Amy Wright
HISTORY SUMMARIES – THE COLD WAR
Matric History Summaries (IEB)
Topic 1 – The Cold War
How did the Cold War shape international relations after the second world war?
After WWII, 2 countries emerged as dominant world powers: USSR and USA
1945 – 1991 they competed for world domination; this was the Cold War.
Both wanted their political and economic systems (communism in the USSR and
Capitalism in the USA) to be dominant.
Both had nuclear weapons, direct nuclear warfare would result in world destruction,
this fear prevented such a breakout.
“Cold” war between them never got “hot”.
Rivalry took many forms, e.g., competing for dominance in scientific and
technological developments, sports, and space exploration.
Although USA and USSR never went to war against one another, they supported
opposing sides in wars in other parts of the world.
Intervened by supplying military and other aid to their allies, used their power to
influence more vulnerable states.
Cold War deeply affected newly independent countries in Africa
Affected South Africa: USA and allies gave support to apartheid government because
it was anti-communist, liberation movements backed by USSR and its allies.
Further complication was the rise to power of China under communist rule after 1949.
At first China formed alliance with USSR but in 1960s it ended, and China became a
major power in its own right
Cold War ended with the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
Timeline:
1945 – End of WWII
1947 – Truman Doctrine
1948 – Marshall Plan
1948 – 49 – Berlin Blockage
1949 – NATO formed; 2 separate German states formed; China becomes a communist state
under Mao Zedong
1950 – 53 – Korean War
1953 – Death of Stalin
1954 - Division of Vietnam into North and South
1955 – Warsaw Pact formed
1959 – Castro Becomes leader of Cuba; Cuban Revolution
1960 - Sino-Soviet Split; Start of Vietnam War
1961 – Building of Berlin Wall
1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis
1966 – Start of Cultural Revolution in China
1968 – Tet Offensive in South Vietnam
1975 – End of Vietnam War
1976 – Death of Mao Zedong
The Origins of the Cold War
AMY WRIGHT 1
, Amy Wright
HISTORY SUMMARIES – THE COLD WAR
Cold War struggle that developed between USA and USSR, emerged as strongest
countries after WWII, became superpowers
USA was supported by other western countries and USSR supported by other
communist countries (Soviet Bloc)
Created a world divided into two
Not simply a conflict between 2 powerful countries and allies, but a clash between
competing social and economic systems and rival political ideologies – capitalism
and communism
Called the Cold War because never developed into actual, direct war despite tense
occasions
Lasted more that 40 years and caused political crises and military conflicts in rest of
the world.
The end of second world war: why did a Cold War develop?
Started because mistrust between the west and USSR after communist government
came to power in Russia in 1917
Suspicions and tension between them increased for years
Were aside for WWII (1939-1945) because of the threat of Nazi Germany
1941 USA, USSR and Britain formed the Grand Alliance to defeat Germany
Was an uneasy alliance and suspicions remained
Yalta Conference
Leaders of the Grand Alliance (Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill) met in Yalta USSR
Main purpose was to decide what to do about Germany and countries it controlled
once they were defeated
Agreed Germany would be divided into zones of occupation, each administered by
one of the Big Three Allies until ready for independent government
Agreed countries in East Europe allowed free election to decide the type of
government
Potsdam Conference (July – August 1945)
After Germany was defeated in May 1945, no need for Grand Alliance
Distrust and suspicions building between USSR and West became evident at the
second conference of Allies in Potsdam Germany
Number of changes affected the relationship between the three leaders
- Soviet Army in control of much of East Europe
- Roosevelt died and was replaced by Truman who was more anti-communist
- Americans developed first atomic bomb and hadn’t informed USSR until
Potsdam
- After conference started, Churchill voted out and replaced by Atlee, therefore the
suspicion between Stalin and Truman dominated the conference
Key disagreement about what to do about Germany
Stalin wanted Germany to pay reparations for damage, wanted to cripple Germany
completely so not strong enough to invade the USSR again
Truman didn’t want a bitter and hostile Germany like after WWI
Allied leaders decide 4 zones of occupation
Soviet Union administer eastern zone while USA, France and Britain administered
the 3 western zones
City of Berlin in Soviet zone but also divided into 4 sectors
AMY WRIGHT 2
HISTORY SUMMARIES – THE COLD WAR
Matric History Summaries (IEB)
Topic 1 – The Cold War
How did the Cold War shape international relations after the second world war?
