Key details about Cold War for memorisation
| Front | Truman doctrine |
| Back | 1947, response to unstable condition in Greece, communist try to overthrow monarchy and set up comm gov, brit in debt due to WW2, so unable to sustain aid for Greece, appeal to US to help prevent communist takeover, truman said small country like Greece ez to succumb to communism, threat to existence of democratic nations, so introduced doctrine, aid for nations being threatened by communists to prevent communism spread, led to shift to POC to contain communism, USSR view this US undermining communist effort, heighten tensions |
| Front | Power Vacuum aft ww2 |
| Back | WW2 disastrous impact, left world in chaos, major powers like brit and France also suffered great dmg, so no longer have capability to be major decision makers anymore, this created power vacuum, opputunity for US and USSR to rise into power, US was virtually unscathed and had robust economy and military, USSR had extended influence in Eastern Europe and military was second to only US, both nations in strong postiions to be major decision makers, they competed to play dominant role in post war Europe, increased rivalry, tensions, conflicts |
| Front | Kennan telegram (policy of containment) |
| Back | George kennan, US diplomat in moscow, telegram to US gov, stressed that USSR view world outside border as hostile to its existence, it's sphere of influence was defensive measure, portrayed USSR as aggressive, suggested US to take stronger stand against them to contain influence, this hardened US attitude, necessary impetus to shift foreign policy, isolationism --> containment policy, wary of USSR actions, heightened suspicions and distrust, conflict |