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7.1 - The Origins of the Cold War (The Marshall Plan (to contain…
7.1 - The Origins of the Cold War
End of the Second World War
Allies only allied from common danger of Hitler, so not formed out of choice.
America and the Soviet Union had polar ideologies, such as freedom and the economy
Yalta Conference
Allies unable to force Soviet Union out of Eastern Europe as they occupied them with the Red Army for their buffer zone
New President Truman was a lot more anti-communist than Roosevelt and viewed Stalin a lot more suspiciously, believed occupation was a stepping stone for communism
The United States had developed and tested the atomic bomb and its power looms over the Soviet Union
The Iron Curtain
Churchill and West believe Stalin's actions were dividing Europe under his rule and that this division was a metal curtain across Europe
However, Stalin wants to control Eastern Europe as a buffer zone to prevent future possible invasions of the Soviet Union, as they had been invaded before in the Second World War with large scale destruction and over 20,000,000 dead Russias.
Ideologies
Communism - social organisation without class, all property owned by society and everyone working for society for collective benefit
Capitalism - ownership of both trade and industry is controlled by private individuals and companies rather than the state
Democracy - the election of government through the population of a country
One party state - a country ruled by a single governing party
The Marshall Plan (to contain communism)
The United States will send aid to states 'at risk' of becoming communist
Devised by General George Marshall
Originally, the $17,000,000,000 sum was refused to be granted by Congress for the plan but they were convinced after increased Soviet pressure and threats to Czechoslovakia
Based on Truman doctrine that poverty increases the chance of communism
Soviet response
Soviet bloc countries forbidden to accept Marshall Aid
USSR set up COMECON and COMINFORM to co-ordinate economy activity in the bloc and help establish communist parties across Europe under Soviet control
Berlin Airlift (1948-1949)
Causes
The Allies reformed the united German currency in 1948
Trizonia and West Berlin had a capitalist economy implemented
Stalin felt left out, out of control and threatened
Britain and the USA, with France later, combined their zones of Germany.
Stalin blockaded West Berlin
Roads through Soviet Zone to West Berlin were cut off to stop supplies reaching the West
Railways and canals cut off
Soviet electricity for West Berlin was stopped
Stalin wanted West Berlin to be dependent on the USSR and to force the Allies to give it up deep in the Soviet Zone
Airlift
450 flights daily from Trizonia to West Berlin
Mainly supplied food, fuel, medicine and clothing
Lasted for 11 months from June 1948 to May 1949