EDEXCEL IGCSE History Revision Checklist: Paper 1...
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EDEXCEL IGCSE History Revision Checklist: Paper 1: Superpower Relations: 1945-1962 Use this revision checklist to help you keep track of all the topics you need to revise for your exam. You need to have a confident grasp of the subject knowledge about each event. Try revising facts and key features about each event and recalling the key points and details on paper. Try to answer at least one exam question for each event. When you feel confident enough, progress onto the next event. Key Question 1 Topics You should be able to: Check list Exam Questions Check list What were the causes of the Cold War? Long-term Rivalries Describe the differences between Capitalism and Communism. Describe why Capitalist countries feared Communism. C.) Why had the wartime alliance between the USA and the Soviet Union broken down by the end of 1946? Explain your answer (8 marks). Differences during the Second World War Describe why actions during the War led to mistrust between the Allies. Describe why the USSR controlled Eastern Europe immediately after WW2. Yalta Conference Feb 1945 Describe the reasons why the conference was called. Describe who represented each nation at the conference. Describe what was agreed at the conference. Describe how the conference effected relations between the USA and USSR. B.) Describe one effect of the Yalta Conference on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks). C.) Why did relations between the USA and USSR change in the period between the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences? Explain your answer (8 marks). Potsdam Conference Jul-Aug 1945 Describe the reasons why the conference was called. Describe who represented each nation at the conference. Describe what was agreed at the conference. Describe how the conference affected relations between the USA and USSR. B.) Describe one effect of the Potsdam Conference on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks). C.) Why did the USA and USSR disagree at the Potsdam Conference in July 1945? Explain your answer. C.) Why did Truman take a much tougher line with Stalin at Potsdam than Roosevelt had at Yalta? Explain your answer (8 marks). The Long Telegram 1946 Describe what the Telegram said about the USSR. Describe what Novikov’s Telegram said about the USA. Describe how the two telegrams increased tensions between the Superpowers. B.) Describe one effect of Kennan’s Long Telegram on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks). Iron Curtain Speech Mar 1946 Describe what Churchill said in his speech. Describe how Stalin reacted to the speech. Describe how the speech affected relations between the Superpowers. B.) Describe one effect of Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks). C.) Why did Churchill give his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in March 1946? Explain your answer (8 marks).
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Transcript of EDEXCEL IGCSE History Revision Checklist: Paper 1...
EDEXCEL IGCSE History Revision Checklist: Paper 1: Superpower Relations: 1945-1962
Use this revision checklist to help you keep track of all the topics you need to revise for your exam. You need to have a confident grasp of the subject knowledge
about each event. Try revising facts and key features about each event and recalling the key points and details on paper. Try to answer at least one exam
question for each event. When you feel confident enough, progress onto the next event.
Key Question
1 Topics You should be able to:
Checklist
Exam Questions Check
list
What were the causes of the Cold War?
Long-term Rivalries
Describe the differences between Capitalism and Communism.
Describe why Capitalist countries feared Communism.
C.) Why had the wartime alliance between the USA and the Soviet Union broken down by the end of 1946? Explain
your answer (8 marks).
Differences during the
Second World War
Describe why actions during the War led to mistrust between the Allies.
Describe why the USSR controlled Eastern Europe immediately after WW2.
Yalta Conference Feb 1945
Describe the reasons why the conference was called.
Describe who represented each nation at the conference.
Describe what was agreed at the conference.
Describe how the conference effected relations between the USA and USSR.
B.) Describe one effect of the Yalta Conference on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks).
C.) Why did relations between the USA and USSR change in
the period between the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences? Explain your answer (8 marks).
Potsdam Conference
Jul-Aug 1945
Describe the reasons why the conference was called.
Describe who represented each nation at the conference.
Describe what was agreed at the conference.
Describe how the conference affected relations between the USA and USSR.
B.) Describe one effect of the Potsdam Conference on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks).
C.) Why did the USA and USSR disagree at the Potsdam
Conference in July 1945? Explain your answer.
C.) Why did Truman take a much tougher line with Stalin at Potsdam than Roosevelt had at Yalta? Explain your answer
(8 marks).
The Long Telegram
1946
Describe what the Telegram said about the USSR.
Describe what Novikov’s Telegram said about the USA.
Describe how the two telegrams increased tensions between the Superpowers.
B.) Describe one effect of Kennan’s Long Telegram on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks).
Iron Curtain Speech
Mar 1946
Describe what Churchill said in his speech.
Describe how Stalin reacted to the speech.
Describe how the speech affected relations between the Superpowers.
B.) Describe one effect of Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks).
C.) Why did Churchill give his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in March
1946? Explain your answer (8 marks).
Key Question 2
Topics You should be able to: Checklist Exam Questions Checklist
How did the Cold War develop
1945-1949?
The Truman Doctrine
Mar 1947
Describe the reasons for the Truman Doctrine.
Describe what the Doctrine stated.
Describe the effect of the Doctrine on Superpower relations.
C.) Why was the Truman Doctrine announced in March 1947? Explain your answer (8 marks).
The Marshall Plan
Jun 1947
Describe why the USA launched the Marshall Plan.
Describe what the Plan hoped to do.
Describe the effect of the Plan on Superpower Relations.
B.) Describe one effect of the Marshall Plan on relations between the USA and Soviet Union (4
marks).
Creation of Satellite States
1947-1949
Describe what a satellite state is.
Describe how and why Stalin created satellite states in Eastern Europe.
C.) Why did Stalin create Satellite States in
Eastern Europe in the years 1945-1949? Explain your answer (8 marks).
COMINFORM Sep 1947
Describe why Stalin created COMINFORM.
Describe how COMINFORM strengthened Stalin’s control of Eastern Europe.
C.) Why did the USSR establish COMINFORM in September 1947? Explain your answer (8
marks).
COMECON Jan 1949
Describe why Stalin created COMECON.
Describe how COMECON strengthened Stalin’s control of Eastern Europe.
C.) Why did Stalin launch COMECON in 1949?
Explain your answer (8 marks).
The Berlin Blockade and
Airlift 1948-1949
Describe the causes, events and effects of the Berlin Blockade.
Describe how the Blockade effected Superpower Relations.
C.) Why was there a crisis over Berlin in the
years 1948-49? Explain your answer (8 marks).
NATO Apr 1949
Describe why NATO was created.
Describe what NATO was designed to do.
Describe how the creation of NATO effected relations between the USA and USSR.
C.) Why was the NATO alliance created in April 1949? Explain your answer (8 marks).
Key Question 3
Topics You should be able to: Checklist Exam Questions Checklist
How did the Cold War
develop in the 1950s?
The Korean War
1950-1953
Describe the causes, events and effects of the Korean War.
Describe the impact of the Korean War on Superpower Relations.
C.) Why was there a war over Korea in the years 1950-1953? Explain
your answer (8 marks).
