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WHY DID THE USA AND USSR BECOME RIVALS IN THE PERIOD 1945 TO 1949?

WHY DID THE USA AND USSR BECOME RIVALS IN THE PERIOD 1945 TO 1949? The beginnings of the Cold War … V Three possible interpretations of why the Cold War started .. USSR to blame. Stalin wanted communist take over of the world and take over of Eastern Europe was the first step.

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WHY DID THE USA AND USSR BECOME RIVALS IN THE PERIOD 1945 TO 1949?

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  1. WHY DID THE USA AND USSR BECOME RIVALS IN THE PERIOD 1945 TO 1949? The beginnings of the Cold War … V

  2. Three possible interpretations of why the Cold War started .. • USSR to blame. Stalin wanted communist take over of the world and take over of Eastern Europe was the first step. • USA to blame. Soviet actions were defensive. USA wanted to have "spheres of influence" around the world but didn't want USSR to have the same. • Neither side to blame. Cold War was a result of misunderstandings - forces beyond the control of both sides.

  3. Capitalism Free elections Freedom of speech Big business Some unfairness in distribution of wealth Communism One party rule Censorship State control of industry Fewer extremes of wealth and poverty Different ideologiesWho believed what?

  4. Post War Problems First Conference was in February 1945 at …. YALTA Attended by …. CHURCHILL, ROOSEVELT & STALIN Decided Germany and Berlin to be divided between USA, GB, France and USSR Poland – some land given to USSR and free elections promised by Stalin Second Conference was in July 1945 at …. POTSDAM Attended by …. CHURCHILL / ATTLEE, TRUMAN & STALIN Decided Confirmation of detail of division of Germany and Berlin Final agreement on Polish borders Reparations from Germany Stamp out the Nazi Party in Europe

  5. What Germany looked like Soviet control British control American control French control

  6. What Berlin looked like

  7. What happened in Eastern Europe? • POLAND Communist government established in 1945 then strengthened by rigged elections 1947 • ROMANIA Communist government set up 1945 and monarchy abolished 1947 • BULGARIA Communist government set up 1945 and monarchy abolished 1946 • HUNGARY Free elections in 1945 followed by rigged elections in 1947 – communist government in place • CZECHOSLOVAKIA Coalition of communists and non-communists ran government. USSR feared outcome of 1948 elections so seized power by force. Many non-communists arrested. Jan Masaryk murdered.

  8. Iron Curtain – A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the separating of those communist lands of East Europe from the West.

  9. The Truman DoctrineWhat did it mean? • Western governments were alarmed by Stalin's take over of Eastern Europe. Stalin saw his policy as one of making the USSR secure but Truman and USA saw it as the spread of communism. • USA gave financial help to assist British troops helping the Greeks fight against communism in 1948 • This was the first example of the Truman Doctrine - the USA would give support to people everywhere who were trying to resist communist aggression. It was based on the idea of containment - the USA would use its power and wealth to contain the spread of communism.

  10. The Marshall Planalso known as Marshall Aid • Truman believed communism spread where poverty made people want change • General Marshall sent to Europe to report on the situation • He found serious shortages and debt • Truman proposed $17 billion of aid • US Congress refused at first but agreed after the death of Masaryk showed that the communists were prepared to use force

  11. REMEMBER Germany and Berlin divided into four sectors Britain, France and USA had tried to restore Germany USSR had made no effort to do so JUNE 1948 New German currency introduced in Western zones – the Deutschmark Stalin thought this was the start of a new Germany threatening USSR Stalin blockaded Berlin in retaliation CRISIS POINT: BERLIN 1948

  12. What could the West do? • Fight through the blockade? This would start a war • Abandon Berlin? This would be seen as weakness • Decided on an airlift of supplies to keep West Berlin out of communist hands In this British cartoon from 1948, Stalin watches as the storks fly coal and food into Berlin, but he dares not shoot them down.

  13. Details of the Blockade • Lasted 318 days • British and US air forces flew in 1.5 million tonnes of supplies • US B29 bombers stationed in Britain • Stalin did not know if they carried atomic bombs • 12 May 1949 Stalin admitted defeat and the blockade was lifted.

  14. What were the effects of the Blockade? • In May 1949 the three western powers merged their zones into the German Federal Republic (West Germany). In October 1949 the USSR set up its zone as the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). • The first elections in West Germany were held in August 1949. The Christian Democrats under Konrad Adenauer, who hated the communists, were elected. Stalin now felt very insecure

  15. Key Questions • Who caused the cold war? • Was it Soviet aggression in Eastern Europe? • Was it American capitalism trying to control Europe? • Was it both sides trying to protect their spheres of influence and misunderstanding the motives of the other?

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