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The USSR asked for a $6 billion loan from the US. The US immediately imposed conditions of the opening of Eastern European markets to US manufactured products.
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The Yalta Agreement took place. Inclusion of London Poles inside Lublin Commitee and free Polish elections to be held. Stalin signed the Declaration of Liberated Europe which pledged free elections and democratic institutions.
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The Polish Issue led to Roosevelt doubting for the first time the possibility of postwar cooperation with the Soviets,
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A further request for a $1 billion loan by the USSR was 'lost' by the US State Department, further increasing the Soviet conviction that the US was unwilling to collaborate in postwar economic reconstruction.
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50 000 US Marines were sent to north China to secure key communications centres, rail routes and help transport KMT armies to the area.
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The impact of American dollar diplomacy and other indicators of American refusal to aid in Soviet economic reconstruction led to the Soviet failure to join the IMF and the World Bank.
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Impact on US policymakers. Decisive factor in Truman administration's change of course to a policy of firmness towards the USSR.
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All negotiations over loans ended.
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Reflects the US perception of the USSR which had crystallised by this point in time. It acted as a justification for the US perspective of the Soviets.
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First American declaration that they would step in to deal with Soviet aggression. Laid the foundation for the Marshall Plan in June 1947.
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Sovietisation in Romania and Bulgarira took place, however it was not Soviet aggression.
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Czechoslovakian coup - Czech communists staged coup while the Red Army amassed outside Czech borders. US perceived the Czech coup as Soviet aggression.The coup had a catalytic effect on the decision of Congress in passing the Marshall Plan.
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Announced June 1947. The Plan's primary motive was political - to contain communism. The secondary motive was to create a captive European market for American goods. Cemented the economic schism in Europe because the Soviets reacted with the Molotov Plan.
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The blockade came close to the first armed clash between the two sides represented a point where the CW might have turned hot. Increased the feeling of military insecurity. Ended any hope of agreement between East and West over Germany, Germany split.
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Berlin Blockade accelerated the formation of NATO in 1949. NATO began the military spilt, but remained nothing more than a political association until the KW of 1950. Importance limited.
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In response to the West German entry into NATO in Oct 1954. Formalised this schism militarily.