The Arms Race Describe how the arms race started.
Describe how the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 increased the arms race.
B.) Describe one effect of the Arms Race on relations between the USA
and Soviet Union (4 marks).
Warsaw Pact May 1955
Describe why the Warsaw Pact was created
Describe who the members of the Pact were.
Describe the impact of the Pact on Superpower Relations.
C.) Why did the USSR establish the Warsaw Pact in May 1955? Explain
your answer (8 marks).
Peaceful Coexistence
and De-Stalinisation
1956
Describe what peaceful co-existence means.
Describe what de-Stalinisation means.
Describe the impact of Khrushchev’s peaceful co-existence policy on Superpower Relations.
C.) Why had Khrushchev’s Policy of Peaceful Co-Existence ended by 1961? Explain your answer (8
marks).
The Hungarian Uprising
1956
Describe the causes, events and effects of the Hungarian Crisis.
Describe the impact of the Hungarian Uprising on Superpower Relations.
C.) Why did Warsaw Pact troops invade Hungary in November 1956?
Explain your answer (8 marks).
Key Question 4
Topics You should be able to: Checklist Exam Questions Checklist
How serious was the
Berlin Crisis?
The Berlin Issue
Describe why there was a crisis in Berlin 1949-1960.
Describe what talks were held to solve the issue in 1959.
C.) Why was there a crisis over Berlin in the years 1949-1961? Explain your
answer (8 marks).
The U2 Incident
May 1960 Describe what happened during the U2 incident.
B.) Describe one effect of the U2 Incident on relations between the USA
and Soviet Union (4 marks).
The Paris Summit
Conference May 1960
Describe how the U2 incident led to the Paris Summit walk-out by Khrushchev.
C.) Why did Khrushchev walk out of the Paris Summit in May 1960? Explain your answer (8 marks).
Vienna Summit
Conference Jun 1961
Describe what happened at the Vienna Conference.
B.) Describe one effect of the Vienna Summit Conference on relations
between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks).
Construction of the Berlin
Wall Aug 1961
Describe when, how and why the Berlin Wall was constructed.
Describe the impact of the construction of the Berlin Wall on Superpower Relations.
C.) Why did the USSR build the Berlin Wall in 1961? Explain your answer (8
marks).
Key Question 5
Topics You should be able to: Checklist Exam Questions Checklist
How serious was the Cuban
Missile Crisis?
The Cuban Revolution
1959 Describe the causes, events and effects of the Cuban Revolution.
C.) Why did the USA decide to launch the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961? Explain your answer
(8 marks).
B.) Describe one effect of the Bay of Pigs Invasion on relations between the USA and Soviet
Union (4 marks).
C.) Why was there a crisis over missiles in Cuba in 1962? Explain
your answer (8 marks).
B.) Describe one effect of the Cuban Missile Crisis on relations
between the USA and Soviet Union (4 marks).
Bay of Pigs Invasion Apr 1961
Describe why the USA launched the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Describe why the invasion failed.
Describe how the invasion strengthened relations between Cuba and the USSR.
Describe why the USSR agreed to station missiles on Cuba.
Key Events of the Crisis Oct 1962
Describe the key events of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Describe the deal that was made between Kennedy and Khrushchev
Impact on East-West Relations
Describe the impact and effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis on Superpower Relations.
Differences between communism
and capitalism
What is Communism and how is a communist nation organized both
economically and politically?
What were the long term reasons for Russian distrust of the United
States between 1917 and 1944?
What is capitalism and how is a capitalist nation organized both
economically and politically?
What were the long term reasons for American distrust of the Soviet
Union between 1917 and 1944?
Potsdam and Yalta Conferences
When, where and who met at each of the two conferences at Yalta and
Potsdam?
How did the relationship between the USA and the Soviet Union change
during and after the two conferences?
What did they agree upon and disagree upon at the Yalta Conference?
What did they agree upon and disagree upon at the Potsdam Conferenc?
Policy of Containment
Describe both the Long Telegram and the Iron Curtain speech and explain
how they helped form the policy of containment.
What was the long and short term results of the implementation of the
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plans?
What were Truman reasons for creating the Truman Doctrine and what
did it state?
What were Truman reasons for creating the Marshall Plan and what did
it state?
Salami Tactics
Why did Stalin want to control Eastern Europe and explain what is meant
by the term Buffer Zone.
What were the objectives of both Cominfom and Comecon and explain
why they were created.
Explain fully how Stalin was able put in place a puppet communist
government in Poland after World War Two?
Explain fully how Stalin was able put in place a puppet communist
government in Hungary after World War Two?
The Berlin Blockade
Describe the situation in Berlin before Stalin decided to put the blockade
in place, including explaining how it was divided.
How did the Berlin blockade impact on relations between the USA and
the Soviet Union?
What were the short term reasons behind Stalin’s decision to blockade
Berlin?
What was Operation Vittles and was it successful?
NATO and the Warsaw Pact
Why was NATO set up and what were its objectives?
What was the impact on American and Soviet Union relations after the
formation of the two alliances?
Why was the Warsaw Pact set up and what were its objectives?
Name the important nations in both NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
The Korean War
Explain how the Korean Peninsula had come to be divided along the 38th
Parallel and what were the names and leaders of each country?
What were the long and short term results of the Korean War for both
Korea and the relations between the USA and the Soviet Union?
What were the main causes of the outbreak of war in Korea and how did
the United Nations come to be involved?
Describe the main events of the Cold War and explain how each side
came to get the upper hand in the fighting.
The Arms and Space Races
Explain the different stages of the atomic and nuclear arms race and how
it threatened world peace.
Explain how both the Arms Race and the Space Race affects relations
between the USA and the Soviet Union.
Explain the race to put a satellite in orbit and why it was important for
both the USA and the Soviet Union.
What is Mutually Assured Destruction and how did it affect Cold War
relations?
The Hungarian Revolution
What were the results of Khruschev becoming Soviet premier including
de-Stalinization and peaceful coexistence?
What were the results of the revolution for the Hungarian people,
Khruschev and for America-Soviet relations?
What were the reasons for the mass protests during the Hungarian
revolution in 1956?
What were the main events of the revolution including the reaction of
Khruschev?
Failure of Peace Talks
Why did Khruschev and Eisenhower agree to meet in Paris in 1960 and
what were their aims?
Why did Khruschev agree to put up the Berlin Wall and how did the
Americans respond to it?
What happened during the U2 Spy plane incident and how it impact on
peace negotiations?
What happened during the Vienna peace summit of 1961?
The Cuban Revolution and America
What was the impact of the communist revolution in Cuba on America?
What was Operation Mongoose and explain any of its successes or
failures?
Describe the plan behind the Bay of Pigs invasion and why did Kennedy
agree to it?
What happened during the Bay of Pigs invasion and how did it affect the
American reputation globally?
