Causes of the Cold War tension
What is the message of this cartoon?
(7)
An American
cartoon, published in
1947. It shows
Marshall on the left
and Uncle Sam
sitting down.
The caption says
Neighbours
‘Come on Sam! It’s
up to us again!’
M- The message the cartoonist wanted to give is that
Marshall can see Europe’s need for American aid but
America does not seem too interested.
C- The cartoon shows Marshall trying to move
American aid to help the tumble down Europe but is
being prevented by America represented by ‘Uncle
Sam’ who is sitting on the aid and with his back to
Europe.’
C- Marshall had been to assess the economic state of
Europe in late 1947. Here he found a ruined economy.
Marshall suggested that about $17 billion would be
needed to rebuild Europe’s prosperity. At first the
American Congress refused to grant this money. They
were concerned about Truman’s involvement in
Europe. They changed their attitude when the
Communists took over Czechoslovakia.’
8 mark questions
• Explain why the Soviet Union blockaded West
Berlin in 1948.
• Explain why the USA was hostile towards the
Soviet Union in the years 1945-1949.
4 mark
• What was the ‘domino theory’?
• What decisions about Germany were taken at
Yalta and Potsdam?
• Describe what happened at the Potsdam
Conference.
• What was decided at the Yalta Conference in
February 1945?
6 mark
• Explain why there was a breakdown in
relations between the USSR and the West
from 1945 to 1946.
• Explain why the USA-USSR alliance had broken
down by 1947.
• Explain why the wartime allies disagreed
about Poland in 1945.
10 mark
• The following were equally to blame for increasing
Cold War tensions before 1950:
(i) Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe;
(ii) the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan;
(iii) the Berlin Blockade.
How far do you agree with this statement?
• Which country had the more successful policies in
Europe between 1945 and 1949: the USA or the
USSR?
• The Berlin Blockade was more to blame than the
Marshall Plan for increasing Cold War tension.’ How
far do you agree with this?
Explain why the Soviet Union
blockaded West Berlin in 1948. (8)
Explain why the Soviet Union
blockaded West Berlin in 1948. (8)
• ‘The Soviets wanted to block off Berlin from
the rest of the world.’
• ‘Stalin wanted to force the West out of Berlin.’
• ‘To stop the recovery of Germany.’
• ‘To test the resolve of America.’
• ‘Stalin wanted to stamp his authority on
Berlin.’
• Pick 3 and EXPLAIN using PEE
‘The Soviet Union wanted to force the Western
Allies to pull out of Berlin by starving them into
surrender by making Berlin dependent on the USSR.’
‘The Soviet Union did this because they were afraid
of Germany recovering to be strong again and
therefore becoming a threat to them.’
‘The USSR believed the Western Allies had no right
to be in Berlin. They saw them as a threat as they
were able to show off their capitalist way of life. The
Allies were combed their zones and introduced a
new currency, bringing about economic recovery
that contrasted against the Soviet lifestyle.’
Explain why the USA was hostile
towards the Soviet Union in the years
1945-1949.(8)
Explain why the USA was hostile towards the
Soviet Union in the years 1945-1949.(8)
‘The West was suspicious of Soviet intentions in eastern
Europe. Stalin had removed non-Communist leaders in Poland
replacing them with Communists. Rather than allowing free
elections the USSR began to impose Communist rule on the
countries it had occupied.’
Truman was highly suspicious of Stalin’s motives. He was
much less trusting than Roosevelt had been. Stalin refused to
reduce the size of the Red Army, the biggest in the world. In
Eastern Europe he believed the Soviet leader intended to set
up USSR controlled buffer states.’
‘The Western allies accused Stalin of breaking agreements
over Germany. The Western Allies wanted Germany to recover
as quickly as possible, realising that it would be a barrier
against Communism. The USSR wanted a weak Germany.
What was the ‘domino theory’? (4)
What was the ‘domino theory’? (4)
The American believed that if one country in South East
Asia turned communist all the others would fall to
communism, one after another, like a row of dominoes.’
‘They were afraid that if communists took over South
Vietnam, communism would go on to take over the
world.’
‘In addition to Vietnam, the countries under threat were
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaya, Indonesia and Japan.’
‘It was related to the USA’s Cold War containment policy.’
What decisions about Germany were
taken at Yalta and Potsdam? (4)
What decisions about Germany were
taken at Yalta and Potsdam? (4)
That Germany should be divided up into zones of occupation.’
‘It was agreed that Berlin, which was deep in the Soviet zone, would
also be divided into four similar sections.’
‘It was agreed to hunt down and punish German war criminals.’
‘It was agreed that the Allies should receive reparations from
Germany.’
‘It was agreed that Germans living in Poland, Hungary and
Czechoslovakia would be sent back to Germany.’
‘The Nazi Party was banned and its leaders were to be tried as war
criminals.’
‘It was agreed at Yalta that Germany should be divided into zones of
occupation, one controlled by USSR, one by the USA, one by Britain
and one by France.’
Describe what happened at the
Potsdam Conference. (4)
Describe what happened at the
Potsdam Conference. (4)
• There was a meeting of three world leaders who were
different from Yalta.’
• ‘Divisions between the Soviet Union and Britain and the
USA were much more apparent.’
• ‘Truman informed Stalin that his country had an atomic
bomb.’
• ‘It was confirmed that Germany would be divided as agreed
at Yalta.’
