The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis – Chapter 1 Review Questions
Section 1 – The Growth of the USA and USSR
1. What three factors allowed the Americans to build an ‘extraordinary powerful state’? (para 5)
Restricting how the government could change everyday life through dissemination, the economy and politics.
2. How did Lenin and Stalin turn Russia into ‘the most authoritarian state anywhere on Earth’ (para 6)
They changed Russia into a heavily industrialised nation.
3. Why did the USA and UK suffer relatively few deaths in WW2? (para 7)
The UK and USA were able to choose where the fighting would take place, when and the circumstances.
4. How did the USA benefit economically from war? (para 7)
War time spending almost doubled the US' gross domestic product rate.
5. How was the USSR affected by World War Two? (para 8)
Russia's cities, towns and villages were destroyed as was the Soviet's industry. 27 millions Soviets died as a consequence of the war.
6. In what ways was the USSR in a powerful position after WW2? (para 10/11)
Soviet economy was able to sustain full employment. The USSR could keep its military in Europe whilst the the US and UK stated they would leave two years after the war.
7. How did the leadership of the USA and UK change in 1945? (para 11)
President Roosevelt died in April 1945 (replaced by President Truman) and the British General Election had chosen Clement Attlee as the new Prime Minister so Churchill was gone.
Section 2 – Stalin’s post-war Goals
8. How is Stalin’s personality described? (para 12)
Described as an ageing man who is exhausted, lonely and yet had all the power. Stalin is described also with yellow teeth, a moustache, pock marks on his face and with yellow eyes.
9. What were Stalin’s post-war goals? (para 13/14)
Security for himself, his regime, Russia and his ideology. He wanted no internal challenges that could ruin his personal rule or his country.
10. What challenges did Stalin face in achieving those goals? (para 15)
Many loses during the War caused Stalin to face disproportionate postwar gains. The Soviet needed peace and economic help from the former allies (UK and US.)
11. Why did Stalin believe he would soon face war against the ‘capitalists’? (para 16)
The Capitalists would fight each other and then the communists would rise against them to take full power.
12. Why did Stalin believe that Capitalist countries would go to war with each other? (para 18)
Economic rivalries would take place.
13. What was Stalin’s ultimate goal in post-war Europe? (para 19)
Dominate Europe the way Hitler had wanted to.
Section 3 – USA’s and UK’s post-war Goals
14. What dilemma did the USA face after WW2? (para 20)
The US was apart from the world and yet was a model for the world.
15. Why did the USA feel secure for most of its history? (para 21)
Oceans separated them from the rest of the world.
16. Why did the USA break with its policy of isolationism during WW1? (para 23)
The US was worried that Imperial Germany would defeat the UK. Wilson stated that the US military power was needed to restore Europe.
17. Why did Wilson’s plans for a new world order fail after WW1? (para 24)
Wilson's plans were too extreme for his countrymen.
18. What events in WW2 caused the USA to end its policy of isolationism once and for all? (para 25)
The Fall of France, Battle of Britain and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
19. What was Roosevelt’s priorities during WW2? (para 26)
Sustain allies, have allies cooperation for postwar settlements, to form a new collective security organisation for punishment and a revived global economic system.
20. What was the UK’s objectives during WW2? (para 27)
To survive at all cost.
Section 4 – Long-term Causes of the Cold War
21. According to paragraph 28, what was the purpose of the wartime Grand Alliance?
To defeat their common enemy and and to maximise their positions for the postwar world.
22. How and why did the USA and UK help the USSR during WW2? (para 29)
Providing food, clothing and armaments, start a Second Front. The US and UK needed to keep the Russian's in the war to help defeat Germany.
23. Why was Stalin suspicious about UK/USA policy during WW2? (para 30)
Worried that the US and UK and deliberately delayed when the second front would start so that they could have less casualties and make the USSR weaker.
24. Why was the creation of a ‘second-front’ important to the USA/UK? (para 31)
They would be a part of the surrender and occupation of Germany and its satellites with the Soviet Union.
