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The Beginning of the Cold War

History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 4.3.1

The Beginning of the Cold War

The Cold War began after WWII due to tensions between the USA and USSR.

End of the grand alliance

End of the grand alliance

  • The USA, USSR, and UK formed the grand alliance during WWII to defeat Germany.
  • The grand alliance ended in 1945 when wartime cooperation declined.
  • The USA wanted democracy; the USSR wanted to spread communism.
  • The grand alliance ended as distrust grew between the USA and USSR.
The iron fist and Soviet power

The iron fist and Soviet power

  • The USSR used an 'iron fist' to control Eastern Europe after WWII.
  • The iron fist meant strict control and no free elections in Soviet-occupied states.
  • The iron fist increased Western fears of Soviet expansion.
  • The iron fist caused tension between the USA and USSR.
The Clifford-Elsey Report

The Clifford-Elsey Report

  • The USA created the Clifford-Elsey Report in 1946.
  • The Clifford-Elsey Report warned of Soviet plans to expand communism worldwide.
  • The Clifford-Elsey Report influenced US policy on the Soviet Union.
  • The Clifford-Elsey Report increased US suspicion and preparedness.
Communist parties worldwide

Communist parties worldwide

  • Communist parties gained strength after WWII in many countries.
  • Communist parties aimed to spread Soviet influence globally.
  • Communist parties worried the USA and its allies.
  • Communist parties in Eastern Europe strengthened Soviet control.
The Greece civil war

The Greece civil war

  • Greece fought a civil war from 1946 to 1949 between the government and the communists.
  • The UK first supported Greece against the communists but stopped in 1947.
  • The USA feared Greece's fall to communism would spread Soviet power.
  • The Greece civil war was a test of Cold War tensions.
The Truman Doctrin

The Truman Doctrin

  • President Truman announced the Truman Doctrine in 1947.
  • The Truman Doctrine promised USA support to countries resisting communism.
  • The USA gave aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent Soviet control.
  • The Truman Doctrine marked the start of active US Cold War policy.

Test yourself on The Beginning of the Cold War

  • What effect did the Clifford-Elsey Report have on US policy?

  • What was the USSR’s 'iron fist' policy in Eastern Europe?

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