the cold war origins

• What alliance did the USA join in World War Two?

  The Grand Alliance
• What was the main purpose of the Grand Alliance?

  To cooperate against Germany and Japan
• What ultimately happened to the Grand Alliance?

  It broke down into the Cold War
• What political ideologies divided the USA and USSR?

  Capitalism and communism
• Why did the USA and USSR cooperate during World War Two?

  Nazi Germany and Japan's aggression united them
• When did Britain enter the war against Germany?

  1939
• What event led to the USA joining World War Two?

  The attack on Pearl Harbor
• What was the date of the Yalta Conference?

  February 1945
• Who were the leaders at the Yalta Conference?

  Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin
• What was Churchill's main priority at the Yalta Conference?

  To maintain Britain's global empire
• What did Roosevelt aim to achieve after the war?

  World peace and global free trade
• What was Stalin's priority regarding Soviet security?

  To create a buffer zone of communist countries
• What was decided about Germany at the Yalta Conference?

  It would be divided into four zones
• Which countries controlled the zones of Germany?

  USSR, Britain, France, and USA
• What was the status of Berlin after the Yalta Conference?

  It was divided into four zones
• What was promised to countries freed from Nazi control?

  They would hold free elections
• What was Stalin's promise regarding Japan?

  To join the war against Japan after Germany's defeat
• What commitment did the leaders make regarding Nazi war criminals?

  To hunt them down
• What organization was established at the Yalta Conference?

  The United Nations
• When did the USA drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?

  6 August 1945
• What was the impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?

  It devastated five square miles
• How many people died in Hiroshima due to the atomic bomb?

  About 140,000
• What was the justification for dropping the atomic bombs?

  To force Japan to surrender
• What was a potential secondary purpose of the atomic bombings?

  To warn the Soviet Union
• What did the atomic bombings change about warfare?

  They introduced nuclear weapons as a threat
• What was Stalin's reaction to the atomic bombings?

  He began atomic research in the USSR
• What did Stalin do in Eastern Europe after the Yalta Conference?

  Turned it into a buffer zone
• What was the timeline of Soviet takeovers in Eastern Europe?

  1945-1948
• What happened in Albania in 1945?

  A communist government took power
• What occurred in Bulgaria in 1946?

  The monarchy was abolished
• What was established in East Germany in 1945?

  A communist regime
• What happened in Romania in 1945?

  A communist-led coalition government was elected
• How did Stalin secure control in Poland in 1947?

  By arresting non-communist politicians
• What happened in Hungary in 1948?

  The Communist Party took complete control
• What occurred in Czechoslovakia in 1948?

  Only communists were allowed to stand in elections
• How did the Western Allies react to Soviet expansion?

  They were concerned about communist dictatorships
• What was the Long Telegram?

  A summary of Soviet intentions in Eastern Europe
• What did Kennan's Long Telegram reveal about the USSR?

  It feared the outside world and sought to spread communism
• What was the Novikov Telegram?

  A warning about US intentions post-war
• What did the Novikov Telegram state about the USA?

  It was economically strong and seeking domination