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Superpower relations (1943 - 72) - Coggle Diagram
Superpower relations (1943 - 72)
Conferences
Tehran - November 1943
'Big three' planned to end the war by:
US & Britain would open a 'second front' to ease pressure on Eastern front
Stalin would declare war against Japan and supply USA with Soviet troops - but only once Europe war was over
Poland would receive land from Germany
Agreed to keep Germany weak after the war
Agreed that there should be an international body to settle disputes through negotiations - lead to creation of UN
Yalta - February 1945
Second front had been opened & Soviet Union now had control over most of central and Easter Europe. Stalin wanted to keep these territories as a cushion against future German invasions
Aims:
Stalin
wanted to keep Easter European territories as a cushion against future German invasions
New agreements:
Germany pays $20 billion in reparations
Germany will be split into 4 sections
Europe divided
UN formed & secret security council formed between US & USSR
Free elections in Eastern Europe
Churchill
Wants to ensure a free, democratic Poland is available for members of the "Free Polish army," to go back to
Roosevelt
wants Russia's help in invading Japan
Potsdam - July 1945
New leaders:
Roosevelt --> Truman
Stalin
Churchill --> Atlee
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1956 - 1962)
Batista:
Military dictator who ruled Cuba from
1940 - 1959
. Cuba was traditionally an ally of the USA
US policy towards Cuba:
US government backed Cuban government as long as it supported the USA
1956:
Fidel Castro
lands in Cuba to begin a Communist revolution and overthrow Batista
Many poor Cubans joined his war
1959:
Castro's forces land in Havana, overthrow pro-American government and replace it with a revolutionary communist party
Castro wanted to put an end to US influence in Cuba:
Arrested political opponents
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Shut down US casinos
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Seized $1 billion worth of US property
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Took foreign-owned land into Cuban ownership
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USA had a large stake in the Cuban economy
USA had bought most of Cuba's most important export: sugar
US Businessmen owned most of Cuba's oil, mines and public services
USA owned a large military base in Cuba
The Thaw
Ostpolitik -
West & Eastern European nations improve relations
Détente -
a period of peace between 2 groups that were previously at war or were hostile to each other
Factors of Détente
Thaw of
1960s
Reasons for Détente
USA:
Too much money spent on Vietnam war, shortage of money to spend on problems at home
Détente policy would allow the US to spend less money on weapons and more on trying to solve social problems
Vietnam war drew increasing criticism of using war as a way to conduct foreign policy
Nixon wanted to take the US out of the Vietnam war
Nixon wanted to reduce tensions between US & USSR and establish relations with China
Soviets:
Both sides now at equal military strength, better chance at discussing arms limitation
Vietnam war showed that the US could be beaten. Might make them more open to co-operation and less tension
USA might recognise Soviet control over Easter Europe
Cut spending on weapons to solve economic problems
Hoped improved relations would make the West share some of its technology
China's role in Détente
Scaling down of arms race
SALT,
1972
Aims of the Thaw:
Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons
Cuban missile Crisis: Realisation that things could get out of control
Prevent the spread of the arms race to space
Increased understanding of Nuclear Fallout
Outer space treaty (1967) -
USA, USSR, GB (& 12 other countries)
The Hotline (1963) -
USA & USSR
Direct line of communication between
USA
&
USSR
incase of a crisis
Nuclear non-proliferation Treaty -
USA, USSR, GB (& 59 other states)
:
Nuclear weapons states should not help non-nuclear weapons states to gain weapons. Should work towards disarmament