History WA1 notes by 4A5_28_Vera https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g please dont die en-us 2022-02-04 14:18:12 UTC 2025-12-06 14:13:03 UTC hello@padlet.com What is Cold War? veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029503886
  • Political Rivalry 
    • Between USA and USSR
    • Occurred after WWII => Surrender of Nazi Germany (1945)
  • Occurred due to hostility between both superpowers
    • The alliance between USA + Britain and USSR started to break apart
    • Superpowers = Countries that have great world influence
      • Based on ideological, political and economic strength/power
  • USSR => Eastern Eu
  • USA => Western Eu
  • Occurred (officially) from 1947 to 1948
]]> 2022-02-04 14:20:11 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029503886 Ideological differences between USA and USSR veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029505281
  • USA
    • Capitalist; Democratic
    • Freedom for everyone
    • Economy: Profit-Driven, Market Economy, Private ownership
  • USSR
    • Communist
    • No freedom = Slavery
    • Economy: Command Economy; Government controlled
]]> 2022-02-04 14:20:59 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029505281 How did ideological differences contribute to Cold War? veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029508163
  • Led to mutual distrust and suspicions of each other’s actions
    • ]]>     2022-02-04 14:22:35 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029508163     Example of conflict due to ideological difference veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029509059
    • Potsdam Conference (July to Aug. 1945 => After defeat of Germany)
    • Exact amount of reparations Germany was to pay => disagreed
      • Stalin (USSR) wanted severe reparations
      • USA and UK against severe reparations => scared to Germany turning to communism 
    ]]>     2022-02-04 14:22:59 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029509059     How did the event lead to the Cold War? veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029511145
    • Tensions and Distrust
    • Defeat of Germany
      • No common enemy
    • Development of Atomic Bomb
      • USA => Nuclear Monopoly
      • Less need to compromise with USSR
      • Able to apply to greater leverage
      • USSR => Betrayed; USA did not inform/update USSR about any of this
    ]]>     2022-02-04 14:24:07 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029511145     Relationship between the Allied powers and USSR during WWII veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029513037
    • Tensed and Distrustful
    • USSR suspicious of USA’s actions
      • Against them? Siding with them?
      • USSR (Stalin) unsure of real intentions 
    ]]>     2022-02-04 14:25:11 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029513037     Perceived Delay in Opening a Second Front veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029538881
  • Second Front => France – Germany invading them
    • Germany conquered most of Eu
    • USSR was targeted by Germany
    • Nearly defeated
  • Delay for 3 years: 1941 - 1944
  • Impact on relationship between Allies and USSR => Worsened
    • USSR POV: Allies wanted to weaken USSR and Germany so that Allies will suffer fewer losses
    • Contribution to Cold War => Contributed to USSR’s suspicion/distrust of USA’s motives/actions

    • ]]>     2022-02-04 14:38:38 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029538881     How President Truman’s use of atomic bomb on Japan affected USA-USSR relations (Feb. to July 1945) veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029667220
  • USA use of atomic bomb = USA nuclear monopoly
    • No need USSR to defeat Japan
  • Germany defeated (No common enemy)
  • Soviet troops occupied most of Eastern Eu
  • Stalin POV: Betrayed because of Truman => Supposed to be allies
    • For not telling USSR about USA’s development of atomic bomb
    • USSR suspicious of USA’s intentions
      • USSR Sped up development of own nuclear weapons

    • ]]>     2022-02-04 15:49:03 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029667220     President Truman’s opinions on communism veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029667740
  • Against communism 
  • Presence of communism => (supposed) to undermine survival of democratic states

    • ]]>     2022-02-04 15:49:24 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029667740     How it deepened the distrust between both countries veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029668305
  • Due to ideological differences, tensions and distrust increase
    • ]]>     2022-02-04 15:49:45 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029668305     Disagreements between USA and USSR at the Yalta Conference (Feb. 1945) veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029668782
  • Cannot decide on how to divide Germany + Berlin
  • Don’t know what to do about Poland
  • USA: Europe’s economy to be revitalised and democratic institutions to be strengthened
  • USSR: SU’s desire to secure sphere of influence in Eastern Eu (security)
  • Truman was unhappy with Russian intentions. Stalin wanted to cripple Germany, Truman did not want to repeat the mistakes of Versailles. They disagreed over reparations

    • ]]>     2022-02-04 15:50:03 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2029668782     How competition contributed to Cold War veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030466176
  • Fight for power and influence => Increased tensions and distrust
  • Broke alliance which was formed during the war
  • Actions taken by both countries led to misinterpretations of each other’s intention in Eu

