NBSS HY Sec 4 Chapter 1 Kite Notes 2021

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2021 1 Chapter 1: Reasons for the Cold War in Europe Section Section Title You should be able to explain: 1.1 Why did the USA and the Soviet Union become Cold War enemies despite being allies in World War 11? Post-WWII rise of USA and USSR as superpowers: collapse and decline of old European powers 1.1 Why did the USA and the Soviet Union become Cold War enemies despite being allies in World War 11? US-Soviet mistrust and rivalry: breakdown of wartime alliances division of Europe after WWII differences in ideology American containme nt policy and Soviet responses, military alliances Name: Class: Date Received: Teacher’s Name:

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2021 2 OVERVIEW OF CHAPTER 1 – Reasons for the Cold War in Europe

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2021 3 Key Focus: Reasons for the Cold War in Europe (before and during WWII) Identify Factor What were the factors for the Cold War? Tell the story What is the factor about? Explain the story How did the factor lead to the Cold War? The conflicting ideologies of the two countries The conflicting ideologies of the two countries was a reason for the outbreak of the Cold War. • USA believed in capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union were committed to Communism. • USA conducted elections to vote for their leaders, while only the Communist Party could lead Soviet Union. • The USA promoted capitalism where the market (people) decides matters regarding production and allocation of resources, while the Soviet Union had a centrally - planned economy where all production and allocation of resources were managed by the government. • The different ideologies led USA and Russia to view each other as threats to their own political and economic security. o USA and western powers supported the opposition against Communists in the 1919 Russian Civil War. o The Soviets saw the actions of the West as threatening the survival of USSR and communism. I - Thus, the differences in ideology led to the Cold War as the different political ideas made them directly in opposition to each other and raising suspicion that each was out to undermine the other. R – This led both countries to feel that it was difficult for them to agree on any ideas as their beliefs were difficult to reconcile. O - This is turn created further tensions and distrust in their relationship that led to the Cold War.

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2021 4 USA-Soviet alliance developed distrust due to: 1. Perceived delay in opening second front 2. Disagreements during negotiations for a post-war settlement If this question is for one paragraph and does not state year / specific example, you can just pick any one of the conferences. If this question is supposed to be two paragraphs, each conference can be one paragraph The perceived delay in opening second front against Germany during World War II led to distrust between Soviet Union and the western powers. • During WWII, the Soviets were facing immense pressure from Germany’s continuous attacks. • Stalin depended on the allies to open a second front in France to divert German troops and relieve the pressure. • However, the allies delayed this until there was a likelihood for success. The d isagreements during negoti ations for post -war settlement was a reason for the outbreak of the Cold War. During the Yalta conference (Feb 1945 ), Stalin, President Roosevelt and Minister Churchill had different agendas but went generally smoothly as the war was still ongoing. • (Britain) Churchill knew that Britain would no longer be a great imperial power at the end of the war, and sought to maintain a close relationship with the USA. • (USA) Roosevelt wanted a settlement that would bring about peace, security and freedom for all. • However, Soviet help was still nee ded against Japan. Hence, USA made many concessions to Stalin but faced a lot of opposition back home for it. The Potsdam Conference (Germany, May-Aug 1945) did not proceed as smoothly compared to Yalta Conference as victory in the war was almost certain. • There was no agreement regarding the exact amount of reparations that Germany had to pay. • Most importantly, the types of government to be established in Eastern Europe and the extent of Soviet influence in that region remained undecided. I - Thus, the perceived delay in opening the second front saw Soviet Union suffered severe damages from Germany’s attacks. R – This led Stalin to have suspicion and distrust that the western powers were using Germany to destroy Soviet Union. O – This in turn worsened the relationship between USSR and the Allies as the Soviets saw the actions by the Allies as a strategy to minimise their own losses and weaken the Soviet Union. I – Thus, many of the agreements made at the Yalta Conference remained unsettled. R - This led to further distrust between USA and USSR as both pushed to achieve their different goals which were against the aims of the other party. O – This in turn led to worsened relations between the two superpowers as the both saw the actions of the other party as trying to limit and undermine the strength and status of each party. I - Thus, far from coming to an agreement with each other, the Potsdam conference only served to bring out the differences in the ideologies and goals of the victor nations. R - This led to a strain in the relationship between the Western powers and the Soviet Union, leading to the Cold War. O – This in turn led to worsened relations between the two superpowers as the both saw the actions of the other party as trying to limit and undermine the strength and status of each party.

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2021 5 Identify Factor What were the factors for the Cold War? Tell the story What is the factor about? Explain the story How did the factor lead to the Cold War? 3. American nuclear monopoly American Nuclear monopoly and dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan was a reason for the outbreak of the Cold War. • The Americans were secretly developing the atomic bomb since 1942 . Truman used the bomb on Japan in August 1945 mainly to end the war quickly. • He hoped that it would give the USA political leverage over the Soviets (sign that US more powerful) in post -war affairs. • However, information about the programme had been leaked to the Soviets, and Stalin was not surprised when the USA finally told him about the bomb. Instead, he chose to adopt a tougher stance. o Aimed to rapidly catch up with the USA’s military prowess. o Soviets would successfully detonate their first atomic bomb in August 1949 (atomic / nuclear parity). I - Thus, the development of the atomic bomb by the USA, and the fact that it chose not to tell the Soviets meant that USA had military advantages against Soviet Union and hoped to preserve the advantage. R - This led to distrust as the Soviets were concerned about being at a disadvantage against their rivals. O - This in turn worsened relations and led Soviet Union to develop their own nuclear weapons . It also led to an arms race (competition to achieve milita