Cold War Causes Quiz

Cold War Causes

• Five primary causes of the Cold War include US-Soviet rivalry, ideological differences, the Yalta Conference outcomes, Soviet control over Eastern Europe, and the policy of containment initiated by President Truman.

• The rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union emerged from the decline of European colonial powers, leading to a bipolar world dominated by these two superpowers.

• Contrasting ideologies played a crucial role: the US championed democracy and capitalism (free enterprise), while the USSR promoted dictatorship and communism.

Yalta Conference

• The Yalta Conference in February 1945 was attended by the Big Three: Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin, as WWII neared its end in Europe.

• Concessions to Stalin included territorial gains such as the Sakhalin Islands and Kuril Islands, potential naval bases, joint control of Manchurian railroads, and a communist-dominated Poland.

• Roosevelt's desperation for Soviet support against Japan influenced his decisions at Yalta, along with his declining health and the reality of Soviet control in Eastern Europe.

Promises and Realities

• Stalin promised free elections in Poland and Eastern Europe and committed to entering the war against Japan within three months after Germany's defeat.

• However, the promises made at Yalta were largely disregarded, resulting in the establishment of Soviet satellite states across Eastern Europe, contributing to the emergence of the Iron Curtain.

Truman's Policy of Containment

• Post-WWII, the US focused on containing the spread of communism, largely influenced by perceptions of Soviet expansionism in countries like Greece and Turkey.

• These views were shaped by events such as Soviet-supported communists in the Greek Civil War and pressures exerted on Turkey concerning control of the straits.

• Key elements of the containment policy include the Truman Doctrine, aimed at providing economic aid, forming regional alliances, and addressing military conflicts like those in Korea and Vietnam.

Civil War in Greece

• Following the defeat of Germany in WWII, Greece became a battleground where communists and monarchists clashed for control after the return of the monarchy.