ColdWarIntroduction

Vocabulary

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decentralized:transferofauthorityfromcentraltolocalgovernment
federal:havingorrelatingtoasystemofgovernmentinwhichseveralstatesformaunitybutremainindependentin
internalaffairs.
3. communist:apersonwhosupportsorbelievesintheprinciplesofcommunism(leftist)
4. barter:exchange(goodsorservices)forothergoodsorserviceswithoutusingmoney.
5. tsar:emperorofRussiabefore1917
6. Bolshevik:amemberofthemajorityfactionoftheRussianSocialDemocraticParty,whichwasrenamedtheCommunist
PartyafterseizingpowerintheOctoberRevolutionof1917
7. treacherous:guiltyoforinvolvingbetrayalordeception
8. purges:toridofwhateverisimpureorundesirablecleansepurify.
9. Marxism:thesystemofeconomicandpoliticalthoughtdevelopedbyKarlMarx,alongwithFriedrichEngels,especially
thedoctrinethatthestatethroughouthistoryhasbeenadevicefortheexploitationofthemassesbyadominantclass,
thatclassstrugglehasbeenthemainagencyofhistoricalchange,andthatthecapitalistsystem,containingfromthe
firsttheseedsofitsowndecay,willinevitably,aftertheperiodofthedictatorshipoftheproletariat,besupersededby
asocialistorderandaclasslesssociety.
10. program:aplanofactiontoaccomplishaspecifiedend
11. approved:tospeakorthinkfavorablyofpronounceorconsideragreeableorgoodjudgefavorably

FocusQuestions

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HowweretheUSandRussiasimilar&differentpriorto1917?
a. Priorto1917,inthe1890s,RussialiketheUS,controlledagrandcontinentalempirecontainingpeoplesofof
manycultures.TheAmericanempirewasdecentralized(federal),withthestatesandtheoutlyingterritory
havingconsiderablefreedom,whiletheRussianempirewasatightlycentralized,withanarmyof
bureaucratsworkingantlikeforthetsar(andlater,asmallCommunistpartyeliteinMoscow).TheRussians
alsobuiltanempirethatwasmorepoliticalthancommercial,annexingpartofAsiaandthenclosingthe
marketstoforeignbusinesspeoplewithwhomtheycouldnotcompete.
WhatwastheOpenDoortotradeinChina?
a. TheopendoortotradeinChinasrichprovinceofManchuriawastheprosperityoftheUnitedStates.
DescribeUSattemptstocontainRussianexpansionismpriortoWorldWarI?
a. Fromthe1890sto1917,theUStriedtocontainRussianexpansionism,usuallybysupportingJapan,which
alsowantedtoopenManchuria.
WhydidtheRussiansfeeltheywerebeingencircled&isolatedbytheWestafterWorldWarI?
a. Theyfeltencircledandisolatedduetothecreationofbufferstatessuchas,Poland,Romania,
Czechoslovakia,andYugoslaviainEasternEurope,aswellasWoodrowWilsonrefusingopendemocratic
relations.
HowdidtheUSprovideaid&investmentsintheUSSRafterWorldWarI?
a. AidtotheUSSRcameintheformofanAmericanreliefmissionthatdistributedover$60millionworthofaid
tostarvingRussiansinthe1920s,theencouragementbyPres.HoovertolookuponRussiaasaneconomic
vacuum,andSovietAmericantraderisingtoover$100millionbetween1925and1930.
WhydidStalinwanthelpagainsttheJapaneseinthe1930s?
a. HewantedhelpagainsttheJapanesebecausetheyhadbegunrampagingthroughManchuriatocomeand
takeresources.
WhatledtoStalinsigningthenonaggressionpactwithGermanyin1939?
a. By1839StalinsrelationswiththeWesternpowersweredisintegrating.Theclimateblowoccurredthatyear
attheMunichconference,whentheFrenchandBritishappeasedHitlerbygivingGermanypartof
Czechoslovakia.AtheCommunistpartysEighteenthCongressinearly1939,StalindeclaredthattheWest
hopedtoturnHitlereasttowardthewarwiththeSoviets.Thiswouldnothappen,heindicatedforalthough
neweconomiccrisisinthecapitalistworldmadeinevitableanotherimperialistwar,thistimeRussiawouldnot
pullwesternchestnutsoutofthefire.Makingmuchoftheterriblesituation,StalinstunnedtheWestinlate
August1929bysigninganonaggressionpactwithHitler.
whatledtotheUSUSSRshotgunmarriageofWorldWarII?
a. TheUnitedStatesbickeredaboutwhethertotakesideswiththeSovietsorwithHitler.Itwasnotthebest