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Why was there a crisis over the island of Cuba in 1962 and what were the
options open to Kennedy?
What were the long term results of the crisis and how did it impact on
American-Soviet relations in the Cold War?
Describe the 13 days of the crisis and the actions of both Kennedy and
Khruschev during this time.
How was the crisis finally resolved and who, if anyone, could be
considered the winner?
A10: Superpower Relations 1945-1962: Key Events
#
1.) The Yalta Conference – February 4th-11th 1945
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
USA led by
President
Roosevelt
UK led by
Prime
Minister
Winston
Churchill
USSR led
by Joseph
Stalin
War situation
had changed:
Germany was
close to defeat.
Discussions over
the post-war
world were
needed.
USA & UK
wanted USSR
to declare war
on Japan.
Needed to
agree a political
solution for
liberated
countries,
especially
Germany and
Poland.
Stalin agreed to declare war on Japan
within three months of the defeat of
Germany.
Compromise over Poland. All agreed to form
a Polish government pledged to hold ‘free
elections’. Borders of Poland also changed
– USSR gained land from Eastern Poland
whilst Poland would gain land from East
Germany.
The ‘Declaration on Liberated Europe’.
USA, USSR & UK commit to work for
democracy in Europe.
Allies agree to form the United Nations.
Germany and Berlin to be divided into four
zones of occupation between Britain,
France, USA and USSR.
Big Three restate their agreement that the
USSR should have a ‘sphere of influence’ in
Eastern Europe.
The talk of ‘democracy’ and ‘free
elections’ was interpreted differently
by USA and USSR. American free
speech vs. Stalin’s idea that communism
represented the people so no opposition
allowed.
Yalta raised false expectations in the
USA that Stalin would allow western-
style governments in Eastern Europe.
Stalin paid only lip service to idea of
‘free elections’ in Poland. In March, 16
leaders of the Polish resistance were
arrested by Stalin and never seen again.
Further talks over Poland achieved
nothing. USSR refused to allow pro-
western Poles into new government.
Soviet troops had captured most of
Eastern Europe. Stalin’s demand for a
‘sphere of influence’ had to be taken
seriously.
Knowing and understanding the key events from each topic is obviously essential. For
Section A topics like Superpower Relations, you need to be able to describe or explain the
causes, key features and consequences of each event. Make sure you study the following
list of key events as part of your revision:
2.) The Potsdam Conference – July 17th - Aug 2nd 1945
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
USA
represented
by
President
Harry S.
Truman
UK
represented
by Prime
Minister
Winston
Churchill &
Prime
Minister
Clement
Attlee
USSR
represented
by Joseph
Stalin
The war against
Nazi Germany was
over. Hitler was
dead. The Allies
needed to decide
how to disarm and
punish Germany.
A political solution
had to be reached
over the liberated
countries. The
Western Allies
now occupied the
whole of western
Europe. The Soviet
Red Army occupied
the whole of
eastern Europe.
Roosevelt had
died and Truman
was keen to meet
Stalin. He wanted
to be tougher with
Stalin over issues
like Poland.
A compromise was reached over war
reparations. Each ally would take
reparations from the zone they
occupied. USSR was also given industrial
equipment from Western zones in
return for raw materials.
Agreed to prosecute Nazi war
criminals.
Statement of aims of the occupation of
Germany by the Allies: demilitarisation,
denazification, democratisation,
decentralisation and decartelisation.
Details of the German-Polish border
were finally agreed.
The communist dominated Polish
Provisional Government of National
Unity was recognized by all three
powers.
Was confirmed that the Polish
Provisional Government of National
Unity would hold ‘free and fair
elections’ as soon as possible.
The terms of the surrender of Japan
were agreed. Japan had to agree
unconditional surrender or face ‘prompt
and utter destruction’.
The conference ended
without agreement on what
would happen to the newly
liberated states across
Europe. Both superpowers
were determined to keep
their half of Europe.
Truman’s attempt to assert
his authority by declaring a
‘powerful new weapon’ at the
conference only made Stalin
more determined to protect
the USSR. He saw this as a
threat from the USA. He
therefore wanted to create a
‘buffer zone’ in Eastern
Europe.
The USA and UK became
aware of their need to
confront communism in
Europe. Truman approved
Churchill’s 1946 ‘Iron Curtain’
speech, in which he said that
countries in the West were
free and countries in the East
were under communist control
behind an ‘Iron Curtain’.
3.) Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ Speech – March 1946
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
Former
UK
Prime
Minister
Winston
Churchill
who lost
power in
the
1945
general
election
By 1946 it became
clear that Europe
had been divided.
From 1945-1948,
Stalin rigged
elections to establish
communist
governments in
Poland, Hungary,
Bulgaria, Romania,
East Germany &
Czechoslovakia.
The West
responded to this
division with a war
of words, designed
to portray Stalin as a
power-hungry
dictator. Truman had
even compared Stalin
to Hitler.
Churchill gave a speech in the
presence of President Truman at
Westminster College, Fulton,
Missouri on 5th March 1946:
‘From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste
in the Adriatic an "Iron Curtain" has
descended across the continent.
Behind that line lie all the capitals of
the ancient states of Central and
Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin,
Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade,
Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous
cities and the populations around
them lie in what I must call the
Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in
one form or another, not only to
Soviet influence but to a very high
and in some cases increasing measure
of control from Moscow.’
The speech showed that both
sides now clearly viewed each
other as opponents. Stalin
responded by saying:
‘…Mr Churchill now adopts the
position of the warmonger, and in
this Mr Churchill is not alone. He
has friends not only in Britain but
in the USA as well. A point to be
noted in this respect is that Mr.
Churchill and his friends bear a
striking resemblance to Hitler
and his friends.’
This war of words led to both
sides initiating spying and
assessment reports on each
other to determine the thinking
of their opponents. This resulted
in the Long Telegram and
Novikov’s Telegram.
4.) The Long Telegram & Novikov’s Telegram – 1946
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
US
ambassador
to Moscow,
George F.
Kennan
Soviet
ambassador
to
Washington,
Nikolai
Novikov
Truman and
Stalin were
both keen to
understand
each other’s
intentions and
threats so
they both
commissioned
reports to be
written by
embassy staff.
Kennan responded to Truman with a telegram on 22nd
February 1946 that reported:
The USSR perceived itself to be at war with
capitalism.
There could be no peace with the USSR while it
was opposed to capitalism.
The USSR was rebuilding its military.
Novikov responded to Stalin with a telegram on 27th
September that reported:
America wanted to dominate the world.
The USA was no longer interested in co-
operation.
The American public was being prepared for war
with the USSR by ‘capitalist elites’.
The telegrams made
both governments
feel that they were
facing the imminent
possibility of war.
The USA now
believed that the
USSR was planning
world domination
whilst the USSR
believed the same
about the USA.
These fears led the
USA to form the
‘Truman Doctrine’.
