Attitudes of Truman & Stalin
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 4.1.6
Attitudes of Truman and Stalin
Truman and Stalin did not believe that their ideologies could coexist in peace.
Stalin
- Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union.
- Stalin had come to power in 1928 after a power struggle following Lenin’s death.
- Stalin was a dictator of a totalitarian state.
- As a person, Stalin was paranoid and had a security complex.
- This contributed to his fear that the US would destroy communism.
- Stalin’s ambition was to dominate Eastern Europe.
- This can be seen in his ‘salami tactics’.
Truman
- Truman was the President of the United States from 1945 to 1953.
- Truman was a staunch anti-communist.
- Truman was more belligerent (aggressive) to Stalin than his predecessor, Roosevelt.
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