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spiritwithtostartanewpartnership.ButsuchstatementsonlyclimaxedhalfacenturyofRussianAmerican
enmity.Possessing,dramaticallydifferentviewsofhowtheworldwouldbeorganized,unabletocooperate
duringthe1930sagainstnaziandjapaneseaggression,andnearlyfullfledgedenemiesbetween1939and
1941,theUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnionfinallybecamepartnersbecauseofashotgunmarriageforced
uponthembyWorldWar2.
ColdWarChapter1

Vocabulary

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Baltic:theBalticSeaortheBalticStates.
subsidization:money(orotherbenefits)obtainedasasubsidy
doctrine:abelieforsetofbeliefsheldandtaughtbyachurch,politicalparty,orothergroup.
bourgeois:oforcharacteristicofthemiddleclass,typicallywithreferencetoitsperceivedmaterialisticvaluesor
conventionalattitudes.
quidproquo:afavororadvantagegrantedorexpectedinreturnforsomething.
tariff:ataxordutytobepaidonaparticularclassofimportsorexports.
bloc:acombinationofcountries,parties,orgroupssharingacommonpurpose.
indelible:permanent
reneged:gobackonapromise,undertaking,orcontract
LendLease:thetransferofgoodsandservicestoanallytoaidinacommoncause
Prussian:oforrelatingtoorcharacteristicofPrussiaoritsinhabitants
eunuch:amanwhohasbeencastrated,esp.(inthepast)oneemployedtoguardthewomen'slivingareasatan
orientalcourt
imperialist:of,relatingto,supporting,orpracticingimperialism
acquiescence:thereluctantacceptanceofsomethingwithoutprotest
totalitarianism:dictatorship:aformofgovernmentinwhichtherulerisanabsolutedictator(notrestrictedbya
constitutionorlawsoroppositionetc.)
capitalistic:aneconomicsysteminwhichinvestmentinandownershipofthemeansofproduction,distribution,and
exchangeofwealthismadeandmaintainedchieflybyprivateindividualsorcorporations,especiallyascontrastedto
cooperativelyorstateownedmeansofwealth.
hardline:adheringrigidlytoadogma,theory,orplanuncompromisingorunyielding
Politburo:theexecutivecommitteeandchiefpolicymakingbodyofaCommunistParty.
fifthcolumn:FrancosympathizersinMadridduringtheSpanishCivilWar:socalledinallusiontoastatementin1936
thattheinsurgentshadfourcolumnsmarchingonMadridandafifthcolumnofsympathizersinthecityreadytorise
andbetrayit.
charter:adocument,issuedbyasovereignorstate,outliningtheconditionsunderwhichacorporation,colony,city,or
othercorporatebodyisorganized,anddefiningitsrightsandprivileges.
sic:toattack
ostentatiously:characterizedbyorgiventopretentiousorconspicuousshowinanattempttoimpressothers
nonchalantly:coollyunconcerned,indifferent,orunexcitedcasual

FocusQuestions

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WhywasStalinsuspiciousofChurchill&RooseveltearlyinWorldWarII?
a. HissuspicionsincreasedasheaskedRooseveltandChurchilltoagreethatpostwarRussiashouldinclude
theBalticstatesandpartsofPoland,Finland,andRomania,whichhadbeenreclaimedbyStalinin1939with
theNaziSovietpact.RooseveltrefusedbecausethevoterswithBalticancestrymadeitimpossibleforhimto
recognizethedecision.
WhatwastheLendLeaseActof1941?
a. Anexchangeofmilitaryinformationandnearly$11billionofAmericanalendleasesuppliessenttoRussia.
HowwasUSpolicytowardtheUSSRcontradictoryandthusamajorcauseoftheColdWar?
a. NeitherRooseveltnorhissuccessorHarryS.TrumanreconciledthecontradictionsoftheUS,andthatfailure
wasoneofthemajorcausesoftheColdWar.ItwasntnecessaryfortheUStousenuclearweaponson
Japan.However,TrumanorderedtheuseoftheatomicbombsonJapantothreatentheUSSR.Thisstarted
anarmsracewhichraisedtensionbetweentheUSandUSSR.TheUSSRtooktheTrumanDoctrineandthe
MarshallPlanasdirectattacksoncommunism.StalinwantedtospreadcommunismandtheUSwantedto