5.) The Truman Doctrine – March 1947
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
President
Truman of
the USA
George Kennan advised Truman
that the USA’s best hope was to
‘contain’ communism rather than
fight it on the battlefield.
Much of Europe was devastated
after the war and communism was
appealing. Truman was worried
about the Domino Theory: if
communism took over one country,
neighbouring countries were next
in line to be threatened.
In Feb 1947 the UK announced it
could no longer afford to pay
for troops in Greece and Turkey.
The US feared communism would
spread to these countries.
The Truman Doctrine stated that:
The world had choice between
communist tyranny and
democratic freedom.
America had a responsibility to
fight for liberty.
America would send troops and
money help governments against
communism.
Communism should not be
allowed to grow and spread and
should be ‘contained’.
Over the course of the Cold War,
the Truman doctrine provided arms
and money to defend Greece, Korea,
Cuba, Vietnam, Afghanistan and
South America.
The doctrine was significant
because it suggested that
America had the responsibility
to protect the world, not the
UN which marked an end to
USA’s traditional policy of
‘isolationism’.
The doctrine assumed that
Capitalism and Communism were
incompatible = the unofficial
start of the Cold War.
Truman was now committed to
a policy of ‘containment’.
US military aid to Greece
meant that the communists
were defeated in the Greek
Civil War in 1949.
6.) The Marshall Plan – June 1947
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
President
Truman of
the USA
George C.
Marshall,
US
Secretary
of State
Economic crisis in
Europe: food
shortages,
unemployment, food
rationing and
starvation. Communist
party support was
growing, especially in
France and Italy
where riots broke
out.
Truman knew that to
weaken the
attraction of
communism, he
needed to rebuild and
encourage prosperity
in Europe.
The USA decided to offer economic
aid to Europe, organised by US
Secretary of State General George
Marshall. Committed $13 billion
USD to rebuild the ruined
economies of Europe.
Countries had to agree free trade
agreements with the USA in order
to receive money. This would
benefit the American economy as
the US would provide the money
and goods needed to rebuild.
American money was made available
to eastern Europe and the USSR as
well. Stalin ordered Poland &
Czechoslovakia not to accept it.
European leaders met at the Paris
Conference of 1948 to discuss Marshall
Aid. The USSR walked out of the
conference as they believed the US was
trying to split Europe into two camps.
Stalin claimed that Marshall Aid had
tricked western Europe into an economic
reliance on the US. Led to the creation of
Soviet rivals: COMINFORM and COMECON.
West European economies experienced an
economic boom and had returned to pre-
war levels of growth when the plan ended in
1952.
Divided Germany as the military governors
of western Germany agreed to accept
money. Divide in Europe was now
economic, not just ideological.
7.) Creation of COMINFORM – Sep 1947
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
Communist
Party General
Secretary
Joseph
Stalin
Stalin was concerned
that eastern European
countries would be
tempted by the
Marshall Plan. He wanted
to prevent this by forcing
Eastern European
countries to become
‘satellite states’,
controlled by the USSR.
Stalin wanted satellite
states on his European
borders to trade with,
and for military defence.
At an international conference, the USSR
created the Communist Information Bureau
(COMINFORM) which represented Communist
Parties across Europe and brought them under
the control and manipulation of the USSR.
COMINFORM encouraged Communist Parties
in Western Europe to organise demonstrations
and strikes in order to wreck the Marshall
Plan. 2 million workers went on strike in
France in 1947 calling for their government to
reject Marshall Aid.
COMINFORM was also used to stamp out
opposition and ensure the loyalty of Eastern
European governments. 5% of population was
imprisoned in Hungary by 1953.
COMINFORM organised
strikes in Western Europe
did not work as growing
prosperity weakened the
attraction of communism.
COMINFORM
strengthened Stalin’s hold
on Eastern Europe. He
could use COMINFORM to
investigate government
ministers and employees,
and remove or imprison
those who were not loyal.
8.) Creation of COMECON - Jan 1949
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
Communist
Party
General
Secretary
Joseph
Stalin
The failure of
COMINFORM to
destroy Marshall
Plan through political
opposition forced the
USSR to consider an
economic rival. Stalin
wanted to minimise
the influence of the
USA.
Stalin wanted to
prevent Eastern
Europe from
benefiting economical
from the West.
The Council for Mutual
Economic Aid (COMECON)
was designed as a trading
organisation of communist
countries. Aims was to
economically develop Eastern
Europe and prevent trade
with Western Europe.
USSR, Bulgaria,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Poland and Romania were all
members in first year.
Albania and Eastern
Germany joined in 1950.
Was not very successful as the Soviet
Union had little spare cash to inject
into the economies of Eastern Europe.
Meant that Eastern Europe did not
develop as fast as Western Europe.
The USSR used COMECON to help
rebuild itself first – not its satellite
states. The USSR eventually
encouraged COMECON members to
specialise in different products.
Stalin’s wish of a sphere of influence
over Eastern Europe was now made
an economic reality.
9.) The Berlin Blockade and Airlift – June 1948
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
Communist
Party
General
Secretary
of the
USSR,
Joseph
Stalin
US
President
Harry
Truman
Stalin didn’t want a
divided Germany.
Germany’s main
economic resources
were in the west and he
wanted to prevent the
USA from having
further influence in
Germany. He feared
they were rebuilding
Germany as an ally
against the USSR.
He viewed the merging
of the Allied zones of
Germany in 1947, along
with the introduction of
the Deutschmark in
June 1948 as an
attempt to divide
Germany. He expected
the western powers to
make a humiliating
retreat.
Stalin set up a military blockade
around West Berlin on 23rd June
1948. He planned to cut western
Germany off from its capital: Berlin.
This would prove that a divided
Germany could not work.
All roads and railways to Berlin were
blocked by the Soviets. Stalin
assumed the West would give in as 2
million Berliner’s were starving.
Truman responded with the Berlin
Airlift. It was the first major test of
the Truman Doctrine. Allied planes
would supply West Berlin from the air.
The first flight was on the 26th and by
Sep, a US aircraft was leaving every 3
minutes. 70 large cargo planes airlifted
600-700 tonnes of food and supplies
every day. This increased to 1000
tonnes within weeks. At its height, the
airlift provided over 170,000 tonnes of
supplies, flying along 3 ‘air corridors’
during January 1949.
Stalin backed down on 12th May
1949. Stalin seemed like the
aggressor as the attack on Berlin
looked like the first step in a march
westwards. This was a propaganda
success for the USA.
Blockade seemed to prove to the West
that the USSR wanted to take over
Europe. This led to the creation of
the NATO alliance in April 1949 and
the creation of West Germany (FDR)
as an independent state in Sep 1949.
This in turn forced the USSR to
establish East Germany (GDR) as an
independent nation one month later.
Stalin ordered the speeding up of
atomic testing as he realised that
without an atomic bomb, he could not
win confrontations with the USA. The
USSR test their first atomic bomb in
1949, starting the arms race.
