Question 1

What was the Truman Doctrine and why was it important?

Accepted Answer

The Truman Doctrine was a US policy announced in March 1947 that promised to support countries threatened by communism. It was important because it marked the start of the US policy of containment, which aimed to stop the spread of communism. It also led to the US giving aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling under Soviet influence.

Question 2

Why did the Berlin Blockade happen?

Accepted Answer

The Berlin Blockade happened because Stalin wanted to force the Western Allies out of Berlin. In June 1948, the USA, Britain, and France introduced a new currency (the Deutschmark) in their zones of Germany, including West Berlin. Stalin saw this as a threat to Soviet control and blocked all road, rail, and canal routes to West Berlin, hoping the Allies would abandon the city.

Question 3

How did the Berlin Airlift work?

Accepted Answer

The Berlin Airlift was a massive operation by the USA and Britain to supply West Berlin with food, fuel, and other essentials by plane. From June 1948 to May 1949, planes landed every few minutes at Tempelhof and other airports. Over 2 million tons of supplies were delivered, and the airlift succeeded in keeping West Berlin alive, forcing Stalin to lift the blockade.

Question 4

What was the difference between NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

Accepted Answer

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in 1949 by the USA, Canada, and Western European countries as a defensive alliance against Soviet aggression. The Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955 by the USSR and its Eastern European satellite states in response to West Germany joining NATO. Both alliances committed members to defend each other if attacked, but NATO was capitalist and democratic, while the Warsaw Pact was communist and authoritarian.

Question 5

Why did the arms race develop?

Accepted Answer

The arms race developed because both the USA and USSR wanted to be stronger than the other. After the USSR tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, the USA developed the hydrogen bomb in 1952, and the USSR followed in 1953. Each side feared the other would gain a military advantage, so they kept building more and more powerful nuclear weapons. This led to a dangerous cycle of competition and increased tension.

Question 6

What was the impact of the U-2 incident on the Cold War?

Accepted Answer

The U-2 incident in May 1960, when a US spy plane was shot down over the USSR, destroyed the growing trust between Eisenhower and Khrushchev. Khrushchev used the incident to walk out of a summit meeting in Paris, and it ended hopes for a reduction in tensions. The incident showed that both sides were still deeply suspicious and willing to spy on each other, leading to a new phase of the Cold War.

The development of the Cold War

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