Causes of the Cold War – Topic Sheet
Key question:
Who was
to blame
for the
Cold War?
Focus points:
Specific content:
a) Why did the USA-USSR alliance begin to break
The origins of the Cold War:
down in 1945?
● the 1945 summit conferences and the
b) How had the USSR gained control of Eastern
breakdown of the USA-USSR alliance
Europe by 1948?
in 1945–6
c) How did the USA react to Soviet expansionism?
● Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe
d) What were the consequences of the Berlin
to 1948, and American reactions to it
Blockade?
● the occupation of Germany and the
e) Who was the more to blame for starting the
Berlin Blockade.
Cold War: the USA or the USSR?
Topic
Ideological differences between the Superpowers.
The breakdown of the ‘Grand Alliance’.
Conferences at Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam. Agreements and tensions.
The development of the Íron Curtain’ and the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe
The establishment and control of the Satellite States.
Kennan and Novikov telegrams
Greek Civil War and the growing involvement of the USA in Europe
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
Cominform and Comecon
Bizonia, Trizonia and the Berlin Blockade/Airlift
The formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
Who was responsible for starting the Cold War?
Key Term
Big Three
Buffer zone
Capitalism
Containment
Communism/Socialism
Iron Curtain
NATO
Kennan Telegram
Marshall Plan
Russian A-Bomb
Satellite States
Sphere of Influence
Truman Doctrine
USSR/Soviet Union
Warsaw Pact
Definition
PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
May 2016
Relations between the USSR and the USA changed after 1945.
(a) What actions had Stalin taken, by the end of 1945, to extend Soviet power across Eastern
Europe? [4]
(b) Why was it difficult to reach agreement over the future of Germany after World War Two? [6]
(c) ‘The USA was responsible for starting the Cold War.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer.
May 2017
By 1949, differences existed between the former wartime allies.
(a) What issues that affected Germany were addressed at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences? [4]
(b) Why was Poland a cause of tension between the Great Powers in 1945? [6]
(c) How justifiable is the view that the Soviet Union was responsible for the start of the Cold War?
Explain your answer.
May 2017 II
Following the ending of the Second World War both the USA and the USSR held strong views
about the future.
(a) What did a strong Communist Eastern Europe provide for the USSR? [4]
(b) Why did the development of the atomic bomb increase tension between East and West? [6]
(c) How surprising was Stalin’s decision to impose a blockade on West Berlin? Explain your answer. [10]
May 2017 III
Rising tensions between East and West turned into the Cold War.
(a) What issues were discussed with regard to (i) Japan and (ii) reparations at the Yalta and Potsdam
Conferences? [4]
(b) Why was tension beginning to show between the USA and the USSR by 1945? [6]
(c) ‘The USA’s possession of the atom bomb was the main reason for the Cold War.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer.
May 2018
The lack of trust between the USSR and the USA increased from 1947.
(a) What was NATO as set up in 1949? [4]
(b) Why was the Warsaw Pact formed? [6]
(c) ‘Stalin was right to view the Marshall Plan with suspicion.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer.
May 2018 II
After 1945 the wartime alliances of the victors broke down, resulting in a Cold War.
(a) What decisions about Poland were made at the Yalta Conference? [4]
(b) Why did the death of Roosevelt make a difference to the Potsdam Conference? [6]
(c) ‘The actions of Stalin between 1946 and 1949 were responsible for starting the Cold War.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
May 2019
Many issues divided the wartime allies after the end of the Second World War.
(a) What was the Berlin Airlift? [4]
(b) Why was it harder for the Allies to reach agreement at Potsdam than it had been at Yalta? [6]
(c) Who was more to blame for the Cold War, the USA or the USSR? Explain your answer. [10]
May 2021
The USA and the USSR both wanted to influence developments in Europe after the Second
World War.
(a) What was the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)? [4]
(b) Why did the USSR and the West disagree about what to do with Germany after the end of the
Second World War? [6]
(c) ‘The USA offered the Marshall Plan to European countries to help its own economy.’ How far
do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.