25. What deals did the UK/USA and USSR make in 1944-45 and why did it lead to a lack of trust between them? (para 32)
British and US began negotiating surrenders for the German armies in Northern Italy after the Stalin-Churchill deal stating the Soviet would have a big influence over those countries.
26. Why did Stalin want a ‘sphere of influence’ in post-war Europe? (para 33)
So that Russia was protected on its borders surrounded by 'friendly' nations.
27. Why was Stalin undeterred by the promise of free elections in Eastern Europe? (para 33)
He didn't want free elections in Eastern Europe.
28. Why was Poland hostile to Soviet intentions? (para 35)
Russians' had massacred 4,000 Polish officers at Katyn Wood. 1940 another 11,000 Polish officers remained unaccounted for. Stalin demanded taking one third of Poland's territory after the war.
29. Why did the USSR feel cheated by the division of Germany? (para 37)
France was given two thirds of Germany to control and Russia got control of only a third of Germany's population and an area with a small percentage of industrial facilities.
30. Despite his opposition, why was Stalin willing to accept the division of Germany? (para 38)
He thought that Marxist-Leninist government he would set-up would attract the Germans from the other zones.
31. What two problems did Stalin face in his attempt to dominate Germany? (para 39/40)
The Red Army was too brutal. Germans wanted their land to be preserved under Western rule and were frightened of what Stalin would do.
32. What was Stalin promised for his help in attacking Japan? (para 41)
Stalin was promised the Kurile Islands, to restore the Southern half of Sakhalin Island and territorial rights to Manchuria.
33. Why did the USA become unwilling to accept the division of Japan with the USSR? (para 42)
The USA invented the Atomic Bomb and no longer needed Russia's help.
34. Why did the development of the Atomic Bomb lead to distrust between the Allies? (para 43)
The Americans didn't tell Stalin about the bomb and nor did they hide it well enough from his spies.
35. How did the Atomic Bomb alter the balance of power in the world? (para 44)
The US now had a weapon that didn't require men to be on a battle field.
36. How did the Atomic Bomb change the attitude of the USSR? (para 45)
Stalin was worried that the US would use the atomic bomb against Russia and forced him to form a catch-up programme for Russian scientists to form an atomic bomb of their own.
1. What three factors allowed the Americans to build an ‘extraordinary powerful state’? (para 5)
Restricting how the government could change everyday life through dissemination, the economy and politics.
2. How did Lenin and Stalin turn Russia into ‘the most authoritarian state anywhere on Earth’ (para 6)
They changed Russia into a heavily industrialised nation.
3. Why did the USA and UK suffer relatively few deaths in WW2? (para 7)
The UK and USA were able to choose where the fighting would take place, when and the circumstances.
4. How did the USA benefit economically from war? (para 7)
War time spending almost doubled the US' gross domestic product rate.
5. How was the USSR affected by World War Two? (para 8)
Russia's cities, towns and villages were destroyed as was the Soviet's industry. 27 millions Soviets died as a consequence of the war.
6. In what ways was the USSR in a powerful position after WW2? (para 10/11)
Soviet economy was able to sustain full employment. The USSR could keep its military in Europe whilst the the US and UK stated they would leave two years after the war.
7. How did the leadership of the USA and UK change in 1945? (para 11)
President Roosevelt died in April 1945 (replaced by President Truman) and the British General Election had chosen Clement Attlee as the new Prime Minister so Churchill was gone.
Section 2 – Stalin’s post-war Goals
8. How is Stalin’s personality described? (para 12)
Described as an ageing man who is exhausted, lonely and yet had all the power. Stalin is described also with yellow teeth, a moustache, pock marks on his face and with yellow eyes.
9. What were Stalin’s post-war goals? (para 13/14)
Security for himself, his regime, Russia and his ideology. He wanted no internal challenges that could ruin his personal rule or his country.
10. What challenges did Stalin face in achieving those goals? (para 15)
Many loses during the War caused Stalin to face disproportionate postwar gains. The Soviet needed peace and economic help from the former allies (UK and US.)
11. Why did Stalin believe he would soon face war against the ‘capitalists’? (para 16)
The Capitalists would fight each other and then the communists would rise against them to take full power.
