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AQA A-Level History - The Cold War Notes
Section One Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
The Cold War
Ans: A conflict between two OPPOSING ideologies, capitalism and
communism, fought between the USSR and the USA
The Cold War (definiton 2)
Ans: 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)
Ans: 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
Ans: - 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
Ans: 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
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
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Why Hitler was a threat to Russia
Ans: - Fascism vs Communism; polar opposites
American capitalism
Ans: - Based on ideas of 'laissez faire', an economic system in which transactions
between priv. parties are free from government intervention
Isolationism (American foreign policy)
Ans: 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)
Ans: 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
Ans: 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
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
AQA A-Level History - The Cold War Notes
Section One Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
The Cold War
Ans: A conflict between two OPPOSING ideologies, capitalism and
communism, fought between the USSR and the USA
The Cold War (definiton 2)
Ans: 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)
Ans: 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
Ans: - 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
Ans: 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
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Why Hitler was a threat to Russia
Ans: - Fascism vs Communism; polar opposites
American capitalism
Ans: - Based on ideas of 'laissez faire', an economic system in which transactions
between priv. parties are free from government intervention
Isolationism (American foreign policy)
Ans: 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)
Ans: 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
Ans: 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
© 2025/ 2026 | ® All rights reserved