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controlit,whichfurtheredtensions.
WhydidtheUSwantanopenglobalmarket?
a. TheUSwantedanopenglobalmarketbecauseitbelievedthatcapitalismwouldstaveoffthePrussianand
MarxistDoctrine.DeanAchesonbelievedthatwecannotexpectdomesticprosperityunderoursystem
withoutaconstantlyexpandingtradewithothernations.Also,thecapitalisticsystemisessentiallyan
internationalsystem
WhatwasAtlanticCharter?
a. ItdefinedtheAlliedgoalsforthepostwarworld.ArticleIIIdeclaredthatafterthewar,allpeoplesshouldhave
therighttochoosetheirownformofgovernment.ArticleIVaddedthatallstatesshouldenjoyequalaccess
tothetradeandtherawmaterialsoftheworldwhichareneededfortheireconomicpurposes.
HowdidtheUStrytoensurethatthepostwarmarketplacewouldbefriendlytoit?
a. BycreatingaWorldBankandtheinternationalMonetaryFundataninternationalconferenceatBretton
Woods,NHtoensurethatthepostwarmarketwouldbefriendly.TheWorldBankwouldhaveatreasuryof
$7.6billiontoguaranteeprivateloansforrebuildingwartornEuropeandbuildinguplessdevelopednations.
TheIMFwouldhave$7.3billiontostabilizecurrenciessothattradecouldbeconductedwithoutfearof
suddendepreciationorfluctuations.
WhatwasthechoiceRooseveltfacedasearlyas1942regardinganopenpostwarworld&USSRsdemandsin
EasternEurope?
a. ThechoicethatRooseveltfacedwastoeitherfightforanopenpostwarworldtoRussianbordersoragree
withhisali'sdemandsinEasternEurope.Ifhechosethefirst,hecouldriskRussianAmericanrelations
erodinguntilthejointeffortagainsttheAxiscollapsed.Ifhechosethesecond,itwouldunderminethe
principlesoftheAtlanticCharter,destroyingthechancesforpostwarpeaceandAmericanprosperity.
WhydidtheworldneedahealthypostwarEurope?
a. TheworldneededahealthypostwarEuropesothatitseasternsectorscouldprovidefoodandthewestern
areastheindustrialproducts.Itwoulddependonthemaintenanceofsoundeconomicconditionsand
reasonableprosperityinallpartsoftheContinent.
WhydidChurchillmakeaseparatedealwithStalinpriortotheendofWorldWarII?
a. Bymakingtheseparatedeal,ChurchillprotectedtheMediterraneanlifelineoftheBritishEmpirewhile
acknowledgingRussiasfirstsayincertainEasternEuropeannations.
WhatwasdiscussedattheYaltaConferenceandbywhom?
a. TheBigThree,Roosevelt,Churchill,andStalin,discussedpostwarplansatYalta,suchasthefutureof
Poland.
WhatdidtheDeclarationonLiberatedEuropeprovide?
a. Thisprovidedthateachofthethreepowerswouldpledgecooperationinapplyingtheselfdetermination
principletonewlyliberatednations.
WhywasPolandatestcasein1944forlaterSovietglobalintentions?
a. PolandwasatestcasesinceacrisishaddevelopedinwhichRussiarefusedtoallowmorethanthree
proWesternPolesintothe18memberPolishgovernment,creatingaproEastern(sovietmajority).
HowdidTrumandifferfromRooseveltindealingwiththeUSSR?
a. TrumandifferedfromRooseveltinthesensethathewasdeterminedtomaintainapolicyofstand[ing]upto
theRussians,maintainingahardlineagainsttheSovietsunlikethesloppyadministrationofFDRinhislater
years.
WhatwasthecompromiseTrumanacceptedonPolandin1945?
a. ThecompromisewasthatStalinincludedseveralmoreproWesternPolesinthegovernmenttoTrumans
demandofanewPolishgovernment.
HowdidWorldWarIIaffectSovietpostWorldWarIIforeignpolicy?
a. WWIIaffectedSovietforeignpolicybecausethechangeofStalinsownMarxistLeninistdoctrinethatwas
usedtojustifypowerandinsilencinginternaldissent.
WhatwastheoverridingconsiderationforSovietforeignpolicyafterWorldWarII?
a. Theoverridingconsiderationwasthepreoccupationwith'security'asMoscowsawit,unliketheUSwith
'security'requiringanopenworld,includinganopenEasternEurope.
WhydidStalinmistrusttheWestasaresultofWorldWarII?
a. StalinmistrustedtheWestsincetheWesthadpouredtroopsintoRussiabetween1917and1920,refusedto
cooperatewiththeSovietsduringthe1930s,triedtoturnHitleragainstStalinin1938,renegedonpromises
aboutthesecondfront,andin1945triedtopenetrateareasStalindeemedcrucialtoSovietSecurity.
HowdidtheUSkeeptheAmericaswithintheUSsphereofinfluence?
a. TheAmericaswereusedasaUSsphereofinfluenceforthepurposeoffeedingcheaprawmaterialstothe

