Starter quiz
- What was Stalin determined to create in Eastern Europe to protect the USSR against future attack?
- 'buffer zone' ✓
- Which word describes a government in which two or more political parties work together to run a country?
- 'coalition government' ✓
- Which of the following countries were occupied by the Red Army by the time of the Potsdam Conference in July 1945?
- Poland ✓
- Czechoslovakia ✓
- Hungary
- Britain
- Netherlands
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- Put the following methods of Soviet takeover of Eastern European governments in order, starting with the earliest.
- 1⇔Coalition governments were set up so communists shared power with other parties.
- 2⇔The communists took over key areas that would allow them to control the country.
- 3⇔The communists intimidated/attacked their opponents so they were forced to flee.
- 4⇔Rigged elections were held to ensure the communists won.
- Why did Stalin have to use rigged elections in Poland to ensure a communist government?
- At Yalta and Potsdam, Stalin secured a large amount of land in eastern Poland. ✓
- Many Poles hated/feared the USSR and were angry about the lost territory. ✓
- At Yalta and Tehran, Stalin secured a large amount of land in western Poland.
- Many Russians hated/feared Poland and were angry about the lost territory.
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- What view did Winston Churchill present in his 'Iron Curtain' speech in 1946?
- Britain was a threat to freedom and world peace.
- The USA was a threat to freedom and world peace.
- The USSR was a threat to freedom and world peace. ✓
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Exit quiz
- Truman was concerned that high levels of poverty would allow ______ to spread more easily in post-war Europe.
- 'communism' ✓
- Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
- containment⇔US policy to prevent the spread of communism. ✓
- isolationism⇔US policy of not getting involved in the affairs of other countries. ✓
- Marshall Plan⇔US programme of aid that aimed to stop the spread of communism. ✓
- Truman Doctrine⇔Truman's idea that it was the US' responsibility to prevent communism. ✓
- In response to the Marshall Plan, Stalin established Comecon in 1947 and ______ in 1949.
- Comepro
- Cominform ✓
- Comoutform
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- Why was Britain unable to financially support post-war recovery in Western Europe like Truman hoped?
- After seven years of war, Britain was almost bankrupt.
- After six years of war, Britain was almost bankrupt. ✓
- After six years of war, Britain wanted to become isolationist.
- After five years of war, Britain was focusing on domestic issues.
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- How much aid did Truman announce the US was sending to Greece and Turkey in March 1947?
- $100 million
- $200 million
- $400 million ✓
- $300 million
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- What was the official name of the Marshall Plan?
- the European Reparations Plan (ERP)
- the European Relief Plan (ERP)
- the European Recovery Plan (ERP) ✓
- the European Response Plan (ERP)
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Truman was concerned that high levels of poverty would allow communism to spread more easily in post-war Europe.
- The Truman Doctrine committed the USA to a policy of containment.
- The aim of the Marshall Plan was to stop the spread of communism by providing economic support to Western Europe.
- In response to the Marshall Plan, Stalin established Cominform and Comecon.
- The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan (and the Soviet response they provoked) widened the divide between East and West.
Common misconception
The USA always considered it had a responsibility to protect Europe from threats.
Before the Second World War, the USA had a policy of isolationism which meant not getting involved in the affairs of other countries.
Keywords
Truman doctrine - Truman's idea that it was the USA's responsibility to prevent the spread of communism around the world
Containment - using American influence and military resources to prevent the spread of communism into non-communist countries
Isolationism - an approach to international relations that is based on not getting involved in the affairs of other countries
Marshall plan - an American programme of economic aid that aimed to stop the spread of communism by supporting countries to recover from the Second World War
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