AQA A-Level History - The Cold War
Notes Section One Exam Question and
Answer
The Cold War - A conflict between two OPPOSING ideologies, capitalism and
communism, fought between the USSR and the USA
The Cold War (definiton 2) - A state of geopolitical tension after WW2 between the
powers of the Western and Eastern Bloc, pursed primarily through economic and
political actions
Soft power (American tactic) - Not using military force to influence people; often
portrayed themselves at the best through major aspects of society (e.g movies, media
etc)
The West fears communism because - - It spreads and could lead to a world revolution
where capitalism is OVERTHROWN
- This would lead to a loss of American influence and power
- Marx was an intellectual, therefore the masses may be more prone to listen to his
ideologies
Stalinism - The ideologies and policies adopted by Stalin, based on centralisation,
totalitarianism, and pursuit of communism
- Stalinism in one country for world DOMINATION; everyone will look to Russia as the
perfect model
Why Hitler was a threat to Russia - - Fascism vs Communism; polar opposites
American capitalism - - Based on ideas of 'laissez faire', an economic system in which
transactions between priv. parties are free from government intervention
Isolationism (American foreign policy) - America became a country in its own right after
defeating British/Europ. IMPERIALIST powers, there they isolate themselves into
America to stop any European interference
The Monroe Doctrine (1823) - Isolationism or start of American imperialism for
'protection'?
- Foreign policy regarding *Latin America* in which further attempts of nations
colonising states in North or South A. would require US intervention
- US would also not interfere w existing European colonies
Manifest Destiny - Belief that the US was destined to expand across the North American
(Mexico+Canada) continent
, - Mission to spread capitalist institutions thereby redeeming and remaking the world in
the image of the USA
- The destiny *under God* to do this work
Woodrow Wilson - - President through WWI
- Promoted a foreign policy which obligated the US to spread global *democracy*
- Promoted the formation of the *League of Nations* but was unable to obtain US
acceptance
FDR's ideas - - Thought peace was possible after WW2; died after Yalta, before
Potsdam
- The possibility of the idea of four global policemen, keeping order within their spheres
of influence
- Isolationism was over; USA had to prevent further issues
- USSR was growing as a global power, couldn't be overlooked
Ideological Conflict Pre-1945 - - Bolshevists threatened capitalism, so B + US
intervened in Russian Civil War
- West did not recognise USSR as a legitimate state (until '33) or admit it to League of
Nations following WWI
- USSR foreign policy was consistently anti-Capitalist
Why was Europe so important? - - Most economically productive + industrially advanced
region of the world
- Wars, revolutions and violence *characterised* European history
Germany - - Europe's most economically developed country
- Industrial and cultural *powerhouse*
- Was literally CENTRAL to power in Europe; whoever controls Germany controls
Europe
Poland - - Created by the Allies after WWI; parts of Russia and Germany
- WW2 started when UK and France declared war on N. Germany to protect Poland's
independence
Power Vacuum - A lack of centralised political authority
- Germany became one after being liberated
- Left the USA and USSR competing to fill the void
Marriage of convenience - - The Grand Alliance were unified by the common purpose of
bringing about the *defeat* of Nazi Germany
Geopolitical shifts by end of 1944 - - Britain recognised their world influence was in
*decline*
- The USSR would be the emerging superpower postwar + had political leverage in
postwar agreements
Notes Section One Exam Question and
Answer
The Cold War - A conflict between two OPPOSING ideologies, capitalism and
communism, fought between the USSR and the USA
The Cold War (definiton 2) - A state of geopolitical tension after WW2 between the
powers of the Western and Eastern Bloc, pursed primarily through economic and
political actions
Soft power (American tactic) - Not using military force to influence people; often
portrayed themselves at the best through major aspects of society (e.g movies, media
etc)
The West fears communism because - - It spreads and could lead to a world revolution
where capitalism is OVERTHROWN
- This would lead to a loss of American influence and power
- Marx was an intellectual, therefore the masses may be more prone to listen to his
ideologies
Stalinism - The ideologies and policies adopted by Stalin, based on centralisation,
totalitarianism, and pursuit of communism
- Stalinism in one country for world DOMINATION; everyone will look to Russia as the
perfect model
Why Hitler was a threat to Russia - - Fascism vs Communism; polar opposites
American capitalism - - Based on ideas of 'laissez faire', an economic system in which
transactions between priv. parties are free from government intervention
Isolationism (American foreign policy) - America became a country in its own right after
defeating British/Europ. IMPERIALIST powers, there they isolate themselves into
America to stop any European interference
The Monroe Doctrine (1823) - Isolationism or start of American imperialism for
'protection'?
- Foreign policy regarding *Latin America* in which further attempts of nations
colonising states in North or South A. would require US intervention
- US would also not interfere w existing European colonies
Manifest Destiny - Belief that the US was destined to expand across the North American
(Mexico+Canada) continent
, - Mission to spread capitalist institutions thereby redeeming and remaking the world in
the image of the USA
- The destiny *under God* to do this work
Woodrow Wilson - - President through WWI
- Promoted a foreign policy which obligated the US to spread global *democracy*
- Promoted the formation of the *League of Nations* but was unable to obtain US
acceptance
FDR's ideas - - Thought peace was possible after WW2; died after Yalta, before
Potsdam
- The possibility of the idea of four global policemen, keeping order within their spheres
of influence
- Isolationism was over; USA had to prevent further issues
- USSR was growing as a global power, couldn't be overlooked
Ideological Conflict Pre-1945 - - Bolshevists threatened capitalism, so B + US
intervened in Russian Civil War
- West did not recognise USSR as a legitimate state (until '33) or admit it to League of
Nations following WWI
- USSR foreign policy was consistently anti-Capitalist
Why was Europe so important? - - Most economically productive + industrially advanced
region of the world
- Wars, revolutions and violence *characterised* European history
Germany - - Europe's most economically developed country
- Industrial and cultural *powerhouse*
- Was literally CENTRAL to power in Europe; whoever controls Germany controls
Europe
Poland - - Created by the Allies after WWI; parts of Russia and Germany
- WW2 started when UK and France declared war on N. Germany to protect Poland's
independence
Power Vacuum - A lack of centralised political authority
- Germany became one after being liberated
- Left the USA and USSR competing to fill the void
Marriage of convenience - - The Grand Alliance were unified by the common purpose of
bringing about the *defeat* of Nazi Germany
Geopolitical shifts by end of 1944 - - Britain recognised their world influence was in
*decline*
- The USSR would be the emerging superpower postwar + had political leverage in
postwar agreements