• ‘The Nazi Party was banned and its leaders were to be tried
as war criminals.’
• ‘Germans living in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
were to return to Germany.
• ‘Poland’s eastern border would be moved west to the rivers
Oder and Neisse.’
What was decided at the Yalta
Conference in February 1945? (4)
What was decided at the Yalta
Conference in February 1945? (4)
• ‘Germany was to be divided into four zones of occupation.’
• ‘The zones to be controlled by USA, USSR, Britain and
France.’
• ‘Berlin was to be in Soviet zone.’
• ‘Berlin was to be divided into four.’
• ‘A United Nations Organisation to be set up to keep the
peace.’
• ‘As east European Countries liberated they would be able to
hold free elections to set up democratic governments.’
• ‘In Poland free elections were to be held.’
Explain why there was a breakdown in
relations between the USSR and the
West from 1945 to 1946. (6)
Explain why there was a breakdown in
relations between the USSR and the West
from 1945 to 1946. (6)
‘Stalin was annoyed with the USA because Truman had not told
Stalin he was going to use the atomic bomb. Stalin was convinced
that the USA would use the bomb to win worldwide power.’
‘In some countries the USSR was beginning to impose Communist
rule by not allowing free elections and leaving the Red Army in
occupation.’
‘The Western Allies were concerned because the USSR wanted
Poland’s western frontier moved into Germany and the German
population removed.’
‘There was disagreement over Germany. The USSR was accused of
breaking the agreement over what could be taken as reparations.
The Western allies wanted Germany to recover as quickly as
possible whilst the USSR wanted it to remain weak so that it would
not be a threat.’
Explain why the USA-USSR alliance had
broken down by 1947. (6)
Explain why the USA-USSR alliance had
broken down by 1947. (6)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
‘The aims of war no longer held them together.’
‘Truman had informed Stalin that the USA had an atomic bomb.’
‘The USSR began imposing Communist rule in Eastern Europe.’
‘Both sides had differing views about Germany.’
‘Western concerns over Poland’s borders.’
‘Truman did not tell Stalin that the USA intended to drop an atomic
bomb on Japan.’
‘Suspicion existed on both sides of each other’s motives.’
‘Because of the Truman Doctrine / Marshall Aid.’
‘There were no free elections.’
‘The impact of Churchill’s speech.’
• Pick 3 EXPLAINED using PEE for e.g see next slide
Stalin was annoyed with the USA because
Truman had not told Stalin he was going to use
the atomic bomb. Stalin was convinced that the
USA would use the bomb to win worldwide
power. The USA also refused to tell Stalin how to
make a bomb but Stalin decided his scientists
would develop a bomb. The USA felt threatened
by this.’
Explain why the wartime allies
disagreed about Poland in 1945. (6)
Explain why the wartime allies
disagreed about Poland in 1945. (6)
• ‘Stalin wanted to keep the parts of Poland he
had won in the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939.’
• ‘Stalin wanted to change Poland’s boundaries.’
• ‘Because Stalin wanted to make sure Poland
had a pro- Soviet government.’
• EXPLAINED using PEE
• The following were equally to blame for
increasing Cold War tensions before 1950:
• (i) Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe;
• (ii) the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall
Plan;
• (iii) the Berlin Blockade.
• How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer referring only to (i),
(ii)and (iii). (10)
‘Between 1945 and 1948 the Soviet Union made sure that every
country in Eastern Europe had a government that was communist.
Stalin believed this to be a defensive measure, creating a buffer
zone between the USSR and the West. The USA, however, did not
believe the USSR was acting defensively. They thought it was the
first step to world domination and a threat to the Western way of
life.’
‘The Truman Doctrine stated that the USA was prepared to give
help to any country under threat from communism. Aid was given
under the Marshall Plan to help the crumbling economies of
Europe and therefore to increase trade opportunities. Stalin did
not see it quite the same way developing Cominform and
Comecon.’
‘Stalin was concerned about increasing prosperity in West Berlin.
This was aimed at the Allies leaving Berlin but the Allies were
fearful of Stalin making other demands if they did. It strengthened
the Allies resolve and brought about NATO.
Which country had the more
successful policies in Europe between
1945 and 1949: the USA or the USSR?
Explain your answer. [10]
The USSR began to impose Communist rule on the
countries it had occupied rather than allowing free
elections. Stalin had removed non-Communist
leaders in Poland replacing them with Communists.
Stalin was able to spread Communism across Eastern
Europe. Czechoslovakia was taken over by the
Communists.
The USSR was less successful in Yugoslavia where Tito
applied Communism in his own way and Greece
where the Communist takeover was unsuccessful.
The USA successfully introduced the Marshall Plan.
Berlin was a success for the USA.
The Berlin Blockade was more to
blame than the Marshall Plan for
increasing Cold War tension.’ How far
do you agree with this? (10)
‘The Berlin Blockade was more to blame than
the Marshall Plan for increasing Cold War
tension.’ How far do you agree with this? (10)
• The Allies created West Berlin and Stalin was
worried Germany was beginning to recover. Stalin
blocked the supply lines in an attempt to force out
the Allies. This created tension as supplies had to
reach the inhabitants.’
• ‘Marshall Aid was a great help to European countries
in poverty after the war. One of the benefits to the
USA was to motivate trade. The act was viewed with
suspicion by Stalin as he thought there was an antiCommunist aim behind the plan.’