How did relations change between US and USSR 1945-49?

Answer 1

Stalin was dying and therefore the people of Russia lost hope in him. They looked to a new leader and the U.S. did not see that they wanted peace, because after WWII Stalin proclaimed that War with the US was inevitable. Stalin fled to Switzerland because he felt that a military coup was coming. Being Stalin he was correct of course, and the US granted him diplomatic immunity to enter the US under a agreement that he could be treated for his disease and in turn give up information regarding the Soviet Union's defense systems. The new Militaristic government pushed for a industrialization and ultimately Nuclear Weapons causing the Cold war.

Answer 2

The first reason is that Roosevelt's death in April 1945 brought an end to any superficial unity that still existed at the end of World War 2 in 1943. Truman was now the American President, and relations between him and Stalin were deteriorating very quickly indeed, especially when Stalin was such a determined character and Truman was less willing to compromise, compared to Roosevelt.

The second reason is that America had developed the atomic bomb in June 1945. This played a major part in the change in Truman's attitude at the Potsdam Conference in the same year. The successful development of the atomic bomb had lifted Truman on his high horse, and this links back to his attitude that clashed with Stalin. Now Truman was even more arrogant, and as a result, it made Stalin even more determined to get his way.

The third reason is that as a result of Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech, the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid, Stalin had responded to these by forcing communism on Eastern Europe, then Comecon and Cominform, and hence the Berlin Crisis. This point marks the peak of the Cold War when relations between the USSR and the USA were at their worst. This was because of the Berlin Blockade, when America had humiliated Stalin so devastatingly, with Stalin on the verge between firing at the airplanes, or ignoring them and keeping the blockade up. This is another example of Stalin's stubborn nature, as seen in the Potsdam Conference mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Finally, the fourth and last reason is that as a result of the Berlin Crisis, President Truman had signed the NATO agreement in 1949, which was a clear union of America and Western Europe against the USSR and Eastern Europe, and most importantly, against Communism. This made Stalin furious, and he responded in defence with the Warsaw Pact in 1955. This move shows that he is not to be outdone, and hence here at the peak of tension and conflict from 1943-56 we see the complete change that has occurred in the relation between the two powers.

Answer 3

This era became known as the Cold War, which lasted well until the end of the Berlin Wall.

In simplest terms, America had powerful weapons, and Russia had powerful weapons, so they had an arms race, with America ultimately "winning".

(Arms race for the biggest, baddest guns. First the A-Bomb, then the Hydrogen Bombs)

IMPORTANT EVENTS/PEOPLE FROM COLD WAR;

pigs bay invasion -

Cuban missile crisis -

STALIN AND HIS DEATH -

President Kennedy -

Khrushchev

Answer 4

1959 - Castro takes over Cuba

1961 - Bay of Pigs

1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, both sides were fearful of MAD (Mutually assured destruction) so this paved the way for a period of detente (relaxation in tensions)

1963 - Agreement on Prevention of Nuclear War

1960's - Vietnam War, USA tired of fighting and sought peaceful relations with China in an attempt to ensure they could leave whilst saving face on the international stage

1968 - Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty (both states agreed not to pass on nuclear secrets)

1969 - Willy Brandt and Ostpolitik, the beginning of European detente with the USSR, which would decrease their reliance on the USA for protection.

Ultimately it changed due to the growth in triangular diplomacy (with China), the USSR and China split in 1960 due to Khrushchev's policy of peaceful coexistence with the USA. This meant that the USA tried to seek an alliance with China under Nixon in 1962, the USSR feared a transatlantic alliance between China and the USA so sought detente to ameliorate (reduce conflict).

Apart from China :

Relations changed due to Cuban Missile Crisis as both sides feared nuclear war

Growth in European detente

Berlin Crisis of 1958 symbolised a hotspot and potential for confrontation which must be avoided and can be linked to the Berlin Agreement of 1971 which solved the issue.

However it could be argued that after Nixon (Watergate Scandal 64) other presidents were less committed to detente

Brezhnev became leader in Oct 64 and created the Brezhnev doctrine justifying intervention in Czechoslovakia in order to 'save socialism'. Can link this to Truman Doctrine of March 47.

Answer 5

In 1957 The soviet union launched the first ever satellite to orbit the earth, Sputnik 1. The launch of Sputnik 1 surprised the Us because they thought that they were ahead in space technology after 2 failed attempts. Also, this motivated the Americans into achieving the next step, First man to the moon. So a new race emerged between the two nations called "The Sputnik Crisis". This probably worsened relations due to competition.

After the Sputnik crisis there were

. The Death of John F Kennedy.

. The Cuban Missiles Crisis

. The Prague Spring (Invasion of Czechoslovakia)

. The Berlin wall Crisis

I think the Cuban missiles crisis should be mentioned in more detail. The reason is that this crisis alone marked a high point in the cold war. There was a high chance of a nuclear war breaking out in Cuba. However, a war never started as both countries were shocked and did not want to experience this high level of brinkmanship. Also, President Kennedy and Khrushchev agreed to communicate using the "Hotline" which was a telephone line. A limited test ban treaty was also made, banning the tests of nuclear weapons except underground tests. So overall, The Cuban missiles crisis worsened relations to a point that both sides can agree with each other so the relations of both countries eased out a lot.

In 1969 The American President and The Russian Premier signed a treaty called SALT i (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty). This meant that both sides cannot make any more strategic ballistic missiles and reducing the number of nuclear weapons. The significance of the treaty was to talk to each other about reducing weapons, leading to better relationships between the two countries.

Answer 6

The Soviets tested their first A-bomb in 1949.

Answer 7

End of WW11