Rivalry between the Soviet Union and the democratic western countries under the leadership of the US
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Explain Capitalism (USA)
Democratic, businesses privately owned, free from government control, many feared communism
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Explain Communism (USSR)
One party state, elections were held but all candidates were communist, rights of the individual were not as important as the rights of the whole state, lives controlled by government, people opposed capitalism
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Explain some background to the Cold War
USSR and USA had emerged from WW2 as dominant world powers, conflict between ideologies of communism and capitalism, during WW2 the USSR and USA had worked together to take down fascism but that was one of the only things that they agreed on
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Explain what happened at Yalta
1945- took place before the end of WW2, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin all met and agreed that: Germany and Berlin would be divided into 4 zones, countries that had been occupied in Eastern Europe could hold elections, USSR would fight against Japan
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What was agreed on at the Potsdam Conference (July- Aug 1945)
Nazi Party to be banned and the leaders to be tried as war criminals. The border between Poland and Germany would be a river.
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What has disagreed on at Potsdam?
UK and USA would not let Stalin have a base in the Mediterranean, Stalin wanted more reparations but Truman and Atlee didn't want to cripple Germany like after WW1, Stalin set up a communist gov. in Poland, H.T. didn't tell S. befor using atomic bomb
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What was the 'Iron Curtain'?
Churchill's description for a 'barrier' between Soviet Union countries and democratic western countries
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How did the USSR gain control of Eastern Europe by 1948?
Elections that were held in the Eastern European countries were influenced by the USSR. By MAy 1948 all Eastern Europe countries had a communist gov. Yugoslavia had a communist gov. but was not controlled by the USSR.
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How did the USSR gain control of Eastern Europe by 1948? Part 2
Stalin created a Trading Agreement between the communist countries (Cominform) which ensured further control of this countries. These communist countries become dependent on the USSR.
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What happened in Greece because of the Soviet expansion?
After WW2 Britain helped restore the Greek monarchy and were being threatened by communist forces in Britain. A civil war happened and the royalists re-established their power by 1950 but it was a weak gov.
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What was the Truman Doctrine?
Because of what happened in Greece Truman decided would contain communism not push it back, provide aid to countries threatened by a communist take over.
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What was the Marshall Plan (Marshall Aid) 1947
George Marshall found that Europe needed financial help to stop the spread of communism. Aid was sent to some countried but Stalin refused to allow communist countries to accept it. At this point congress did not agree to grant these funds.
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What happened in the Communist Takeover in Czechoslovakia? 1948
The country became communist and became became part of the Soviet bloc. This caused Congress to agree to the Marshall Aid
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What happened at the Berlin Blockade 1948-9?
US, Britain and France merged their 4 zones to form west Germany. Stalin felt that this threatened him so blockaded Berlin. The allies then airlifted supplies into west Berlin so the blockade was lifted in 1949.
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Reasons why the US could be to blame for the start of the Cold War
Truman was more suspicious of Stalin than Roosevelt which strained relations, USA dropped atomic bomb without telling Stalin, Truman helped countries who rejected communism, NATO set up, USA and Britain and France united their zones.
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Reasons why the USSR could be to blame for the start of the Cold War
Berlin blockade, Comiform, Warsaw pact was created, USSR backed communist parties in Europe and managed to take control.
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What was the Comiform? 1947
Used to spread communist ideas
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What was the Comecon? 1949
Stalin set it up to create trade between communist countries
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What was NATO? 1949
Used to defend its members. If one member was attacked then the others would come to its aid
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What was the Warsaw pact? 1955
Set up to rival NATO
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Explain briefly the cause of the Cold War
Back
Rivalry between the Soviet Union and the democratic western countries under the leadership of the US
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