10.) Creation of NATO – April 1949
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
1949 – USA,
UK, Canada,
Iceland,
France,
Portugal,
Italy, Belgium,
Luxembourg,
Netherlands,
Denmark and
Norway. 1952
– Greece and
Turkey. 1955
– West
Germany.
1982 – Spain.
The Berlin
Blockade raised
the possibility of
war in Europe as it
was the first
military
confrontation of
the Cold War.
European
countries were
keen to establish
a military alliance
in order to ‘keep
the USA in, the
USSR out and the
Germans down.’
The North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) was
established as a military alliance
between the USA and Western
Europe. An attack on one member
would be considered as an attack
on all members.
It was in effect a military alliance
with the aim of defending the
West against communism. It
wasn’t just a promise either. Five
divisions of US troops were based
in Germany.
West Germany joined NATO in
1955, adding millions more troops.
The creation of NATO significantly
heightened tensions in the Cold War. The
creation of NATO now added a clear
military divide to Europe.
The USSR felt threatened by the
creation of NATO and especially when
West German troops joined. The USSR
responded by creating the Warsaw Pact in
1955 which was a military alliance of
Eastern European countries.
The build-up of military alliances turned
into an arms race when the USSR tested
its own nuclear bomb in 1949. But
paradoxically, the threat of Mutually
Assured Destruction (MAD) prevented war
in Europe.
11.) The Korean War – June 1950 – July 1953
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
North Korea,
led by Kim Il
Sung
South Korea
led by
Syngman
Rhee
China led by
Mao Zedong
USA led by
President
Truman and
Dwight D.
Eisenhower
from 1953
US/UN
Forces led by
General
Douglas
MacArthur
Truman believed the
Russians were behind
the attack and it was
a test of his policy of
containment.
China had become
communists in 1949
providing further
proof that
containment was
needed.
In Sep 1949 the USSR
had developed an
atomic bomb. Truman
became convinced
that communism
wanted to take over
the world.
UN vote gave the USA
greater ‘legitimacy’ to
invade
Korea was divided after the Second
World War. On 25th June 1950, North
Korea led by Kim Il Sung invaded the
South in an attempt to re-unite the
country by force.
Truman asked the UN Security
Council to back the use of US troops
in Korea. The Security Council approved
the use of force to defeat the
Northern invasion.
In Sep 1950, US troops led by
General Douglas MacArthur led a
successful counter-attack and by 1st
Oct, US troops had reached the 38th
parallel. When MacArthur invaded
North Korea, the Chinese intervened,
pushing US led forces back to Seoul.
For the rest of the war, stalemate
ensued. Ceasefire was agreed on 27th
July 1953. Korea remained divided.
Demonstrated the US commitment
to containing communism anywhere
in the world. Proved that
containment could work to prevent
the Domino Theory – would later
influence decision making in
Vietnam.
War led to rearmament
throughout the western world. The
Involvement of USSR and China
persuaded the US to increase
defence spending, up to 400% after
the war. Marshall Aid money also
was diverted to defence spending in
Western Europe.
Dangers of nuclear war, proposed
by General MacArthur scared the
world and put pressure on the
superpowers to negotiate. After
the death of Stalin in 1953, this led
to a thaw in relations.
12.) Creation of the Warsaw Pact – May 1955
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
USSR, Poland,
Czechoslovakia,
Romania,
Bulgaria,
Hungary,
Albania and
East Germany.
The formation of NATO in 1949
altered the balance of power in
Europe in the West’s favour.
Stalin needed his own rival alliance
to ensure parity with the west.
The addition of West Germany
to NATO in 1955 along with over a
million extra German soldiers
accelerated the need for the
USSR to create a military alliance.
The USSR responded to
NATO by creating the
Warsaw Pact which was a
military alliance of
Eastern European
countries. The countries
agreed to respect each
other’s independence and
to defend each other in
the event of war.
Unlike NATO, the Warsaw
Pact countries were
strictly dominated by the
USSR.
The creation of a communist
military alliance cemented the
control of the USSR over Eastern
Europe.
It also contributed to the
increasing competition of the
arms race. The Warsaw Pact had
poor technology and relied on
conscription, therefore the USSR
focused on developing nuclear
weapons as a means of deterrence.
13.) The Hungarian Uprising – Feb-Nov 1956
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
Hungarian
Dictator
Matyas
Rakosi
Hungarian
Leader
Erno Gero
Hungarian
Leader
Imre Nagy
Hungarian
Leader
Janos
Kadar
USSR led
by Nikita
Khrushchev
Hungarians were dissatisfied
with Soviet rule. After 1949,
COMINFORM imposed an
oppressive regime on Hungary.
Hungarian land was given to other
countries, resources shipped to
Russia, political parties abolished
and Matyas Rakosi was appointed
dictator in Aug 1952.
Rakosi’s reign was harsh – he
used what he called ‘salami
tactics’ to deal with opposition
‘one slice at a time’. He
imprisoned over 387,000 people
and was responsible for over
2000 deaths.
The death of Stalin in 1953 led
to the end of ‘Stalinism’ and the
start of what Khrushchev called
‘peaceful co-existence’ with the
west. This was taken to mean
that Soviet rule was to be
relaxed in Hungary.
In June 1956, there were anti-
Soviet demonstrations in Poland.
Khrushchev agreed to allow
reforms there. This inspired
many Hungarians to demonstrate
and protest, hoping to gain
reforms in their country.
After Khrushchev’s ‘secret speech’
in Feb 1956, many students began
to riot in Budapest, attacking
Soviet troops with petrol bombs
and grenades. Police lost control
and protests erupted in other
cities. By the summer, Khrushchev
realised that Rakosi was
extremely unpopular & replaced
him with Erno Gero in July 1956.
This made little difference.
On 24th Oct, Khrushchev agreed
to calls for a more liberal leader
and appointed Imre Nagy. He
proposed leaving the Warsaw Pact,
making Hungary a democracy with
free election, communism should
end and Hungary should ask the UN
for help against the USSR.
Khrushchev worried that to allow
this greater freedom and let
Hungary leave the Warsaw Pact
would mean the end to Soviet
control of Eastern Europe. He
responded by sending 200,000
Soviet troops and 2500 tanks into
Hungary to crush the government.
They reached Budapest on 4th Nov.
20,000 Hungarians were killed and
another 200,000 fled to Austria.
Nagy fled to the Yugoslavian
embassy but was arrested by
Soviet troops as soon as he left.
He was accused of treason by
Khrushchev and was hanged in
June 1958.
The west was accused of
‘abandoning’ the Hungarians.
The USA had encouraged the
uprising but didn’t want to risk
nuclear war. May have actually
improved relations as USSR had
seen the USA as having no
desire to interfere in its sphere
of influence.
