Cold War (in progress)

• What was the Grand Alliance made up of?

  Britain, the USA, and the USSR
• Why were the 'Big Three' allies united during World War Two?

  To defeat Nazi Germany
• What tensions emerged as the war ended among the Grand Alliance?

  Political differences between the allies
• Where did the Grand Alliance hold a conference in 1943?

  Tehran
• What was a key topic discussed at the Tehran conference?

  Plans to defeat the Nazi regime
• What did the allies discuss regarding Europe after the war?

  Future of Europe and Germany
• What was agreed upon regarding Eastern Europe at the Tehran conference?

  USSR would claim a sphere of influence
• What was decided at the conferences held in February 1945?

  Free elections in Eastern Europe
• What organization was established to replace the League of Nations?

  The United Nations
• What did the term 'soft' version of elections imply for the USA and Britain?

  USSR would accept non-rigged elections
• When did the Potsdam conference take place?

  July and August 1945
• What was one of the main goals of the Potsdam conference?

  To finalize plans for Germany and Europe
• What was agreed upon regarding Poland at the Potsdam conference?

  The new boundaries of Poland were agreed
• Who would divide Germany and Berlin according to the Potsdam agreements?

  The 'big three' plus France
• What was decided about Nazi leaders at the Potsdam conference?

  They would be put on trial at Nuremberg
• What remained undecided at the Potsdam conference regarding Germany?

  If and when zones could form a country
• How did the death of Roosevelt affect the Grand Alliance?

  Truman was more suspicious of the USSR
• What actions did Stalin take in Poland that alarmed Britain and the USA?

  Installed a pro-communist government
• What were the ideologies of the USA and USSR?

  USA was capitalist, USSR was communist
• What did communism entail according to the study material?

  State control of industry and agriculture
• Why did the USA view communism as a threat?

  It aimed at world revolution
• What was the 'Iron Curtain' according to Churchill?


  A division between East and West Europe
• What did the Cold War signify?

  Increasing tensions without direct fighting
• What did the USA do in August 1945?

  Dropped atom bombs on Japan
• Why was military help from the USSR not needed to defeat Japan?

  USA dropped atom bombs on Japan
• How did the USA's secrecy about the atom bomb affect relations with the USSR?

  Increased suspicion and rivalry
• What did Stalin do in response to the USA's atomic bomb development?

  Accelerated the USSR's atomic bomb program
• What was the result of the USA being the only nuclear power for four years?

  Boosted the USA's global status
• Which countries did Stalin install pro-Soviet governments in between 1945 and 1948?

  Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia
• What was the exception to Soviet domination in Eastern Europe?

  Yugoslavia
• How did Yugoslavia differ from other Eastern European countries?

  It was more open to the West
• What did Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech signify?

  The beginning of the Cold War tensions
• What was the main fear of both the USA and USSR during the Cold War?

  Each other's intentions and actions
• What was the primary outcome of the Cold War?

  Increased tensions without direct conflict
• What did the Truman Doctrine pledge?

  Support to countries resisting communism
• How much financial aid did the USA provide under the Marshall Plan?

  $400 million
• What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

  To rebuild European economies after the war
• How did the Cold War affect superpower relations?

  Increased suspicion and competition
• What were the key events leading to the Cold War between 1945 and 1948?

  • Tensions from differing ideologies (capitalism vs communism)
  • USA's atomic bomb development and secrecy
  • Stalin's installation of pro-Soviet governments
  • Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech
• What were the main ideological differences between the USA and USSR?

  • USA: Capitalism, private enterprise, political freedom
  • USSR: Communism, state control, one-party rule