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Intenational Relations 1945-2000 (Case study: The Berlin Blockade, 1948-49…
Intenational Relations 1945-2000
The rise of the Superpowers, 1945-91
Who wer the Superpowers, 1945-91
he superpowers were the USA and teh USSR(Soviet Union) because they were so mush more powerful than Britain, France and other countries
What was the Cold War?
Was a period of hostility between the USA and the USSR which began after World War 2
What caused the Cold War?
Political differences: The USA believe in domocracy and private industry (capitalism) while the Soviet Union believed in dictatorship and government ownership of business and industry (communism)
Disagreements during World War 2: America had the secrets of the atomic bomb and would not share them with teh Soviet Union
Post-war disagreements: Stalin said he installed communist government in Eastern Euroean countries to prtect the Soviet Union; America said that was Soviets expanaion
Winston Churchill said an 'iron curtain' was dividing Europe
The Truman Doctrine: President Turman of the USA said he would help countries resisting the spread of communism; this became the basis for the US policy of containment to stop the spread of communism
The Marshall Plan: America offered to help Europe's economy recover after the war; Stalin prevennted Eastern Eurpean countries from getting help from the Marchall Plan or European Recovery Program
Political leaders in the era of the superpowers
Truman, president of teh USA during the Burlin Blockade and the Korean War
Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union during the Berlin Blockade and the Korean War
Case study: The Berlin Blockade, 1948-49
After World War 2, Germany was divided into four zones and Berlin was divided into four sectors
These were cntrolled by the USA, Britain and France on one side abd the Soviet Union on the other
The USA wanted to revive the German economy. They wanted a strong demoratic government
The Soviet Union disagreed and took reparations from their part of Germany
Presidant Truman of the USA wanted to use MArshall Aid funds to revive the Gerrman economy. The USA an their Allies launched a new currency - the Deutschmark
Stalin, leader of communist Russia, cut off all road, rail and canal links to West Berlin
The Berlin Airlift: The USA and its Allies organised operation Vittles to fly supplies into Berlin
Large cargo planes used three air corridoes to fly into three airports in West Berlin
At the peak, they were flying in every 90 seconds with 8,000 tons of goods a day
The goods included food, medical supplies, petrol and coal
The spirit of the people was kept up by huge piblic meetings
Stalin relised taht he was not going to win - he wanted Truman to drop the currency or leave Berlin
Stalin lifted the Blockade
Results
The USA won the fst victory in the Cold Wae battle with the Soviet Union
After teh Blockade was lifted NATO was formed to defend its members against potential Soviet attacks. It included the USA, Canada and teh Western European countries
Germany remained divided until the Cold War ended in 1990