The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 4.1.5
The Ideological Differences Between the Superpowers
Ideological differences (differences in political ideas) between the USA and Soviet Union led to emerging tension and distrust. A ‘Cold War’ refers to a conflict fought in every way except direct fighting between the 2 sides.
Truman and the USA
- Harry S. Truman became president of the USA after Roosevelt’s death in April 1945.
- He was less sympathetic towards the communist dictatorship in the Soviet Union.
- Roosevelt had held the alliance together and after his death. Truman’s approach was more hard-line.
Stalin and the Soviet Union
- Stalin was distrustful of Truman, who demanded lots of things at Potsdam (July–August 1945).
- He was angry that Truman had tested the atomic bomb before the conference without consulting him .
- However, Stalin was already aware of the progress the USA was making.
- These tensions deepened the breakdown of wartime cooperation.
Churchill and Britain
- Churchill believed that a defeated Germany should be rebuilt, but Stalin wanted to weaken it through reparations.
- Churchill suspected that Soviet troops would not leave the Eastern European countries that they had “liberated”.
- Britain’s economy had been severely impacted by the war, and it could not act against the Soviet Union on its own.
- As a result, Britain aligned more closely with the USA, leading to the division of Europe that became the Cold War.
Capitalism vs communism
- The Soviet Union supported communism, whilst the USA and Britain supported capitalism.
- Communism: The government owns property and businesses, aiming for equality and state control of the economy.
- Capitalism: Individuals and businesses own property, aiming for profit through competition and private enterprise.
- The two systems were incompatible, as each side believed its ideology was the best model for peace and progress.
Test yourself on The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance
Which of the below is true about the leaders' attitudes in the post-war world?
Why was Stalin angry with Truman?