GCSE History, Tensions between East & West (Cold War). For AQA students only. I made this for the 2023 GCSE exams and achieved a grade 9. Best way to use them is by doing active recall, blurting, just reading or being tested by others. Very in depth with lots of facts for your essays and in chronol...
The Cold War
Superpower = Country that holds a dominant & influential international position due to their
strong military, large economy & domination of international relations & trade.
At end of WWII & from before, tensions between USA & USSR:
Military rivalries - USA only country with atomic bomb in 1945. USA in commanding
position
Political & ideological differences - USSR=Communist, USA=Capitalist. View each other
as threats to security & world peace
Superpower status - USSR economy bad after WWII, USA still good as wasn’t as involved
Stalin’s Regime - Brutal & oppressive
Nazi-Soviet Pact - 1939, world shocked when they signed this. Hitler broke it.
Withdrawal from WWI - West felt Russians couldn’t be trusted
Propaganda - Both sides spread propaganda about different political systems.
Key differences between communism & capitalism:
- Capitalism = Any person free to start a private business & employ people - profits
are their own, usually multiple political parties & gov chosen by people in democratic
elections, free economy, great differences in wealth but majority have high average
standard of living; encourages opportunity for all.
- Communism = Businesses are state-owned & any profit goes to the state, one-party
government, controlled economy, lower average standard of living but wealth is more
equally shared; encourages fairness & equality.
Yalta Conference, Feb 1945:
Self Determination = The right for people to choose how their country should be governed.
Big 3 = Churchill (Britain), Roosevelt (USA), Stalin (USSR).
WWII finished in 1945.
Feb 1945, allies met at Yalta in Ukraine to plan what would happen after WWII ended.
Key Agreements: Germany & Berlin divided into 4 zones, one for each (USA, Britain, USSR
& France), liberated countries of Eastern & Central Europe would be allowed to hold free
elections, the United Nations would be formed to ensure future international co-operation, an
official document agreeing these points, Declaration of Liberated Europe, signed.
Problems: Tensions across Eastern Europe especially Poland, Poland was to lose some
eastern territory to USSR & gain some to the West from Germany, but Big 3 disagreed on
who should hold power in the country, Soviets wanted Communist gov whereas British &
Americans wanted old capitalist Polish gov to run country.
USSR’s Aims: War devastated USSR → millions dead, industry & agriculture destroyed,
didn’t want a repeat, wanted sphere of influence to be created to guarantee Soviet security &
that Germany should remain weak to ensure USSR’s security, willing to cooperate as Hitler
not dead yet so they had a common goal, didn’t want to cooperate economically but yes to
UN to a point.
West’s Aims: (Britain) - wanted to limit Soviet expansion, not cooperate too much with
USSR, Germany to be rebuilt as a democratic independent nation & not repeat Treaty of
Versailles.
, (USA) - Committed to working w/ USSR, got along with Stalin, self-determination for E
countries, wanted formation of UN, international economic cooperation to help global
economy.
Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945):
Roosevelt died → Harry Truman (little experience in foreign affairs) took over, same party
tho.
Churchill lost election → Replaced by Clement Attlee, leader of Labour party.
Stalin only person who stayed same since Yalta. Stalin, Attlee & Truman at the conference.
West Aims: (Britain) - Figure way for USA & UK to persuade Stalin to withdraw his troops
from Eastern Europe & to leave these countries, stop USSR expansion, stay close to
USA,safe Germ
(USA) - Same goals as Roosevelt @Yalta, doesn’t trust Stalin as Stalin ignored wishes & set
up Communist gov in Poland, willing to use force, adapting a ‘get tough’ attitude towards
Stalin → USA has world’s first atomic bomb.
(USSR) - Determined to ensure long-term Soviet security, convinced USA is a rival power,
keep his Soviet troops in Baltic states, set up Communist govs in these countries, distrusts
USA because of atomic bomb, not willing to compromise about E.E. or be bullied by Amer
weapons.
Were these aims achieved completely, partly or not?
UK - Troops not removed, Germany divided 4 zones, USA & UK working together as
capitalist allies. USA - Not at all, Poland not given free elections, 1947 - Communist party
took over by force & non-communist leaders exiled, Yugoslavia & Greece given free
elections though.
USSR - Completely, troops in whole region & increased spheres of influence, mostly as
established Communist govs in most EE countries except Yugoslavia & Greece.
Hiroshima - August 6th 1945. Nagasaki - August 9th 1945. Japan
Ended WWII & US war w/ Japan, ¼ million killed, long-term radiation effects, everything in 2
mile radius flattened, temp of bomb 50x hotter than surface of the Sun.
USA: Positive view, ended WWII, huge step in warfare technology.
USSR: Negative view, jealousy of USA’s power (espc. over USSR), scared to mess with US.
Why were they dropped? = Show USSR that USA was only superpower, allegedly to save
millions of American casualties, end WWII, impress/threaten Soviets & persuade them to
relax grip on Eastern Europe, wanted to end war before USSR could enter war in Pacific &
claim the lands promised to them at Yalta.
How did it change relations between East & the West: Stalin allegedly angry that Truman
didn’t tell him & was instead very vague when he mentioned bomb to Stalin, believed he’d
been duped, Stalin gave orders for Soviet scientists to develop own nuclear weapon starting
arms race, Stalin said “they are killing the japanese and intimidating us” → saw it as bigger
threat to USSR than Japan, USSR diplomats ordered to take tougher position against West,
viewed it as imperialism, more aggressive, US = switched advisors from pro-soviet to
anti-communists, developed attitude of confrontation “I am sick of babying the Soviets”.
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