U.S. History Study Giude 2

1.
Groundwork of 1917
The Russian Revolution of 1917 paved the way for the rise of communism as an influential belief
system on the world stage. It established the world’s first socialist government toppling the long
rule of the Tsar. Tensions between the U.S. and Russia were driven by an interplay of
ideological, political, and economic factors, leading to shifts between cautious cooperation and
superpower rivalry. The large differences in the political systems of the two countries often
prevented them from reaching mutual understanding on key policy.
The U.S. was initially hostile to the Soviet Union for taking Russia out of World War I and was
opposed to a country based on communism. They didn’t establish diplomatic relations until
1933. By then, Joseph Stalin's regime presented itself as an obstacle to friendly relations with
the West. Although World War II brought them into alliance, based on the common goal of
defeating Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union's aggressive, antidemocratic policy toward Eastern
Europe created tensions long before the war ended.
2. WWII US-Soviet Alliance, effective?

Tensions remained high between the US and the Soviet Union before the Germans invaded
Russia in June 1941. But despite the lack of operational cooperation between the US and the
Soviet Union, the two countries still provided each other with large supplies of weapons and
other military equipment.
In total, the US received over 11 billion in materials through Lend-Lease. These included over
400,000 vehicles, armored vehicles, and aircraft. In total, the Soviets received over 17 million
tons of supplies from the Western Hemisphere during the Second World War. Also, provided
were various kinds of transportation equipment and supplies, such as steam locomotives and
dump cars. Without Russia in the war, the Axis could not be defeated in Europe, and the
position of the United Nations becomes precarious. Similarly, Russia’s post-war position in
Europe will be a dominant one. With Germany crushed, there is no one in Europe to oppose its
tremendous military forces.
3. Self-interest influence on post-war visions

In February 1946, George Kenan, a U.S. State Department official sent a message to Washington,
D.C., that explained how the Soviet Union was threat and an authoritative regime rather than a
revolutionary regime that were unable to accept coexistence with the U.S. As communist
nations began to take power, the US reacted by formulating an anti-Communist strategy. The
commitment to containing the Soviet Union's expansion made for the need for a strong military
capability, implementing the National Security Act in 1947.
The American economy was growing at a fast pace. Europe, on the other hand, was struggling
because of the Second World War. This led to the formation of the Marshall Plan. The plan
stipulated that the European nations had to work together to receive aid, enforcing unity while
promoting democracy.
4. Poland’s importance, Stalin

Stalin stated that “For the Soviet government, the question of Poland was one of honor” and
security because Poland had served as a historical corridor for forces attempting to invade
Russia. And he intended it to serve just that purpose as he wanted to expand Russia’s border
West for that very reason.
5. Settlement with Stalin circumvention

The noncommunist Polish government-in-exile, London-based was seen as most representative
of the Polish people by the United States and the United Kingdom. The final accord only said
that Poland should have a "more broadly based" government. Poland's future will be decided by
free elections at some point in the future. Many US officials were appalled by the pact, which
they saw as condemning Poland to a future of communism. Roosevelt, on the other hand, felt
unable to intervene because the Soviet army was already in occupance in Poland.
Stalin had made it obvious by March 1945 that he had no intention of honoring his pledges to
Poland's political independence. Rather, Soviet forces aided the provisional government, in
oppressing any opposition through rigging elections. When elections were eventually conducted
in 1947, it was clear that Poland would become one of the first Soviet satellite countries in
Eastern Europe.
6. End to Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease policy, between 1941 and1945, was a program in which the United States sent food,
oil, and materials to the United Kingdom, Free France, the Republic of China, and the Soviet
Union and other Allied nations. The most important front in Europe would be closed if Germany
destroyed the Soviet Union. Roosevelt felt that if the Soviets were beaten, the Allies would have
a far higher chance of losing. Roosevelt concluded that the US needed to assist the Soviets in
their struggle against the Germans.
The U.S. ended Lend-Lease policy formally on May 12, 1945, although supplies continued until
September 2, 1945, when Japan capitulated, under the "Milepost" agreement, for the entirety
of the war with Japan, which the Soviet Union entered on August 8, 1945. All Lend-Lease to the
Soviet Union ended on September 20, 1945.
7. Atomic Tensions in Potsdam

The primary topic during the Potsdam summit was Germany's postwar fate. The Soviets desired
a united Germany, but they also demanded that Germany be de-armed entirely.
But there was an elephant in the room. Truman had just been told as he arrived for the meeting
that the United States had successfully detonated the first atomic bomb. Truman quietly
conveyed to Stalin that America now had a weapon of monstrously destructive force, hoping to
use it as leverage with the Soviets in the postwar world. When the Soviet commander just
replied that he hoped the US would use it to finish the war with Japan quickly, he was
disappointed.

The Potsdam Conference ended, on a melancholy note. By the end, Truman was even
more centered in the need to pursue a strong stance toward the Soviets. Stalin had become
more convinced that the United States and the United Kingdom were plotting against the Soviet
Union. This was the last postwar conference held by the Big Three.
8. Yalta, Potsdam, and the occupation of the German state

At Yalta in February 1945, the big three – Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill – were able to agree to
divide Germany into four occupation zones and enable free elections in Eastern European
nations despite the disagreements over Poland and the fact that Germany had not yet been
defeated. Russia was asked to join the United Nations and pledged to join the fight against
Japan once Germany was defeated. At Potsdam July 1945, Germany had been
defeated, Roosevelt had died, and Churchill had lost the 1945 election, thus there were open
disputes. Truman left enraged by the size of the reparations and the emerging establishing of a
communist government in Poland. In addition, there was a mist of atomic bomb in the leader’s
minds.
The difficulties were the same, but there was no longer any goodwill to address them as the
nations didn't need to stick together. As a result, numerous pledges were violated among them.

U.S. History Study Giude 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

U.S. History Study Giude 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

U.S. History Study Giude 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1.

2. WWII US-Soviet Alliance, effective?

3. Self-interest influence on post-war visions

4. Poland’s importance, Stalin

5. Settlement with Stalin circumvention

7. Atomic Tensions in Potsdam

8. Yalta, Potsdam, and the occupation of the German state

You might also like