Course Content
7.1.1 The end of the Second World War
The end of the Second World War: Yalta and Potsdam Conferences; the division of Germany; contrasting attitudes and ideologies of the USA and the USSR, including the aims of Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, Attlee and Truman; effect of the dropping of the atom bomb on post-war superpower relations.
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Overview
Contrasting Ideologies: Capitalism vs Communism
The Yalta Conference (February 1945)
The Potsdam Conference (July–August 1945)
The Division of Germany
The Aims of the Key Leaders
The Atomic Bomb and Superpower Relations
Why Did the Cold War Begin?
Quick Summary
Key Terms
7.1.2 The Iron Curtain and the Evolution of East-West rivalry
The Iron Curtain and the evolution of East-West rivalry: Soviet expansion in East Europe; US policies; the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, their purpose and Stalin’s reaction; Cominform; Comecon; Yugoslavia; the Berlin Blockade and Airlift.
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Overview
Key Terms
The Iron Curtain
Soviet Expansion in Eastern Europe
The Truman Doctrine (1947)
The Marshall Plan (1947)
Cominform (1947)
Comecon (1949)
Yugoslavia and Tito
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948–49)
Why Did East–West Rivalry Increase?
Quick Summary
7.2.1 The significance of events in Asia for superpower relations
The significance of events in Asia for superpower relations: USSR's support for Mao Tse-tung and Communist revolution in China, and the military campaigns waged by North Korea against the UN and by the Vietcong against France and the USA.
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Overview
Key Terms
Communist Revolution in China
Why Was Communist China Important?
The Korean War (1950–53)
Why Was the Korean War Important?
Vietnam and the Cold War
The Vietcong and War Against the USA
Why Were Asian Events Important for Superpower Relations?
Quick Summary
7.2.2 Military rivalries
Military rivalries: the arms race; membership and purposes of NATO and the Warsaw Pact; the space race, including Sputnik, ICBMs, Polaris, Gagarin, Apollo.
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Overview
Key Terms
The Arms Race
Nuclear Weapons
ICBMs and Polaris
NATO
The Warsaw Pact
The Space Race
Yuri Gagarin
Apollo and the Moon Landing
Why Were Military Rivalries Important?
Quick Summary
7.2.3 The ‘Thaw’
The ‘Thaw’: Hungary, the protest movement and the reforms of Nagy; Soviet fears, how they reacted and the effects on the Cold War; the U2 Crisis and its effects on the Paris Peace Summit and the peace process.
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Overview
Key Terms
Why Did the ‘Thaw’ Begin?
Khrushchev’s De-Stalinisation
The Hungarian Uprising (1956)
Soviet Reaction to Hungary
Effects of Hungary on the Cold War
The U2 Crisis (1960)
The Paris Peace Summit (1960)
Why Was the U2 Crisis Important?
Why Was the ‘Thaw’ Limited?
Quick Summary
7.3.1 Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall: reasons for its construction and Kennedy’s response.
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Overview
Key Terms
Why Was Berlin a Problem?
The Refugee Problem
Khrushchev’s Demands
Construction of the Berlin Wall
Reasons for the Berlin Wall
Kennedy’s Response
Kennedy in Berlin
Effects of the Berlin Wall
Why Was the Berlin Wall Important?
Quick Summary
7.3.2 Tensions over Cuba
Tensions over Cuba: Castro’s revolution, the Bay of Pigs and the missile crisis: the roles of Castro, Khrushchev, Kennedy; fears of the USA and reaction to missiles on Cuba; dangers and results of crisis.
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Overview
Key Terms
Castro’s Revolution in Cuba
Why Did the USSR Support Cuba?
The Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Roles of Key Leaders
The Cuban Missile Crisis: 13 Days of Danger
The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Dangers
Results of the Crisis
Why Was the Cuban Missile Crisis Important?
Quick Summary
7.3.3 Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia: Dubeck and the Prague Spring movement; USSR’s response to the reforms; the effects the Prague Spring had on East-West relations, including the Warsaw Pact; the Brezhnev Doctrine.
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Overview
Key Terms
Czechoslovakia Before 1968
Alexander Dubček
The Prague Spring Reforms
Soviet Fears
USSR Response to the Prague Spring
Reaction in Czechoslovakia
The Brezhnev Doctrine
Effects on East–West Relations
Effects on the Warsaw Pact
Why Was the Prague Spring Important?
Quick Summary
7.3.4 Easing of Tension
Easing of tension: sources of tension, including the Soviets' record on human rights; the reasons for Détente and for SALT 1; the part played by key individuals Brezhnev and Nixon.
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From Crisis to Cooperation
What Was Détente?
Sources of Tension Before Détente
Why Did Détente Develop?
Brezhnev and Nixon
SALT 1
Reasons for SALT 1
What Did SALT 1 Achieve?
Human Rights and the USSR
Effects of Détente
Why Was Détente Important?
Quick Summary
Key Terms
GCSE AQA Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972

From Allies to Rivals

During the Second World War, the USA, Britain and the USSR worked together to defeat Nazi Germany. However, this alliance was based more on necessity than friendship.

Once Germany was defeated in 1945, old disagreements quickly returned. The USA believed in capitalism and democracy, while the USSR believed in communism and dictatorship. Both superpowers feared the influence and intentions of the other.

These tensions gradually developed into the Cold War — a long period of hostility and rivalry between the USA and the USSR from around 1945 to 1991.

The Cold War was called “cold” because the two superpowers never fought each other directly in a full-scale war. Instead, they competed through propaganda, arms races, spies and conflicts in other countries.

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