All content for matric history paper I including The Cold War; Angola; Congo; Tanzania as well as some example essay questions are summarised in this document. These notes helped me achieve 80% for my final IEB history mark.
ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR
• After communist gov. came into power in USSR, 1917, mistrust had developed (USA worried about the
elimination of private wealth if communism spread
- Temporarily set aside their differences to defeat Hitler
• USR supported by West vs. USSR supported by Soviet bloc – divided the world
• A clash between competing social and economic systems and political ideologies
• Capitalism vs. communism
END OF WWII 1945
• Grand Alliance: (USA ; USSR ; UK)
- The common enemy united USA + USSR – marriage of convenience
• However, Stalin was already suspicious because:
1. USSR carried burden of fight against Nazis (many casualties); USA delayed its defence which
seemed to be an attempt to weaken USSR
2. USA ended Lend-Lease Programme providing supplies to Soviets during the war
3. USA never told allies about atomic bomb until necessary to end war against Japan
• 1944: it is clear they will defeat Germany – what to do next?
YALTA CONFERENCE Feb 1945
• rising tensions – Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill
• decision to divide Germany into 4 zones but “RULE AS ONE” – unanimous decisions
• divided Berlin into zones of occupation
• USSR to allow free elections in Eastern Europe
• USSR promised to join UN & war against Japan
POTSDAM CONFERENCE August 1945
• After Germany was defeated, there was no need for the Grand Alliance (no common enemy)
• Tensions had risen owing to various things:
- USA & Br. had new leaders (Truman much more anti-communist)
- Soviet Army was in control of much of Eastern Europe
- Stalin set up communist gov. in Poland – ignored agreement
• USA had atomic bomb – only informed USSR at Potsdam despite being allies
• Key area of disagreement: USSR wanted reparations & wanted to cripple Germany
USA wanted to rebuild it for trade etc.
,SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
• Area under the influence/control of a dominant power
• Both superpowers wanted to strengthen their control over parts of Europe
- USA in west Europe ; USSR in east Europe
• Communist + capitalist disagreements:
- USA disapproved of 1930s USSR (totalitarian)
- Stalin still felt vulnerable to Atomic Bomb
- USA worried about USSR influence in eastern Europe
SATELLITE STATES
• During WWII: USSR annexed the independent Baltic republics
It was decided at Teheran Conference that Soviet troops would clear Eastern Europe of
Nazis\ USSR felt that USA & Br. would accept Soviet control in those areas
• End of WWII: annexed eastern Poland
• Soviet Army liberated eastern Europe from Nazis
\ ensured soviet-friendly governments came into power – Satellite States
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Hungary Free elections promised at Yalta
Poland did not happen
Romania
Yugoslavia
- Germany had a strong line of defence for protection “buffer”
- Cheap goods + raw materials
- Forced to trade with USSR
Reasons for sat. states:
• Stalin still felt West could be threatening to an already struggling USSR economy
• Intensified by that knowledge of USA atomic bomb
• Communist coup in Czechoslovakia confirmed West’s suspicions
• West worried communism would expand to Greece, Italy and France (where there were strong
communist parties)
• 1946: “iron curtain speech”
- Europe split; unable to see what USSR are doing; more suspicion
, CONTAINMENT 1947
• Action taken by USA to avoid spread of communism
• Change in American foreign policy: became involved in world affairs
• USSR had gradually eliminated non-communist and taken control of key posts to assert dominance
TRUMAN DOCTRINE 1947
GREECE
1944: Nazis retreated \ battle between communist vs. monarchist = civil war
- Br. liberated Greece but could not contain spread of communism because of neighbours (ABY)
- Br. no $ for civil war
\ USA would support “free people” i.e. democratic countries
- Military aid given if they support democracy + capitalism
($400 million to Greece + Turkey for aid)
TURKEY
1918: Turkey gained USSR land
- Stalin demanded return of provinces \ Turkey asked for aid from USA
IRAN
After WWII: Br. withdrew troops but USSR didn’t (Stalin wanted to help communist guerrillas)
- USA + Br. pressured Stalin to withdraw troops
MARSHALL PLAN June 1947
• Truman decided that they needed more than just military aid to stop communism
• US Secretary of State went to investigate European economies
- Destroyed after WWII
- Truman worried even France & Italy would stray to communism
• Offered money, equipment and goods
- Remarkable economic recovery in Europe
- By 1947 Sept. 16 countries applied for M. Aid
- Countries removed trade barriers and co-operated economically
- Set up OEEC (Organisation for European Economic Co-operation)
- Communism weakened
($17 billion Marshall Aid)
Y Tension increased Y
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