Causes of the Cold War

Communism and Capitalism Since 1917 the Soviet Union had been a communist state. Communism is based around the belief of philosopher Karl Marx. He believed that the government should control all aspects of citizens lives and that individual rights were less important than the good of the whole country. The USSR was a one country dictatorship and even though elections were held all candidates were part of the communist party. In contrast the USA was a capitalist country. Industry and agriculture were in the hand of private individuals and their aim was to run their companies to make a personal profit which would create jobs for individuals and provide wealth for the country as a whole through taxation.

Yalta Conference February 1945 Yalta in the Crimea – Crimea was a neutral country during World War 2 Who was there? Churchill (UK) Roosevelt (USA) Stalin (USSR) The war in Europe was coming to an end and decisions had to be made about what would happen to Europe when it was over.

What was agreed and disagreed at Yalta? Agreed Stalin would help defeat Japan once Germany was defeated Germany and Berlin would be divided into 4 'zones of occupation'. Each zone would be controlled by the USA, Britain, France or the Soviet Union Nazi criminals would be punished and free elections would be held in countries liberated from Nazi occupation to set up democratic governments. Eastern Europe would be in Russia's 'sphere of influence' Disagreed Stalin wanted to move the border of Poland eastwards so a buffer zone would be created and Germany would be weaker. He also wanted Poland to have a pro soviet government. Churchill did not like this idea as the main reason Britain had gone to war with Germany in 1939 was because of the invasion of Poland.

Potsdam Conference August 1945 Potsdam in Germany near Berlin. By August Hitler was dead and Germany had surrendered. Who was there? Stalin (USSR) Atlee (UK) Truman (USA) In April Roosevelt died and was replaced by Harry Truman. He was much less trusting of the Soviet Union and in May had said " we have to get tough with the Russians, they don't know how to behave" In July Churchill had lost the election in Britain and was replaced by Clement Atlee.

What was agreed and disagreed at Potsdam? Agreed Germany would be divided as agreed at Yalta and the Allies would receive reparations. Poland's eastern border would be moved west to the rivers Oder and Neisse. The Nazi Party was banned and it's leaders and were to be tried as war criminals. Germans living in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia would be sent back to Germany. Disagreed Stalin wanted to cripple Germany (20 million Russians had died in the war). Truman was determined not to repeat the mistake made at the end of World War One with the Treaty of Versailles. At Yalta Stalin had won an agreement from the Allies to set up a pro soviet government in Eastern Europe. Truman became unhappy about the Russians intentions and adopted a 'get tough' approach towards Staling.

Why was Potsdam different? Stalin had 6 million troops in Eastern Europe and had set up a communist government in Poland ignoring the wishes of many of the people there. Americas new president Truman was more anti communist and suspicious of Stalin. In July 1945 America had tested for and atom under very secretive circumstances ('The Manhattan Project'). At the start of the conference Truman told Stalin about the project but Stalin already knew about this because he had spies.

The Iron Curtain In March 1946 whilst on holiday in the USA Winston Churchill gave a speech in Fulton, Missouri (home town of Truman) "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent of Europe…all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in the Soviet sphere and are all subject to very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow" This refers to the Soviets control because it was very secretive. This was a clear statement of 'West versus East' and Stalin accused Churchill of trying to stir up a war against the Soviet Union.

Actions the communists took to achieve power in Europe 1945 Romania, Albania, Poland and Czechoslovakia (buffer states) were all under communist power. Allies gave USSR control of East Germany In Hungary communist became the leading party. They imprisoned opposition politicians and attacked church leaders.

The Truman Doctrine 12th March 1947 Truman gave a speech in congress. Belief about containment. All about not getting rid of communism but stopping it from spreading. Alternate lifestyle based upon freedom of speech, religion and elections (capitalism) When giving the speech Truman didn't mention communism because he didn't want to create an enemy. He just set the principles that he defended. A consequence of the doctrine was that aid was brought to monarchists who were challenged by communists in Greece. America became the 'policeman of the world'

The Marshall Plan Financial aid given by the Americans to help European countries rebuild their economies after the war. It was a follow on from the Truman Doctrine as a method of containment. Restored economies would be less susceptible to communism and would also provide greater trading opportunities for American companies. It also encouraged people to think that Americans lived the the best way. Between 1948 and 1952 the USA provided $13 billion to sixteen western countries.. Eastern Europe did not get aid because Stalin would not allow the countries to accept it as he knew it was a way to promote capitalism.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift 23 June 1948, the day after the west introduced the new currency to West Berlin. Lasted until 12 May Stalin blocked all land routes to West Berlin. He did this because he was worried that a prosperous western Germany would be a threat to the Soviet Unions security. As a result the USA, UK and France United their zones to help recovery by flying in supplies to West Berlin. In order to stop supplies Stalin would have to shoot down the planes that carried no military threat to the Soviet Union. Over the next 11 months $17 billion of Marshall aid was given and the three western powers made 275,000 trips to West Berlin and delivered over 2 million tonnes of supplies. Supplies were dropped every 3 minutes day and night and every 90 seconds at peak times. Stalins aim was starve and freeze people to make them surrender and convert to communism.

NATO and The Warsaw Pact NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Formed in April 1949 During the Berlin Blockade western powers met in Washington and signed an agreement to work together. Defensive alliance – any attack on one country is an attack on us all The Warsaw Pact In 1955 the USSR formed the Warsaw Pact which was a military alliance of the Eastern European states.

Was the Cold War inevitable? Capitalism and communism were opposite ideas. During the Russian Revolution Britain and America had fought in Russia against communism. In 1939 Stalin didn't trust Britain and signed a pact with Hitler. The 'grand alliance' was to stop Hitler so when he died the joint enemy was gone and the alliance would end.

Who was to blame? How could the Cold War have been the USA's fault? They had secretly tested for an atom bomb. They dominated the world with Marshall aid and didn't understand how weak Russia was after the war. They wanted capitalism to destroy communism. How could the Cold War have been the USSR's fault? 6 million troops occupied Eastern Europe. Blockaded Berlin Stalin moved the Polish border which was never agreed by the allies. They wanted to destroy capitalism.

Cartoon Published 18th June 1947 for British Magazine Punch What is the message of the cartoon? Explain why the USA was hostile towards the Soviet Union in the years