Cold war Chapter 1

Question 1

Consequences of Tehran

Answer 1

November - December 1943
One consequence of the Tehran conference was the improvement in relations between the Soviet Union, Britain, and the USA. This happened because Churchill and Roosevelt had decided to open a second Front in Nazi - invaded France - known as Operation overlord - in 1944. This led to the improved relations, as it helped alleviate Stalin’s burdens whilst fighting Germany. This was important as it ensured a more coordinated effort against Germany, due to the better relations in the grand alliance, which would help contribute in the war effort.
One consequence of the Tehran conference was that it had led to the formation of the United Nations. This happened because they needed a more effective international organisation that could mediate disputes and address global challenges. This was important because it provided a framework for international co-operation and peacekeeping, helping to prevent future large scale conflicts

Question 2

Consequences of Yalta

Answer 2

February 1945
One consequence of Yalta was that it severely impacted the future of Germany. This happened because the allies had decided to reduce Germany in size, divide it into 4, ( shared amongst France, Britain, the USA, and the Soviet Union), as well as having to pay heavy reparations = $20 billion. This was important as it led the groundwork for the creation of East and West Germany, shaping the economic and political future of the country.
One consequence of the Tehran conference was that it had led to the formation of the United Nations. This happened because they needed a more effective international organisation that could mediate disputes and address global challenges. This was important because it provided a framework for international co-operation and peacekeeping, helping to prevent future large scale conflicts

Question 3

Consequence of Potsdam

Answer 3

One consequence of the Potsdam conference was that it led to worsening relations between Russia and the USA. This happened due to a change in leadership from Roosevelt to Truman in the USA, as Roosevekt had died in office in April 1945. TTruman had a harsher outlook towards communism, and the soviet unions which had made negotiations much harder, and opposed Soviet plans for controlling Eastern Europe, fearing it would give them too much influence. This is important because it increased tensions between the two powers, laying the groundwork for the cold war.
Another consequence of the Potsdam conference was that it had impacted the future of Germany. This happened because Berlin was to also be divided into 4 separate zones of occupation. This is important as it formalised the division of Germany which eventually led to the creation of East and West Europe which shaped the political landscape of post - war Europe.

Question 4

Consequences of the development of the Atomic bomb

Answer 4

One consequence of the development of the Atomic bomb was that it had led to the arms race. This happened because the USA had successfully tested the atomic bomb, prompting the USSR to accelerate its nuclear program. This was important because it had started a dangerous rivalry between the two countries, significantly increasing the danger poised by the war.
One consequence of the development of the Atomic bomb was the worsening relations between the USA and the Soviet Union.This happened because the soviet union had felt threatened due to the atomic bomb and motivated their idea of creating a buffer zone of communism sympathetic countries around it. This was important because it deepened distrust between the two nations, laying the foundation for the Cold War.

Question 5

Consequences of the Novikov and long telegrams

Answer 5

One consequence of the Long and Novikov telegrams was that it led to a significant worsening of relations between the USA and Soviet Union. This happened because each telegram presented an extreme and hostile view on the other superpower’s intentions. The Long Telegram, written by the American diplomat George Kennan stated that the Soviet Union was inherently expansionists, believed capitalism should be destroyed and peace was impossible. Simultaneously, the Novikov Telegram, mirrored the hostility by claiming that the USA was using immense economic power to achieve world domination and was building military strength to intimidate other nations. This was important as it ended any remaining trust from the alliance and created a self perpetuating cycle of fear, and provided the ideological justification for the policy of containment in the USA and the defensive stance in the USSR.
One consequence of the Long and Novikov telegrams was that it led to a shift in the American foreign policy from isolationism to containment which was announced in the Truman doctrine. This happened because the Long telegram provided the US with, albeit an exaggerated version, of the soviet behaviour, and it argued that the only way to stop the USSR ideology spreading was from containment, convincing President Truman on the steps required. Therefore, he used the logic of the Telerams in order to justify American intervention, and announced the Truman doctrine. This is important because it naked an end to US isolationism and committed America to opposing soviet expansion

Question 6

Consequences of the establishment of satellite states

Answer 6

One consequence of the creation of satellite states was that it led to the worsening of relations between the USA and the Soviet Union. This happened because between 1947 and 1948, the soviet union was focused on spreading its sphere of influence across Eastern Europe by fixing elections and promptly shutting down opposition to create single party states. This was a direct violation of the Yalta agreement where Stalin promised free elections. This was important as it confirmed American suspicions that the USSR could not be trusted to keep its wartime promises, as it convinced the USA in the Soviets expansionary mindset.
One consequence of the creation of the satellite states was the impact it had on Eastern European countries. This happened because, between 1945 and 1949, the soviet union had imposed brutal methods to establish communist control. For example in Hungary, although the communists saw the 1945 election, their leader Rakosi took control of the secret police and executed and imprisoned opponents to force communism, This is important as it shows that the installation of the satellite states created a clear physical barrier, as well as the extent the soviets would go to expand.

Question 7

Consequences of the Truman doctrine

Answer 7

One consequence of the Truman Doctrine was that it had led to the creation of the Marshall plan. This is because Truman wanted to stop the spread of communism through economic conditions that made capitalism attractive, delivered through the Marshall plan. It had offered $13 billion of American financial aid to rebuild Europe, as Truman believed people had a stake in capitalist society, they would be less likely to vote for communist parties. This is important as it tied Western European countries together, whilst also deepening the division of Europe as Stalin had forbade satellite states from getting the money
Another consequence of the Marshall plan was that it had led to the significant worsening of relations between the USA and the Soviet Union. This happened because the Truman doctrine was a tool to stop the spread of communism, characterized by Truman’s speech in 1947 where he openly declared hostility to communism. To Stalin this felt like a threat as he believed it was a facade that they had hid behind in order to build power and interfere. This was important as it convinced Stalin that the USA was preparing for conflict and cooperation was impossible, so the Soviet Union had tightened its grip on Eastern Europe.