THAW & DETENTE: 1963-72
Causes of COLD WAR:
- differing ideological views b/w USA & USSR
- emergence of nuclear weapons (arms/space race)
- tensions b/w USA & USSR after WW2 (use of espionage, propaganda and threat of
war)
1941: “Big Three” Grand Alliance USSR (Stalin), USA (Roosevelt) and GB (Churchill) agree
to work together to defeat Germany and Japan
Two effects of the Tehran Conference (28 November 1943)
1. Disagreements over Germany's future.
+ Roosevelt (USA) and Churchill (GB) believed Germany should be rebuilt to avoid the
economic disaster caused by TofV
+ Stalin believed Germany should be punished and forced to give up territory, pay
reparations to ensure they were never a threat again.
2. The political agreements b/w allies
+ Allies wanted to split Europe into two "sphere's of influence," (created some early
tension and rivalry)
+ West of Europe (US & GB capitalism)
+ East of Europe (USSR communism)
+ The USA and Britain would attack Germany in Western Europe, easing pressure on
Soviets fighting in the East
+ An international organisation to be set up to settle disputes through discussion and
negotiation, rather than war (set up United Nations in 1945)
Two effects of the Yalta Conference (4-11 February 1945)
1. Agreements regarding Germany
+ Germany to be divided into four zones controlled by Britain/France/USA/USSR
+ Germans to pay $20bill reparations; half going to Soviet Union.
+ Nazi Party would be banned.
+ 1st UN meeting 25 April 1945 - all nations invited.
2. Disputes over Poland
+ 'Big Three' disagreed on what 'free elections’ meant in Poland.
+ Stalin: where people would vote for communism since only communism truly
represented the people.
, + Roosevelt and Churchill: where lots of political parties would compete for votes
(democracy) supported the London Poles
+ Disgusted by Stalin’s selfish desires, GB & US agreed that the borders of Poland
would be returned in 1921, with free elections.
+ disparity increased tensions between the allies.
Two effects of the Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)
1.Caused damage b/w USA and Soviet Union relations
+ Due to the death of Roosevelt (April 1945), who was replaced by Harry S. Truman
+ Truman was anti-communist, which angered Stalin.
+ Truman was unable to get his way with Stalin as he was new to diplomatic
discussions, however was very suspicious of Stalin’s motives (spread communism
worldwide & bring down capitalism)
+ Stalin's sphere of influence annoyed western powers
+ Furthermore, Truman deliberately delayed the date of Potsdam so he would have a
successfully tested atomic bomb ready in time
2. Signalled the end of the “Big Three”.
+ Churchill lost the general election (April 1945) and replaced by Attlee (change in
dynamics of “Big Three”)
+ By August 1945: Stalin desired control of Eastern Europe to ensure the security of
the Soviet Union (defensive measure)
+ BUT, Truman believed Stalin was trying to spread communism & wanted to see a
new govt, with less communist influence.
+ Truman objected agreements at Yalta (e.g, USSR to receive ½ Germany’s $20 billion
repa. as he didn’t want to worsen Germany’s economy recovery rate)
+ Truman didn’t tell Stalin about the A-Bomb.
+ Thus, b/w 1945-1946, these disagreements and suspicions turned the successful
alliance into peacetime hostility
Two effects of the Dropping of the A-Bomb (August 1945)
1. Drastically increased Cold War tensions
+ The US believed by dropping a nuclear bomb, this would force a quick surrender
from Japan without risking any US casualties
+ 6 August 1945: US A-bomb detonated in Japanese city Hiroshima
+ 9 August 1945: US A-bomb detonated in Japanese city Nagasaki
+ Over 120,000 civilians killed
+ Western Europe countries felt more secure under American protection
+ Stalin: determined make Soviet Union more secure by creating a buffer zone b/w
Germany and USSRs western borders w/ countries in favour of communism
+ Rather than entering war, superpowers entered arms race: each side attempted to
ensure their nuclear weapons = more powerful & numerous than the other’s
2. Increased the speed of the arms race
REASONS FOR COLD WAR
EARLY DEVELOPMENTS: 1945-49
COLD WAR: 1950s
1960s:THREE CRISES: BERLIN, CUBA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA
THAW & DETENTE: 1963-72
Causes of COLD WAR:
- differing ideological views b/w USA & USSR
- emergence of nuclear weapons (arms/space race)
- tensions b/w USA & USSR after WW2 (use of espionage, propaganda and threat of
war)
1941: “Big Three” Grand Alliance USSR (Stalin), USA (Roosevelt) and GB (Churchill) agree
to work together to defeat Germany and Japan
Two effects of the Tehran Conference (28 November 1943)