12. Why did Stalin believe that Capitalist countries would go to war with each other? (para 18)
Economic rivalries would take place.
13. What was Stalin’s ultimate goal in post-war Europe? (para 19)
Dominate Europe the way Hitler had wanted to.
Section 3 – USA’s and UK’s post-war Goals
14. What dilemma did the USA face after WW2? (para 20)
The US was apart from the world and yet was a model for the world.
15. Why did the USA feel secure for most of its history? (para 21)
Oceans separated them from the rest of the world.
16. Why did the USA break with its policy of isolationism during WW1? (para 23)
The US was worried that Imperial Germany would defeat the UK. Wilson stated that the US military power was needed to restore Europe.
17. Why did Wilson’s plans for a new world order fail after WW1? (para 24)
Wilson's plans were too extreme for his countrymen.
18. What events in WW2 caused the USA to end its policy of isolationism once and for all? (para 25)
The Fall of France, Battle of Britain and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
19. What was Roosevelt’s priorities during WW2? (para 26)
Sustain allies, have allies cooperation for postwar settlements, to form a new collective security organisation for punishment and a revived global economic system.
20. What was the UK’s objectives during WW2? (para 27)
To survive at all cost.
Section 4 – Long-term Causes of the Cold War
21. According to paragraph 28, what was the purpose of the wartime Grand Alliance?
To defeat their common enemy and and to maximise their positions for the postwar world.
22. How and why did the USA and UK help the USSR during WW2? (para 29)
Providing food, clothing and armaments, start a Second Front. The US and UK needed to keep the Russian's in the war to help defeat Germany.
23. Why was Stalin suspicious about UK/USA policy during WW2? (para 30)
Worried that the US and UK and deliberately delayed when the second front would start so that they could have less casualties and make the USSR weaker.
24. Why was the creation of a ‘second-front’ important to the USA/UK? (para 31)
They would be a part of the surrender and occupation of Germany and its satellites with the Soviet Union.
25. What deals did the UK/USA and USSR make in 1944-45 and why did it lead to a lack of trust between them? (para 32)
British and US began negotiating surrenders for the German armies in Northern Italy after the Stalin-Churchill deal stating the Soviet would have a big influence over those countries.
26. Why did Stalin want a ‘sphere of influence’ in post-war Europe? (para 33)
So that Russia was protected on its borders surrounded by 'friendly' nations.
27. Why was Stalin undeterred by the promise of free elections in Eastern Europe? (para 33)
He didn't want free elections in Eastern Europe.
28. Why was Poland hostile to Soviet intentions? (para 35)
Russians' had massacred 4,000 Polish officers at Katyn Wood. 1940 another 11,000 Polish officers remained unaccounted for. Stalin demanded taking one third of Poland's territory after the war.
29. Why did the USSR feel cheated by the division of Germany? (para 37)
France was given two thirds of Germany to control and Russia got control of only a third of Germany's population and an area with a small percentage of industrial facilities.
30. Despite his opposition, why was Stalin willing to accept the division of Germany? (para 38)
He thought that Marxist-Leninist government he would set-up would attract the Germans from the other zones.
31. What two problems did Stalin face in his attempt to dominate Germany? (para 39/40)
The Red Army was too brutal. Germans wanted their land to be preserved under Western rule and were frightened of what Stalin would do.
32. What was Stalin promised for his help in attacking Japan? (para 41)
Stalin was promised the Kurile Islands, to restore the Southern half of Sakhalin Island and territorial rights to Manchuria.
33. Why did the USA become unwilling to accept the division of Japan with the USSR? (para 42)
The USA invented the Atomic Bomb and no longer needed Russia's help.
34. Why did the development of the Atomic Bomb lead to distrust between the Allies? (para 43)
The Americans didn't tell Stalin about the bomb and nor did they hide it well enough from his spies.
35. How did the Atomic Bomb alter the balance of power in the world? (para 44)
The US now had a weapon that didn't require men to be on a battle field.
36. How did the Atomic Bomb change the attitude of the USSR? (para 45)
Stalin was worried that the US would use the atomic bomb against Russia and forced him to form a catch-up programme for Russian scientists to form an atomic bomb of their own.