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First Dollar Diplomacy
USSR had 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. This led to Soviet's failure to join the IMF and World Bank later in that year. -
Period: to
Origins of the Cold War
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YaltaConference
Western allies made demands that compromise the Soviet’s control over Poland. Stalin read this as the Western allies going back on the earlier promises with regard to the Soviet’s sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. (Polish Question, German Question) -
Death of Franklin Roosevelt
Signaled a change in US foreign policy with ascension of Truman into Presidency -
Termination of Lend-Lease
Soviets' need for capital was made more desperate thus there was a further request for a $1 billion loan. However, this request was 'lost' by the US State Department, further increasing the Soviet conviction that the US was unwilling to collaborate in post-war. -
Turkey
The Soviets had been demanding for access to the Straits of Dardanelles on 2 occasions on June 1945 and August 1946 respectively. -
Potsdam Conference
Atomic Diplomacy: Truman offered Stalin information about the atomic bomb in return for the reorganisation of Soviet-controlled government in Bulgaria and Romania. However, Soviets were not intimidated, but sped up their own atomic programme. -
Soviets in Korea
(not sure of date - Aug 1945) Soviet troops moved cross the Russian border into North Korea to take over from the Japanese. US was worried about Soviet intentions in Korea and quickly sent troops to occupy South Korea. -
Soviets in Manchuria
Recognised the KMT government as the legitimate government but handed Japanese weapons to CCP units and allowed them to establish foothold in Manchuria and northern China. This is because CCP might prove useful allies in the event of a US-Soviet breakdown in relations. America reacted by sending 50,000 US Marines to north China to secure key communication centres, road, rail routes and help transport KMT armies to the area. This had severe implications on the levels of trust between US and USSR. -
The Baruch Plan
(not sure of date) The plan concerned the frequent inspection of atomic energy installations in UN member states part of the effort to regulate atomic enegy. However, while the plan demanded for the provision of Soviet information about their level of research and development, it allowed for the retaining of American atomic capability. Soviets used their veto in the Security Council to prevent any discussion about it. Represents the fact that US no longer sincere in cooperating with Soviets. -
Soviet failure to join the IMF and World Bank
(not sure of date - Dec 1945) The impact of American dollar diplomacy as well as other indicators of American refusal to aid in Soviet economic reconstruction led to the Soviet failure to join the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank - organisations which the US hoped would help reconstruct and create a new global economy. -
Second Dollar Diplomacy
(not sure of date - early 1946) US imposed conditions of dropping trade barriers in Eastern Europe and compensation for US assets seized in Romania and Bulgaria on a request by the Soviets for a loan. This led to the end of all negotiations later in that year. -
Kennan's Long Telegramme
Kennan’s analysis of the Soviet’s foreign policies where the Soviet and its ideology was seen as suspicious and aggressive. -
Greek Civil War
9not sure of date) The Greek civil war and the involvement of the Greek communists made the US fear Soviet involvement, Tito's control over Yugoslavia and the presene of Soviet occupation armies in the Balkan states increased this fear. -
Soviets in Iran
The Iranian government requested the occupation forces to withdraw by March 1946. However, even with the other two Allies’ forces departed, the Soviet forces still remained in place. -
Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech
Some of the themes discussed in the Long Telegramme and privately discussed by the officials were now aired in public for the first time. Hardened the attitude of the American public. Stalin then called Churchill a warmonger and accused him of trying to start WW2. However, no concrete follow up action by Stalin. -
The Clifford-Elsey Report
(not sure of date) The report highlighted examples of Soviet aggression in Iran and Manchuria, as well as identified ideology and not security concerns as the driver of Soviet foreign policy. Reflects the US perception of the USSR which had crystallised by this point of time. Justified the US perspective of the Soviets. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was the first public declaration by the US that they would step in to deal with Soviet aggression. Truman had insisted that if Greece and Turkey did not receive the aid they needed, they would inevitably fall to communism due to the result of a domino effect of acceptance of communism throughout the region. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan aims to restore economic stability and hence political stability in Western Europe. The plan’s primary motive was to create a captive European market for American goods. USSR’s initial willingness to cooperate at this point of time was highlighted by the sending of a 100-man delegation, headed by Molotov, to participate in the discussion about the plan. However, Stalin’s willingness was challenged as US attempted to create their own economic empire in Eastern Europe. -
Molotov Plan
(unsure of real date) The Soviets saw the Marshall Plan as the US’ attempt to create an American economic empire in Eastern Europe. In response, they came up with Molotov Plan for Eastern Europe to provide aid to the countries that were politically and economically alligned to the Soviet Union. -
Start of Berlin Blockade
The Western powers decided to introduce new currency (Duetsche Mark) in their zone and West Berlin. However, Stalin interpreted it as the establishment of a new Germany in the West, hence he blocked all the roads and rail routes to Berlin. -
Formation of NATO
Following the Berlin Blockade, there was an increasing feeling of military insecurity in Southern, Western and Northern Europe, which contributed to the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). This contributed to a military divide in Europe given Soviet's response of the creation of the Warsaw Pact. -
End of Berlin Bockade
The West responded to the blockade by organising an airlift supplies into Berlin. This increased their feelings of military insecurity. Eventually, Stalin was forced to concede defeat and he lifted the blockade. -
Warsaw Pact
Soviet’s version of military alliance with other Eastern European states in response to the formation of NATO.