1. Disagreements over Germany's future.
+ Roosevelt (USA) and Churchill (GB) believed Germany should be rebuilt to avoid the
economic disaster caused by TofV
+ Stalin believed Germany should be punished and forced to give up territory, pay
reparations to ensure they were never a threat again.
2. The political agreements b/w allies
+ Allies wanted to split Europe into two "sphere's of influence," (created some early
tension and rivalry)
+ West of Europe (US & GB capitalism)
+ East of Europe (USSR communism)
+ The USA and Britain would attack Germany in Western Europe, easing pressure on
Soviets fighting in the East
+ An international organisation to be set up to settle disputes through discussion and
negotiation, rather than war (set up United Nations in 1945)
Two effects of the Yalta Conference (4-11 February 1945)
1. Agreements regarding Germany
+ Germany to be divided into four zones controlled by Britain/France/USA/USSR
+ Germans to pay $20bill reparations; half going to Soviet Union.
+ Nazi Party would be banned.
+ 1st UN meeting 25 April 1945 - all nations invited.
2. Disputes over Poland
+ 'Big Three' disagreed on what 'free elections’ meant in Poland.
+ Stalin: where people would vote for communism since only communism truly
represented the people.
, + Roosevelt and Churchill: where lots of political parties would compete for votes
(democracy) supported the London Poles
+ Disgusted by Stalin’s selfish desires, GB & US agreed that the borders of Poland
would be returned in 1921, with free elections.
+ disparity increased tensions between the allies.
Two effects of the Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)
1.Caused damage b/w USA and Soviet Union relations
+ Due to the death of Roosevelt (April 1945), who was replaced by Harry S. Truman
+ Truman was anti-communist, which angered Stalin.
+ Truman was unable to get his way with Stalin as he was new to diplomatic
discussions, however was very suspicious of Stalin’s motives (spread communism
worldwide & bring down capitalism)
+ Stalin's sphere of influence annoyed western powers
+ Furthermore, Truman deliberately delayed the date of Potsdam so he would have a
successfully tested atomic bomb ready in time
2. Signalled the end of the “Big Three”.
+ Churchill lost the general election (April 1945) and replaced by Attlee (change in
dynamics of “Big Three”)
+ By August 1945: Stalin desired control of Eastern Europe to ensure the security of
the Soviet Union (defensive measure)
+ BUT, Truman believed Stalin was trying to spread communism & wanted to see a
new govt, with less communist influence.
+ Truman objected agreements at Yalta (e.g, USSR to receive ½ Germany’s $20 billion
repa. as he didn’t want to worsen Germany’s economy recovery rate)
+ Truman didn’t tell Stalin about the A-Bomb.
+ Thus, b/w 1945-1946, these disagreements and suspicions turned the successful
alliance into peacetime hostility
Two effects of the Dropping of the A-Bomb (August 1945)
1. Drastically increased Cold War tensions
+ The US believed by dropping a nuclear bomb, this would force a quick surrender
from Japan without risking any US casualties
+ 6 August 1945: US A-bomb detonated in Japanese city Hiroshima
+ 9 August 1945: US A-bomb detonated in Japanese city Nagasaki
+ Over 120,000 civilians killed
+ Western Europe countries felt more secure under American protection
+ Stalin: determined make Soviet Union more secure by creating a buffer zone b/w
Germany and USSRs western borders w/ countries in favour of communism
+ Rather than entering war, superpowers entered arms race: each side attempted to
ensure their nuclear weapons = more powerful & numerous than the other’s
2. Increased the speed of the arms race
