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Origins of the Cold War, 1941 to 1947
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The USA, the USSR and Britain were allies against Nazi Germany. Within two years of victory, the USA and USSR were rivals.
The Grand Alliance and its conferences
Yalta (February 1945): Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin agreed to divide Germany into zones and hold free elections in Eastern Europe.
Potsdam (July 1945): Truman had replaced Roosevelt and Attlee replaced Churchill partway through. Tensions grew over Poland and reparations. The USA had tested an atomic bomb.
Potsdam (July 1945): Truman had replaced Roosevelt and Attlee replaced Churchill partway through. Tensions grew over Poland and reparations. The USA had tested an atomic bomb.
Two ideologies
USA: capitalism. Private business, elections between parties, individual freedom.
USSR: communism. The state owns industry, one-party rule, equality over freedom.
Each feared the other wanted to spread its system.
USSR: communism. The state owns industry, one-party rule, equality over freedom.
Each feared the other wanted to spread its system.
The split deepens
1946: Kennan's Long Telegram warned the USA that the USSR wanted to expand. Churchill spoke of an Iron Curtain across Europe.
1947: The Truman Doctrine promised to help countries resist communism (containment). The Marshall Plan offered economic aid to rebuild Europe.
1947: The Truman Doctrine promised to help countries resist communism (containment). The Marshall Plan offered economic aid to rebuild Europe.
Explain why the Truman Doctrine increased tension.
- It promised US support to any country threatened by communism.
- Stalin saw this as the USA trying to surround and weaken the USSR.
- It divided the world into two opposing sides.
Answer: It openly committed the USA to containing communism, which the USSR saw as hostile.
Yalta and Potsdam (1945) exposed disagreements. Capitalism versus communism. 1946: Long Telegram and Iron Curtain speech. 1947: Truman Doctrine (containment) and Marshall Plan.
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