The lack of military help from
the USA discouraged other
radicals in Eastern Europe from
rising up. In that sense,
Khrushchev’s show of force
worked to strengthen his
control on Eastern Europe.
Janos Kadar was appointed as
the new Hungarian leader who
called for: re-establishing
communist control and remaining
in the Warsaw Pact.
14.) The Berlin Crisis & U2 Incident – 1958-1961
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
USSR led
by Nikita
Khrushchev
USA led by
President
Truman
and Dwight
D.
Eisenhower
from 1953
Khrushchev was
deeply concerned
by the growing
refugee problem.
Between 1949 and
1961, 2.7 million
East Germans
escaped to West
Germany through
Berlin. Many were
highly skilled.
Khrushchev also
believed that West
Berlin was being
used by the West
as a base for
spying and
sabotage.
The post-war
recovery of West
Berlin seemed to
remind people of
the benefits of
capitalism. This
worried Khrushchev.
In Nov 1958, Khrushchev issued an
ultimatum giving Western Powers six months
to withdraw from Berlin. Eisenhower was
unsure how to respond but agreed to hold
talks on the issue.
Further talks are held in Geneva (May
1959) and at Camp David (Sep 1959) but
both talks fail to achieve anything. Further
talks are scheduled for 1960.
On 1st May 1960, an American U2 spy
plane is shot down over USSR. Khrushchev
used this to expose the USA’s spying
programme at the UN.
The Paris Summit on 16th May 1960 breaks
down as Khrushchev walks out. Eisenhower
refuses to punish the leaders of the U2
programme.
At the Vienna Conference on 4th June 1961,
Khrushchev challenges Kennedy to withdraw
US troops from Berlin within 6 months or
to declare war. Kennedy refuses.
On morning of 13th Aug 1961, Berliner’s
awake to find that a fence had been
erected around the whole of West Berlin. It
was eventually reinforced.
The wall stopped East Germans
from escaping to the West,
ending the refugee crisis. Allowed
the communists to consolidate
their hold over East Germany.
Allowed Khrushchev to avoid war
with USA whilst appearing strong.
Was propaganda victory for the
USA as USSR had to ‘wall people in’
to make sure they didn’t run away
from communism. Kennedy took
advantage of this by touring West
Berlin in 1963, saying in a speech:
“All free men, wherever they live,
are citizens of Berlin and
therefore as a free man, I take
pride in the words Ich bin ein
Berliner.”
86 Germans would die over the
next 30 years in trying to cross the
wall.
Led to a period of calm in Europe
as both sides accepted there was
no immediate prospect of change so
tension went down.
15.) The Cuban Missile Crisis – October 1962
Who? Causes What happened? Consequences
USA led by
President
Kennedy
USSR led
by Nikita
Krushchev
Cuba led by
Fidel
Castro
Long-term
The continuing arms race
forced both sides to find
ways in which to gain
military supremacy. The
launch of Sputnik 1 in
1957 had intensified the
arms race. In early 1962,
the US placed nuclear
missiles in Turkey. The
USSR decided to retaliate
by placing missiles in Cuba.
This would allow the USSR
to undermine American
nuclear superiority without
having to develop
expensive inter-continental
ballistic missiles.
Short-term
The overthrow of the
pro-US Batista
government in Cuba with
a communist government
led by Fidel Castro in
1959 intensified fears of
communist expansion in
Latin America. Cuba was
only 90 miles from Florida.
Castro nationalised US
property in Cuba and the
USA banned the import
of Cuban sugar – their
main export. This forced
Cuba to turn to the USSR
for help. The USSR now
gave economic aid to Cuba.
The failed Bay of Pigs
invasion of Cuba in April
1961 by the CIA left
Castro fearing another US
invasion. He asked
Khrushchev for military
help.
In August 1961, Khrushchev agreed to defend
Cuba by stationing Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba.
On 25th September 1962, Khrushchev sent 114
ships to Cuba carrying nuclear warheads and long
range missiles.
14th Oct – American U2 spy plane spots a nuclear
site under construction in Cuba.
16th Oct – Kennedy was shown the photographs
proving the missiles were on Cuba. The ExComm
committee is established and he spends 6 days
secretly discussing how to respond.
20th Oct – Kennedy ignores pressure from ‘hawks’ and
decides to impose a naval blockade around Cuba to
prevent further missiles reaching Cuba.
22nd – Kennedy gives a public address officially
declaring the blockade with 100 ships and calls on
Khrushchev to recall his ships on route to Cuba. He
promised to destroy any ships that passed the
‘quarantine line’.
23rd Oct – Khrushchev states that Soviet ships will
break though the blockade.
24th Oct – Khrushchev issues a statement saying the
USSR is prepared to respond with nuclear weapons if
the USA goes to war.
25th Oct – Kennedy writes a letter to Khrushchev
asking him to withdraw missiles from Cuba. Both
armies told to prepare for war. Tension at highest
point.
26th Oct – Khrushchev’s first offer: he ignores calls
for a nuclear war and responds, saying in a letter he
will withdraw the missiles in return for a US
guarantee not to invade Cuba.
27th Oct – Khrushchev’s second offer: he sends a
second letter now demanding that the US withdraws
its missiles from Turkey in return for the removal
of Cuban missiles. Kennedy ignores this letter but
agrees to the first letter. Robert Kennedy then
meets with Soviet ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin. He
agrees to Russian demands to withdraw missiles from
Turkey but insists the deal must be kept secret.
28th Oct – Khrushchev agrees to the secret deal
and orders all ‘cargoes’ to return to the USSR.
Short-Term
Kennedy and the USA appeared
victorious as Khrushchev was seen
by the world as the one to
publically back down. This
propaganda defeat contributed to
Khrushchev resigning in 1964.
Kennedy had agreed to pull US
missiles out of Turkey. In reality,
the event did end in compromise.
European allies of the US were
shocked at how little they were
consulted throughout the crisis.
French leader Charles de Gaulle
pulls France out of NATO in
response. NATO is weakened.
The Chinese were not impressed
with the performance of the
USSR so began to pursue a more
independent foreign policy. World
communism was also weakened.
This led to the creation of a
‘hotline’ in June 1963 between
Washington and Moscow in order
to avoid future
‘misunderstandings’.
The Limited Test Ban Treaty
was agreed in August 1963. Both
sides agreed to ban nuclear
testing in space, in the sea and
above ground.
Long-term
Both sides recognised the dangers
of direct conflict. The USA and
USSR began to search for
meaningful ‘peaceful co-existence’
as they realised how close they
came to nuclear war. This led to a
policy called ‘détente’ – a
relaxing of tension in the Cold
War which dominated superpower
relations in the 1970s.
A10: Superpower Relations 1945-1962: Exam
Questions
The following exam questions are taken from the 2011 and 2012 exams as well as some re-
written questions from previous years’ exams. Refer to the marking criteria and grade
boundaries at the bottom of this document to mark your work. Good luck!
