Origins of the Cold War Outline

Thesis: While both The Soviet Union and The United States of America contributed to the start of the Cold War, the Soviet Union was more at fault.

Main Point 1: Stalin's actions and demands at Yalta and Potsdam
                      -Uncompromising
                      -Wanted to completely crush Germany
                      -Wanted to control Eastern European countries


Main Point 2: Berlin Blockade and Berlin Airlift
                     -Stalin was testing USA
                     -Wanted US to knock down wall so he could declare war
                     -Cut off West Berlin

Main Point 3: USA drops bombs on Japan
                     -Didn't want Soviet help
                     -Trying to prove that they're better than the Soviets
                     -Now Soviets will want atomic bombs

Main Point 4: Truman was very anti-Communist
                     -Wouldn't compromise with Stalin like FDR did
                     -Wanted to spread democracy
                     -Truman Doctrine tried to contain communism

Different Interpretation: All US's fault
                    -Didn't want to make compromises
                    -Capitalism and Communism could never mix
                    -Marshall Plan- America also has to get involved



REVISION



 Thesis: While the USSR did have some influence to the start of the cold war, it was mostly the USA's fault.


Main Point 1: The US dropped bombs on Japan

• Did this to keep Soviets out of Japan
• Showed that they are better than the Soviets
• Now Soviets will want bombs to keep up with America- America created competition

Main Point 2: Truman Doctrine and Policy of Containment

• Truman was very anti-Communism
• Tried to contain Soviet influence in Greece and Turkey
• Gave $400 million in military and economic aid to them
• Said they had to do that to protect free people from Soviet takeover 

Main Point 3: Marshall Plan

• Western Europe was in chaos
• US gave about $13 billion to countries to "help fight hunger/poverty"
• This resulted in the Western European countries thriving
• Communism lost much appeal to voters

Main Point 4: US had selfish aims

• Rebuild Europe to be able to trade with them
• Gain access to raw materials and markets
• Spread capitalism

Main Point 5: NATO

• America teamed up with 11 other countries
• All were willing to fight USSR
• Teamed up on Soviets, ready to fight

D/I: Stalin was uncompromising at Yalta and Potsdam

• Wanted to completely crush Germany
• Unwilling to compromise with anybody
• Wanted control over Eastern European countries 

D/I 2: Berlin Blockade

• Stalin was testing US
• Wanted US to knock down wall so he could declare war
• Cut off West Berlin

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?     
Source 37 is showing that Josip Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, is accepting money from America, which shows that he is in need of help and he is relying on America for help and he betrayed his country, which is shown by his cloak saying "the betrayer". 


2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?        
Stalin was so hostile to Tito because Tito was a betrayer and he was relying on Americans for help and Stalin didnt like America. Also Tito wanted to spread Communism in his own way


3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?     
It would have been difficult for Stalin to take direct action against Tito due to the geographical position of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was surrounded by Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, all of which were enemies of the Soviet Union during WWII so it would have been hard for Stalin to attack Tito


4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?       
The Soviets claimed that they cut off West Berlin because of "technical difficulties" and they cut off electricity because of coal 


5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?           
The USA did not believe these were genuine reasons because they thought that the USSR was trying to test them and if they tried to ram the road blocks, Stalin could see it as an act of war. 


6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?            
Source 41 sees the blockade as pointless and it didn't accomplish anything and neither side benefited- but they both became more stubborn.
Source 42 saw the blockade was a threat to freedom  and a test for America
Source 43 is saying that the blockade was made by America as a way to encourage people to dislike communists


7.  Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?       
The most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade would be Source 41 because it was written by a historian and is not biased.



8.  Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?      
The source that gives the most reliable view of the blockade is Source 42 because it is the president and he is telling Americans what is going on and it is all true


         

Nuclear Arms Race Since 1945 - part 2

1. Summarize the basic argument for and the basic argument against nuclear weapons.     
People who argue for Nuclear weapons argue that they are essential in order to protect the united States from aggression and countries wouldn't want to go to war so much knowing how badly things could end.

People who argue against nuclear weapons argue that they are simply too dangerous and destructive to exist, and that they could end all of humanity. They also argue that human error can cause some really bad accidents.
      

2. What is the difference between a strategic and a tactical nuclear weapon?       
Strategic nuclear weapons are long ranged and can hit a target six thousand miles away. Tactical nuclear weapons are short ranged and can fit inside a backpack, but actually have smaller explosions than some non-nuclear weapons. 
        

3. What is nuclear proliferation?       
Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons
       

4. What role has the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty played in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons?           
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is designed to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. It prevents countries that have had nuclear weapons before 1967 from giving away nuclear weapons or technology to states that don't have it, and to reduce their weapon stockpiles. It also made non-nuclear nations agree not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons, but they have the right to obtain knowledge, materials and equipment for peaceful purposes.


5. Explain Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal. (See her quote on page 16 of your reading.)       
Secretary of State Rice was very concerned about the Russian nuclear arsenal. She worried that Russia's economic troubles weakened Moscow's control over it's nuclear program. Russia had tons of nuclear weapons and it was dangerous to have them all. 
    

6. How as the threat of terrorism changed thinking about nuclear weapons?      
Dealing with terrorists is much more difficult than dealing with a country, since terrorist organizations are hard to identify and can be mobile. Countries a=have to be careful not to allow terrorists to acquire nuclear weapons, because 9/11 would like like nothing compared to a nuclear attack. Also, deterrence wouldnt apply to terrorists because they dont have to worry about retaliation from who they attack.


    

Nuclear Arms Race Since 1945

1. Explain how Dragonfire's report on October 11, 2001 highlighted a new threat from nuclear weapons.                 
Dragonfire's report on October 11, 2001 highlighted a new threat for nuclear weapons. A nuclear weapon hadnt been used since World War II, but when dragonfire reported that a nuclear weapon was smuggled into New York, people realized just how dangerous these were and how destructive it could be and how many lives could be lost.



2. Why is proliferation such a strong concern for the United States?              
Proliferation was such a strong concern for the United States because they didn't want atomic bombs to spread because the more countries that had them, the more countries that could use them and potentially end humanity.


3. What is deterrence?                   
Deterrence is a plan to prevent nuclear war. If one side attacked another, they would respond with an even bigger attack. Them=n both sides would realize that they face certain destruction and will stop attacking.


4. Explain the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis.                   
During the Cuban missile crisis, when America learned the soviets had nuclear missiles in Cuba, a nuclear war almost broke out. It ultimately didn't happen, but it showed how close things came and a deal was made to prevent it from happening again. After this, the tension between America and the Soviet Union lessened.


5. President John F. Kennedy worried that twenty-five nations would have nuclear weapons by the 1970s. Why do you think his worry did not come to pass?                           
Because negotiations were held and an international agreement was made to prevent countries from acquiring nuclear weapons (other than the five that already had them).


6. What was the Cold War? How long did it last?                  
The Cold War was the stand-off between the United States and the Soviet Union in which both nations attempted to acquire more nuclear weapons than the other to feel secure. Ultimately, there was no actual war or battles. The Cold War came to an end on December 25, 1991 after more than 40 years. (46 years, 1945-1991)