After WWII, 2 countries emerged as dominant world powers: USSR and USA
1945 – 1991 they competed for world domination; this was the Cold War.
Both wanted their political and economic systems (communism in the USSR and
Capitalism in the USA) to be dominant.
Both had nuclear weapons, direct nuclear warfare would result in world destruction,
this fear prevented such a breakout.
“Cold” war between them never got “hot”.
Rivalry took many forms, e.g., competing for dominance in scientific and
technological developments, sports, and space exploration.
Although USA and USSR never went to war against one another, they supported
opposing sides in wars in other parts of the world.
Intervened by supplying military and other aid to their allies, used their power to
influence more vulnerable states.
Cold War deeply affected newly independent countries in Africa
Affected South Africa: USA and allies gave support to apartheid government because
it was anti-communist, liberation movements backed by USSR and its allies.
Further complication was the rise to power of China under communist rule after 1949.
At first China formed alliance with USSR but in 1960s it ended, and China became a
major power in its own right
Cold War ended with the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
Timeline:
1945 – End of WWII
1947 – Truman Doctrine
1948 – Marshall Plan
1948 – 49 – Berlin Blockage
1949 – NATO formed; 2 separate German states formed; China becomes a communist state
under Mao Zedong
1950 – 53 – Korean War
1953 – Death of Stalin
1954 - Division of Vietnam into North and South
1955 – Warsaw Pact formed
1959 – Castro Becomes leader of Cuba; Cuban Revolution
1960 - Sino-Soviet Split; Start of Vietnam War
1961 – Building of Berlin Wall
1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis
1966 – Start of Cultural Revolution in China
1968 – Tet Offensive in South Vietnam
1975 – End of Vietnam War
1976 – Death of Mao Zedong
The Origins of the Cold War
AMY WRIGHT 1
, Amy Wright
HISTORY SUMMARIES – THE COLD WAR
Cold War struggle that developed between USA and USSR, emerged as strongest
countries after WWII, became superpowers
USA was supported by other western countries and USSR supported by other
communist countries (Soviet Bloc)
Created a world divided into two
Not simply a conflict between 2 powerful countries and allies, but a clash between
competing social and economic systems and rival political ideologies – capitalism
and communism
Called the Cold War because never developed into actual, direct war despite tense
occasions
Lasted more that 40 years and caused political crises and military conflicts in rest of
the world.
The end of second world war: why did a Cold War develop?
Started because mistrust between the west and USSR after communist government
came to power in Russia in 1917
Suspicions and tension between them increased for years
Were aside for WWII (1939-1945) because of the threat of Nazi Germany
1941 USA, USSR and Britain formed the Grand Alliance to defeat Germany
Was an uneasy alliance and suspicions remained
Yalta Conference
Leaders of the Grand Alliance (Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill) met in Yalta USSR
Main purpose was to decide what to do about Germany and countries it controlled
once they were defeated
Agreed Germany would be divided into zones of occupation, each administered by
one of the Big Three Allies until ready for independent government
Agreed countries in East Europe allowed free election to decide the type of
government
Potsdam Conference (July – August 1945)
After Germany was defeated in May 1945, no need for Grand Alliance
Distrust and suspicions building between USSR and West became evident at the
second conference of Allies in Potsdam Germany
Number of changes affected the relationship between the three leaders
- Soviet Army in control of much of East Europe
- Roosevelt died and was replaced by Truman who was more anti-communist
- Americans developed first atomic bomb and hadn’t informed USSR until
Potsdam
- After conference started, Churchill voted out and replaced by Atlee, therefore the
suspicion between Stalin and Truman dominated the conference
Key disagreement about what to do about Germany
Stalin wanted Germany to pay reparations for damage, wanted to cripple Germany
completely so not strong enough to invade the USSR again
Truman didn’t want a bitter and hostile Germany like after WWI
Allied leaders decide 4 zones of occupation
Soviet Union administer eastern zone while USA, France and Britain administered
the 3 western zones
City of Berlin in Soviet zone but also divided into 4 sectors
AMY WRIGHT 2