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 07:26:32 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030466176     How USA and USSR had the capability to step into the power vacuum and compete for the influence veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030466251
  • Most European countries hardly able to rebuild themselves w/o external help
  • USA and USSR could compete for dominant role in reconstructing Eu
  • Increase political and economic influence in Eu

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 07:26:44 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030466251     Reason for power vacuum in Eu after WWII veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030466335
  • Power vacuum = A situation when a government has no identifiable central authority
  • After WWII, Eu in chaos, destruction and famine
  • All governments in Eu crumbled
    • No power
    • No country in position to make major post-war decisions

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 07:27:02 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030466335     How Marshall Plan worsened relations between USA and USSR veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680397
  • Strengthened division of Eu into 2 distinct spheres => Pro-US and pro-USSR
  • USSR created Comecon against Marshall Plan (Impact on USSR)
    • Provide economic aid to satellite states
    • Coordinate economic policies of Soviet satellite states
    • Trade w/ USSR and among themselves
  • USSR seemed weaker
    • See as ploy to make countries dependent on USA
    • Way to increase capitalism
  • Impact on Western Eu
    • Helped economies to recover
      • Gratitude towards USA
      • More likely to be pro-US
    • Boosted US economy

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:33:36 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680397     Marshall Plan (June 1947) veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680534
  • Economic aid (US $13 bn.) to countries in Eu => help them to recover
  • Aim: Build prosperous Western Eu to resist communism

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:33:48 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680534     How Truman Doctrine worsened relations between USA and USSR veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680712
  • Impact of USSR: Perceived USA as hostile
    • Sees USA as trying to stop communism
  • Led to formation of Cominform
    • Cominform: Interaction w/ West discouraged
    • Implement Pro-Soviet communist policies
    • Coordinate policies of Soviet satellite states
  • Strengthened divisions between USA and USSR
    • Increased rivalries and tensions between both blocs

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:34:04 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680712     Truman Doctrine (March 1947) veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680861
  • USA provided economic and military aid
    • To any country threatened by communism
    • eg. Greece and Turkey => Britain no longer able to support to anti-communists

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:34:17 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030680861     Iron Curtain Speech (March 1946) veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681000
  • Made by Churchill
  • Lack of interaction and contact between both spheres
    • Division between Western and Eastern Eu
  • Reinforced Truman’s desire to take strong action (containment) against USSR
  • USSR: Perceived Churchill (Western Eu) as hostile
    • Trying to be aggressive
  • Worsened tensions

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:34:30 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681000     Kennan’s Long Telegram (Feb 1946) veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681158
  • Kennan from USSR (last time) 
  • USSR hostile towards West Eu
    • Due to conflicting ideologies 
    • USSR’s goal: Expansionist policy to spread communism 
  • Kennan suggests Policy of Containment => prevent spread of communism 
  • Reinforced Truman’s concern about USSR being a threat to democracy/capitalism
    • Changed/Abolished policy of isolationism 
  • Increased mistrust and tensions => Worsened relationships between both countries

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:34:43 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681158     Aims and actions of USSR in Eu after WWII veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681271
  • Collective security in Eastern Eu => Sphere of Influence 
  • Rigged elections + Salami Tactics
    • Buffer against invasion from the West
    • Still kept promise from Yalta Conference on existence of elections

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:34:54 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681271     Aims and actions of the USA in Eu after WWII veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681378
  • Took over Western Eu => Everyone be capitalist + Democratic
  • USA POV: Stalin spread communism in Eu
    • Loss of trading market
    • Heightened suspicions and tensions

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:35:05 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681378     Military division of Eu into 2 competing blocs veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681669
  • April 1949: NATO => Alliance between Western Eu countries
    • If attacked by other countries
  • May 1955: Warsaw Pact => Alliance between Eastern Eu countries
    • Reaction to NATO

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681669     Impact of Berlin Blockade on the Cold War veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681776
  • USA’s response: Berlin Airlift for 1 year
    • until May 1949
  • Stalin: Humiliated
  • USA sees USSR’s act as aggressive + Trying to spread communism

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:35:33 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681776     Reasons for Berlin Blockade veragohhe1 https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681910
  • Stalin afraid that Germany would become stronger = threat to USSR
    • Wanted to force Allies out of Berlin
    • West Germany may be strong and capitalist
  • Action: Block food supply to West Berlin by blocking road and railway links between Germany
  • USSR vs. West Germany => Differing visions for Germany
    • Communist vs. Capitalist/Democratic
  • Objectives
    • Force Western Powers out of West Berlin
    • Prop plans to form West Germany

    • ]]>     2022-02-05 14:35:45 UTC https://padlet.com/veragohhe1/9bd1o2v1olhuku5g/wish/2030681910