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The Yalta Conference
The Big Three met at Yalta in Ukraine to plan what would happen to Europe after Germany's defeat. Many important points were agreed on like joining the UN. There was tension between the leaders, a lot of teasing was going on. Stalin was most concerned about the USSR's future and was greedy for land, power and security. Roosevelt and (mostly) Churchill were concerned with Stalin's plans getting out of hand and any other dangers associated with the Soviets. -
New President
Roosevelt died and was replaced by his Vice-President, Harry Truman. Truman was much more anti-Communist. -
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Hitler's defeat
Hitler admits defeat and that the war is lost. He commits suicide on the last day of April. -
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The Potsdam Conference
A second conference of the Allied leaders in Berlin. The relationships between the leaders had changed:
Stalin's armies were occupying most of eastern Europe, despite Britain and USA's protests and Truman was the new president.
Churchill was absent, so Truman and Stalin dominated the conference. They disagreed about how to handle Germany, Stalin wanted to cripple Germany and make them pay repairments whilst Truman didn't want to repeat the Treaty of Versailles. -
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Iron Curtain
The Potsdam Conference did not resolve the issues concerning the Soviet policy in Eastern Europe. Stalin achieved dominance over most of Eastern Europe and many countries had Communist governments. The border between the Soviet-controlled countries and the West was called an 'iron curtain'. -
The Truman Doctrine
Harry Truman announced in a speech that he was prepared to send money, equipment and advice to any country he believed was in threat of being taken over by Communists. He did this to prevent communism from spreading further, called containment. -
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Marshall Aid
Truman thought Communism succeeded when people faced poverty and hardship. He wanted to give $17 billion to rebuild Europe. Only after Communists supposedly killed a pro-American Minister did they agree to it.
This was very generous of the USA, but was also an act of self-interest to create new markets. Stalin did not have anything to do with Marshall Aid because he was very suspicious and didn't allow any Eastern countries to make use of it. -
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Berlin blockade
Germany was split into 4 zones: Britain, USA and France combined their zones to help Germany recover quicker. Stalin could do nothing about this, but wanted to stamp his authority on Berlin: deep in the Soviet Zone. He blocked all supply lines connected to the Western Zone in the hope that the Allies would be forced out of Berlin and become entirely dependent on the USSR. The Allies air-lifted supplies. They were afraid the first planes would get shot down, but they didn't.
Stalin gave up 1949. -
NATO
There was a big possibility of war during the Berlin bloackade, so the Western powers met up and agreed to work together. They formed a new organization called the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. -
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The arms race
Between USSR and USA. New types of dangerous bombs were being created. USA bombed Japan at the end of WWII and USSR detonated their first atomic bomb in August 1949. The war made people feel unsafe. But after the Cuban Missile Crisis a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed by the USA and USSR so no more nuclear weapons would be tested. -
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Korean War
North Korea = Communist (Soviets), South Korea = anti-Communist (supported by US). North Korean troops took over almost all of Korea, UN took action back (main influence was USA, USSR walked out on UN because USA blocked newly Communist China's entry to the UN). UN forces won back the original land, but US kept going causing China to join. Chinese pushed the border back to 38th parallel. New President Eisenhower and Stalin's death made Communists less confident and an armistice was signed. -
General MacArthur removed from command
He commanded UN forces in Korea but was relieved of these duties by President Truman because MacArthur wanted to carry on the war. He wanted to invade China and possibly even use nuclear weapons. Truman just wanted to save South Korea. MacArthur threatened an attack on China without permission and was therefore relieved of his duties. He was too aggressive towards Communism. -
Death of Stalin
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The Vietnam War (Media war)
North Vietnam (+China and other communists) vs South Vietnam (+USA and other non-communists). The Viet Cong started a guerilla war. Tet Offensive 1968: attacked many cities but weakened Communists. President decided war could not be won militarily. My Lai Massacre: 400 civilians killed, Americans unhappy, new presidential candidates only campaigned to end war. Nixon and South Vietnamese president signed peace agreement; vietnamisation. South Vietnam fell to communists. Containment failed. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
President Kennedy supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1400 anti-Castro exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
America owned most of Cuba, in 1959 Fidel Castro overthrew dictator resulting in a pro-Communist state. Kennedy started Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 that failed, Castro captured them all. Americans later discovered there were nuclear missile sites in Cuba, despite Cuba's claims. Kennedy decided to blockade Cuba which led to the Soviet Union dismantling arms and taking them back to the Soviet Union. Cuba stayed Communist, Kennedy had a better reputation and better relation between USA & USSR.
