Destalinization
Nikita Khrushchev , the ruler who came into power after Stalin, began a process known as "Destalinization." He first discredited Stalin and then reformed Soviet Russia. He removed anything in Russia that had to do with Stalin, hence the name Destalinization. Khrushchev also reformed the systems that were placed under Stalin to make them less harsh. For example, he allowed prisoners to send letters home to their families which was not allowed during Stalin’s reign. Many places that featured Stalin’s name, such as Stalingrad and Staliniri, were also renamed to show their hatred towards the ruler. Destalinization was successful.
Brinkmanship
- The art or practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety in order to gain a large advantage.
- The United States used this practice when trying to end the war with Japan when threatening Japan with a second atomic bomb when they would not surrender, this ended in the dropping of the second atomic bomb
Warsaw Pact
- The Warsaw Pact was a collective defensive meeting between eight communist states in response to the NATO pact.
- Troops in the Warsaw Pact were used in ending the Czech revolt in 1968.
- The ending of the Cold War made the Warsaw pact unnecessary and unwanted.
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Plan, soon followed the Truman Doctrine in June 1947. This plan gave $13 billion dollars to help the struggling economies of war-torn Europe. This was to keep communism from attacking the weak economies and spreading.
Containment & the Truman Doctrine
President Truman and America at this time felt threatened by the expansion of communism. Instead of getting rid of communism it be easier to stop it, or contain it. To start this policy of containment he enacted the Truman Doctrine which paid money to any nation feeling pressure by the expansion of communism.
The Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference, held in Russia, was when Great Britain, America and Russia, represented by Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Stalin discussed post world war II plans for the world. This included giving back land to the nations who lost territory during the war, divide Germany among Britain, France, America and Russia and also to help establish new governments in states that were conquered.
The real tensions of the Cold War began here. Russia wanted to have buffer communist states to be its allies; however, other more democratic and capitalistic nations realized with these states the communists could easily overpower them.
The real tensions of the Cold War began here. Russia wanted to have buffer communist states to be its allies; however, other more democratic and capitalistic nations realized with these states the communists could easily overpower them.