USindustry.
19. HowdidArticle51oftheUNCharteraffectUSforeignpolicy?
a. ItallowedforexclusiveAmericanpowerintheNewandtheeighttoexpertAmericanpowerintheOld.
20. WhatwerethedifferencesbetweentheisolationistsandinternationalistsafterWorldWarII?
a. Americanstendtobecomepoliticalisolationistswhentheycannotdominateinternationalaffairsand
internationalistspoliticallywhentheycan.RarelyhaveAmericansbeenpreparedtobargainortocompromise
theirfreedomofaction.TheyhavejoinedsuchorganizationsastheUNwhentheycouldcontrolthem.
ThroughoutthewarVandenberggraduallylefthisearlierpoliticalisolationismbecausehebelievedtheUnited
StateswouldhavethepowertointernationalizetheAtlanticCharterfreedoms.
21. WhydidtheUSwantahealthy,rebuiltGermanyafterWorldWarII?
a. NotevenStimson,however,couldsuggestasolutionforGermany,thebiggestproblemofall.Throughout
19341945Roosevelthadwaveredbetweenvirtuallydestroyingthenation(heevenoncementionedmass
castration)andallowingGermanytoreindustrializeundertightcontrols.StimsonandSecretaryofState
CordellHullfoughtforrebuildingGermany.Theybelievedworldrecoverydependedonastrong,
industrializedEurope.Thatrequiredatitsheart,asithadforacentury,ahealthyGermany.
22. WhatwastheSovietviewofpostWorldWarIIreparations?
a. Forhispart,StalinagreedwhenRooseveltsuggesteddismemberment,buttheRussiancaredmoreabout
takingreparations(intheformofindustrialmachinesandgoods)outofGermany.Inthiswayhecouldrebuild
RussianindustrywhilekillingoffanypossibilitythatGermanycouldagainthreatenRussiaintheforeseeable
future.Stalinalsoinsisteduponterritorialchanges.HewantedthePolestohavepartofeasternGermanyas
compensationforthelandtheywerebeingforcedtogiveRussiaineasternPoland.AtfirstChurchilland
Roosevelthadnotobjectifiedtothisdemand,butby1945theyopposednewGermanPolishboundary.They
rightlyfearedthissimplymaskedcommunistcontrolofeasternGermany.
23. WhatwasdiscussedatthePotsdamConferenceandbywhom?
a. AtthePotsdamconference,oldoutsidecapturedBerlininJuly1945,TrumanandSecretaryofStateJames
ByrnesofferedStalinadeal.TheWestwoulddefactorecognizethenewPolishGermanboundary.The
RussianscouldalsotakereparationsoutoftheirownoccupationzoneofeasternGermany,anareaprimarily
agricultural.ButinthethreeWesternoccupationzones(controlledbytheAmericans,BritishandFrench)the
Sovietscouldhaveonly25percentofthereparationsabouthalfofthosewouldhavetobepaidforwith
foodstuffsfromtheRussianzone.Withconsiderablegrumbling,Stalinacceptedthedeal.TheUnitedStates
hadfinallymadethechoice:itwouldnotrushtodismemberGermanybutwouldholdtightlytothenations
westernindustrialheartlandandmethodicallyrebuildtheshatteredGermaneconomy.Ofcoursetherewas
oneotherimplication.AneconomicdivisionofGermanycouldleadtoapoliticaldivision.Thedeallaidthe
basisforaneasternandawesternGermany.
24. AccordingtoLaFeber,whatwerethethreemainreasonstheUSusedtheatomicbomb?
a. ThebombisthegreatestthinginhistoryboastedTruman,Byrnesconcluded:Totheextentthatweareable
tomanageourdomesticaffairssuccessfully,weshallwinconcertswoourcreedineveryland.,The
Sovietsalsothenrefusedtobudge.
25. WhydidtrumandisregardHenryStimsonsadviceonpostwarforeignrelationsanumberoftimes?
a. ItwasbecauseStimsonwantedTrumantohavedirect,bilateraltalkswithStalintoformulatecontrolofthe
bombandtowriteageneralpeacestatement.
26. WhatwastheUSassessmentofUSSrpowerattheendofWorldWarII?
a. Theywouldunlikelybeapartofabigmajorwarforatleast15yearsbecauseof1.Warlossesinmanpower
andindustry(15years)2.Lackoftechnicians(510years)3.LackofStrategicAirForce(510years)4.
Lackofmodernnavy(1520yearsforawarinvolvingmajornavaloperations)5.Poorconditionofrailway
andmilitarytransportationsystemsandequipment(10years)6.VulnerabilityofSovietoil,rail,andvital
industrialcenterstolongrangebombers7.Lackofatomicbomb(510years,possiblyless)8.Resistancein
occupiedcountries(5yearsorless)9.QuantitativemilitaryweaknessintheFarEastespeciallynaval
(1520years)
27. HowdidtheworldlookattheendofWorldWarII?
a. PolandandEasternEuropesankbehindanironfenceorStalinsmilitarysystem.