Exam Questions – Question A (3 marks) – Write these events in the
correct chronological sequence:
1. The beginning of peaceful co-existence, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Setting up of
the Federal Republic of Germany, The Marshall Plan, The ‘Iron Curtain’ speech
2. The beginning of the Korean War, The Truman Doctrine, The Setting up of the
Warsaw Pact, The Berlin Blockade, The Potsdam Conference
3. The Hungarian Uprising, The setting-up the Warsaw Pact, The building of the Berlin
Wall, The Marshall Plan, The setting-up of NATO
4. The Yalta Conference, The Bay of Pigs Invasion, The Berlin Blockade, The Setting up
of the Warsaw Pact, The beginning of Peaceful Co-Existence.
5. Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech, The building of the Berlin Wall, The Creation of the
Federal Republic of Germany (FDR), The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Hungarian Crisis
6. The creation of COMECON, The start of the Korean War, U2 Incident, The building
of the Berlin Wall, The Potsdam Conference
7. The Hungarian Uprising, The Potsdam Conference, The Berlin Blockade, The Yalta
Conference, The Truman Doctrine
8. The Marshall Plan, The Hungarian Crisis, The Death of Stalin, The U2 Incident,
Novikov’s Telegram.
9. Creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FDR), Creation of COMINFORM, The
Setting up of the Warsaw Pact, Kennan’s Long Telegram, Bay of Pigs Invasion.
10. Cuban Missile Crisis, creation of COMECON, The setting-up of NATO, Novikov’s
Telegram, The Building of the Berlin Wall.
11. The Berlin Blockade, Death of Stalin, The Hungarian Crisis, the Federal Republic of
Germany (FDR) joining NATO, The Cuban Missile Crisis.
12. The Berlin Blockade, The Potsdam Conference, The Hungarian Uprising, The Truman
Doctrine, The Yalta Conference.
13. The U2 Incident, The Hungarian Uprising, The Potsdam Conference, The Marshall Plan,
The Korean War
Exam Questions – Question B (4 marks / Consequence)
1. Choose either The Cuban Missile Crisis or The Marshall Plan. Describe one effect on
the relations between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
2. Choose either The Truman Doctrine or The Berlin Blockade. Describe one effect on
the relations between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
3. Choose either the Building of the Berlin Wall or The setting-up of NATO. Describe
one effect on the relations between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you
have chosen.
4. Choose either the Warsaw Pact or Khruschev’s policy of Peaceful Co-existence.
Describe one effect that it had on relations between East and West. (2007
Foundation)
5. Choose either the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FDR) or Churchill’s
‘Iron Curtain’ Speech. Describe one effect on the relation between the USA and the
Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
6. Choose either the Korean War or the U2 incident. Describe one effect on the
relation between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
7. Choose either the Yalta Conference or the Potsdam Conference. Describe one effect
on the relation between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
8. Choose either the Hungarian Crisis or the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Describe one effect
on the relation between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
9. Choose either the creation of COMINFORM or Kennan’s Long Telegram. Describe
one effect on the relation between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you
have chosen.
10. Choose either the creation of COMECON or Novikov’s Telegram. Describe one
effect on the relation between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have
chosen.
11. Choose either the Death of Stalin or the Federal Republic of Germany (FDR) joining
NATO. Describe one effect on the relation between the USA and the Soviet Union of
the event you have chosen.
12. Choose either the U2 incident or The Potsdam Conference. Describe one effect on
relations between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
13. Choose either the U2 incident or The Arms Race. Describe one effect on relations
between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen.
Exam Questions – Question C (8 marks / Causation)
1. Why was there a crisis over Berlin in the years 1948-1949? Explain your answer.
2. Why did the USSR build the Berlin Wall in 1961? Explain your answer.
3. Why had the USA and the Soviet Union become rivals by 1947? Explain your answer.
4. Why did Warsaw Pact troops invade Hungary in November 1956? Explain your answer.
5. Why was the Truman Doctrine announced in March 1947? Explain your answer.
6. Why had the wartime alliance between the USA and the Soviet Union broken down by
the end of 1946? Explain your answer.
7. Why was the Marshall Plan created in June 1947? Explain your answer.
8. Why was there a crisis over missiles in Cuba in 1962? Explain your answer.
9. Why was there a war over Korea in the years 1950-1953? Explain your answer.
10. Why was the NATO alliance created in April 1949? Explain your answer.
11. Why did the USSR establish the Warsaw Pact in May 1955? Explain your answer.
12. Why did the USSR establish COMINFORM in September 1947? Explain your answer.
13. Why did Stalin launch COMECON in 1949? Explain your answer.
14. Why had Germany become divided by 1949? Explain your answer.
15. Why did the USA and USSR disagree at the Potsdam Conference in July 1945? Explain
your answer.
16. Why did the Wartime Allies decide to meet at Yalta in February 1945? Explain your
answer.
17. Why did the USA decide to launch the Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961? Explain your
answer.
18. Why did Churchill give his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in March 1946? Explain your answer.
19. Why had Khruschev’s Policy of Peaceful Co-Existence ended by 1961? Explain your
answer.
20. Why did Khruschev walk out of the Paris Summit in May 1960? Explain your answer.
21. Why did Truman take a much tougher line with Stalin at Potsdam than Roosevelt had
at Yalta? Explain your answer.
22. Why did Khrushchev adopt the policy of ‘peaceful co-existence’? Explain your answer.
23. Why had differences between the Allies appeared by the Potsdam Conference in July
1945? Explain your answer.
24. Why did relations between the USA and the USSR change in the period between the
Yalta and Potsdam Conferences? Explain your answer.
Exam Questions – Question D (10 marks / Cause, Effect or Change)
1. Use the source and your own knowledge, to explain why relations between the
USA and the Soviet Union changed in the years 1955-1961.
“In 1955, the Soviet Union set up the Warsaw Pact to strengthen its control of Eastern
Europe. In the following year, Soviet forces crushed the Hungarian Uprising. The U2 Crisis
and the construction of the Berlin Wall worsened relations between the USA and the Soviet
Union.” Source: from a modern textbook.
2. Use the source and your own knowledge, to explain why the Soviet Union invaded
Hungary in 1956.
“In June 1956, a group within the Hungarian Communist Party opposed Rakosi. The Soviet
Union allowed a new government to be formed under Imre Nagy. Nagy introduced a series of
reforms including free elections and private ownership of farmland.” Source: from a modern
textbook.
3. Use the source, and your own knowledge, to explain why there was a crisis over
missiles in Cuba in 1962.
“On 14 October 1962 a US spy plane took photographs which showed Soviet missile bases
being built in Cuba. This meant that all US missile defence systems were now useless. From
16 October Kennedy spent one week asking his defence chiefs for possible reactions and
considering alternatives.” Source: from a modern textbook.
4. Use the source, and your own knowledge, to explain how the Cold War developed
in the years 1949-1953.
