Ideological Differences Between Truman and Stalin
The US President Roosevelt died in 1945. He was replaced by Truman who was strongly anti-Communist and, as the war came to an end, the relationship between America and Russia fell apart.
Summary
In 1945, Harry S Truman became president of the USA, determined to confront Communism. He is reported to have told his advisers:
The Russians only understand one language - how many armies have you got? I'm tired of babying the Soviets.
Harry S Truman, 1945
But this was not the only cause of trouble. Historians believed that the wartime alliance between the Soviet Union and America was also wrecked by the huge differences between the two countries in:
Politics - America was capitalist, Russia was communist.
Lifestyle - America had freedom and a two-party democracy; Russia had secret police and a one-party state.
Aims - America wanted Germany to recover as a trading partner; Russia wanted to weaken Germany and create a buffer zone of friendly states around Russia.
The collapse of the wartime alliance led to a Cold War between the two superpowers.
America Russia
1. The richest country in the world. 1. The biggest country in the world.
2. A democracy with free elections, led by an elected president. 2. A one-party state led by a dictator. There were elections, but you could only vote for the Communist Party.
3. Freedom of speech and belief. 3. State control: censorship, secret police, terror and purges.
4. Capitalism - private ownership and the right to make money. 4. Communism - state ownership of the means of production, and the belief that wealth should be shared.
5. Led by Truman, who believed that Communism was evil. 5. Led by Stalin, who believed that capitalism was evil.
6. Had the atomic bomb - but was scared of Russia's conventional army. 6. Had the biggest army in the world - but was angry that Truman had not warned that he was going to drop the atomic bomb.
7. Feared the spread of communism throughout the world. 7. Was angry because America
Summary
In 1945, Harry S Truman became president of the USA, determined to confront Communism. He is reported to have told his advisers:
The Russians only understand one language - how many armies have you got? I'm tired of babying the Soviets.
Harry S Truman, 1945
But this was not the only cause of trouble. Historians believed that the wartime alliance between the Soviet Union and America was also wrecked by the huge differences between the two countries in:
Politics - America was capitalist, Russia was communist.
Lifestyle - America had freedom and a two-party democracy; Russia had secret police and a one-party state.
Aims - America wanted Germany to recover as a trading partner; Russia wanted to weaken Germany and create a buffer zone of friendly states around Russia.
The collapse of the wartime alliance led to a Cold War between the two superpowers.
America Russia
1. The richest country in the world. 1. The biggest country in the world.
2. A democracy with free elections, led by an elected president. 2. A one-party state led by a dictator. There were elections, but you could only vote for the Communist Party.
3. Freedom of speech and belief. 3. State control: censorship, secret police, terror and purges.
4. Capitalism - private ownership and the right to make money. 4. Communism - state ownership of the means of production, and the belief that wealth should be shared.
5. Led by Truman, who believed that Communism was evil. 5. Led by Stalin, who believed that capitalism was evil.
6. Had the atomic bomb - but was scared of Russia's conventional army. 6. Had the biggest army in the world - but was angry that Truman had not warned that he was going to drop the atomic bomb.
7. Feared the spread of communism throughout the world. 7. Was angry because America