“Tension between the West and the Soviet Union continued to increase throughout the
Berlin Airlift. The hopes that Germany would be re-united began to disappear and in 1949
the Federal Republic of Germany was created from the British, French and US zones. Later
that year, the Soviet Union created the German Democratic Republic from its zone.” Source:
from a modern textbook.
5. Use the source, and your own knowledge, to explain how the Cuban Missile Crisis
was ended peacefully.
“At first in the Cuban Missile Crisis neither Kennedy nor Khrushchev would back down.
Kennedy set up the naval blockade and Khrushchev ordered Soviet ships to continue supplying
Cuba. On 24th October, some Soviet ships turned away from Cuba and some slowed down. The
two leaders exchanged letters and Kennedy agreed to Khrushchev’s suggestions.” Source:
from a modern textbook
6. Use the source and your own knowledge to explain why the Berlin Wall was built in
1961.
“Kruschev thought he would be able to force the Allies out of West Berlin. He knew the
limits to which President Eisenhower would go. Khruschev knew that he had to stop the flow
of refugees. West Berlin remained a loophole in the Iron Curtain. The 1948 crisis had made
it clear that the Western powers were not going to leave West Berlin of their own free will.
Following the election of the inexperienced John F. Kennedy, Khrushchev felt very confident
that he could solve the problem of Berlin once and for all.” Source: from a modern textbook
7. Use the source and your own knowledge to explain how the creation of NATO
changed relations between East and West.
“The Berlin Blockade had serious consequences for international relations. The West decided
that Stalin was not going to co-operate and so Truman took the decision that the USA would
have to keep forces in Europe on a permanent basis. In 1949, NATO (the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation) was set up. It was a sign that relations between the Superpowers were
now so bad that some form of military alliance was necessary.” Source: from a modern
textbook
8. Use the source and your own knowledge to explain how Stalin tried to force the
Allies out of West Berlin in the years 1948-1949.
“Stalin had wanted to deal with West Berlin for some time. He did not like the fact that it
gave the West access to Europe beyond the Iron Curtain. It also gave the people of the East
an idea of what life was like in the West. As Marshall Aid began to reach Europe, life in the
West seemed more and more attractive. Stalin decided to try to force the Western Allies
out.” Source: from a modern textbook
9. Use the source and your own knowledge to explain why Stalin was forced to end
the blockade of West Berlin in May 1949.
“In June 1948, the western allies decided that they had to respond to Stalin’s actions. They
agreed that West Berlin had to be saved at all costs. So began the Berlin Airlift, which
lasted more than fourteen months, until September 1949, four months after the blockade
ended. Everything that the people of West Berlin needed had to be brought in by plane.”
Source: from a modern textbook.
10. Use the source and your own knowledge to explain the changes to relations
between the USA and the Soviet Union brought about by the Berlin Blockade of
1948-49?
“The Berlin Blockade was a propaganda success for the Americans and a failure for the
Soviet Union. In May 1949, Stalin called off the blockade. In September 1949, West
Germany was officially created as an independent state, followed one month later by East
Germany. In addition, the USA set up the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.” Source:
from a modern textbook.
11. Use the source and your own knowledge to explain why there was a war in Korea
from 1950-53.
“America’s first response to the invasion of South Korea was to rush military supplies to
South Korea. Then, on 27th June the United States proposed a resolution in the United
Nations calling for military action against North Korea. The resolution was passed and three
days later Truman ordered American troops into Korea.” Source: from a modern textbook.
12. Use the source and your own knowledge to explain the effects of the Cuban
Missile Crisis of 1962.
“After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy worked with Khrushchev to set up a hot line. This
would allow the Kremlin and the White House to be in direct contact. The aim of the hotline
was to ensure that the two leaders could discuss their differences and therefore avoid war.”
Source: from a modern textbook.
A10: Superpower Relations 1945-1962:
Mark Scheme
A rough estimation of the grade boundaries would mean that students would need to achieve the
following mark for each of the four units: A* = 21/25, A = 18/25, B = 15/25, C = 12/25, D = 9/25, E =
7/25, F = 5/25, G = 3/25, U = 0+
(a) Target: Recall of Knowledge (AO1) - 3 marks
2 in correct sequence 1 mark
3 in correct sequence 2 marks
4/5 in correct sequence 3 marks
(b) Target: Consequence/Recall of knowledge (AO1) – 4 marks
Level Descriptor Mar
k
Level 1
Simple or generalised statements of consequence – The
candidate makes statements which lack any supporting
contextual knowledge or makes unsupported generalisations.
e.g. This was when the USA and other countries signed an
alliance.
1-2
Level 2
Developed statements of consequence – The candidate supports
their statements with relevant contextual knowledge.
e.g. Berlin wall worsened relations. USA annoyed, lack of
movement between East and West. Attempts to escape over wall.
3-4
(c) Target: Causation/Recall of Knowledge (A01) – 8 marks
Level Descriptor Mark
Level 1
Simple or generalised statements of causation –
The candidate makes statements which lack any
supporting contextual knowledge or makes
unsupported generalisations.
e.g. because of capitalism and communism.
1-2
1 mark for one
simple statement
2 marks for two or
more
Level 2
Developed statements of causation – The
candidate supports their statement with relevant
contextual knowledge.
e.g. Differences at Yalta and Potsdam, ideological
differences, attitude of Truman
3-5
3 marks for one
developed
statement
4/5 marks for two
or more
Level 3
Developed explanation of causation – An
explanation of more than one factor supported by
selected knowledge. One explained factor should
be marked at the top of Level 2.
e.g. As Level 2. Shows how US use of atom bomb,
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan worsened
relations.
6-8
6/7 marks for two
or more explained
factors
8 marks for
answers which show
links between
factors
(d) Target: Recall of Knowledge/Comprehension of Source (AO1/AO2) – 10
marks
Level Descriptor Mark
Level 1
Simple or generalised statements using the
source supported by some own knowledge – The
candidate makes statements which lack any
supporting contextual knowledge or makes
unsupported generalisations.
e.g. because the Soviet Union had missiles on
Cuba.
1-3
1 marks for one
simple statement
2/3 marks for two
or more
Max 3 marks for
only using the
source
Level 2
Developed Statements using the source and
relevant own knowledge – The candidate supports
their statement with relevant contextual
knowledge.
e.g. Krushchev and missiles, US spy plane and
missile sites, attitude of Kennedy
4-7
4/5 marks for one
developed
statement
6/7 marks for two
or more
Level 3
Developed explanation using the source and
precise own knowledge – An explanation of more
than one factor supported by selected knowledge.
One explained factor should be marked at the top
of Level 2.
e.g. As Level 2 – Shows how Kennedy’s and
Khrushchev’s policies v Cuba precipitated crisis
8-10
8-9 marks for two
or more explained
factors
10 marks for
answers which show
links between
factors
