NATO, 1949 (AQA GCSE History) : Revision Note
The importance of NATO for US-Soviet relations - Summary
Tensions between the two superpowers of the USA and the Soviet Union had increased following the creation of Cominform in 1947 and Comecon in 1949. These organisations had convinced President Truman that the Soviet Union was seeking to spread communism in Europe. The fall of Czechoslovakia to communism in 1948 further confirmed these fears. After the Soviet Union blocked access to Berlin during the Berlin Crisis, the Western powers decided to create a military alliance to make sure that they could counter any potential Soviet invasion of Western Europe. Still existing today, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established in 1949 with 12 members. This further increased tension between the East and West and prompted Stalin to create a similar military alliance in 1955, known as the Warsaw Pact. Europe was now not only divided by ideological differences but also by two rival military forces prepared for conflict. |
Why was NATO formed in 1949?
NATO was created in April 1949 in response to the growing tension between East and West following the end of the Second World War
The Berlin Crisis in 1948, followed by the communist takeover in Czechoslovakia, was the tipping point that convinced the Western powers to take a stand against the Soviet Union
The timeline in the creation of NATO
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember that the Conflict and Tension Between East and West exam tests you on your ability to connect events in an account. Using flow diagrams in your revision is a useful way to see how one event led to another event. To challenge yourself, write above each link the theme that connects the two events. For example, Cominform and Czechoslovakia link together. This is because Cominform was an agreement to bring the Eastern European governments together. Czechoslovakia is the practical application of Cominform.
What did NATO promise?
NATO was a military alliance based on collective security
If one member was attacked, all members would defend it
It was created to counter the presence of the huge Red Army in Eastern Europe and send a message to Stalin that the West was united and prepared for future war
The aims and membership of NATO
The impact of NATO
NATO marked a serious shift in US foreign policy because now they were officially prepared to use their military in Europe:
NATO further increased tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union
In August 1949, the Soviet Union successfully tested their first atomic bomb
In 1955, the Soviet Union created its own military alliance, known as the Warsaw Pact
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question could ask you how far you agree that the formation of NATO was the most important reason why Cold War tensions increased between 1945 and 1955.
To achieve Levels 3 and 4 (9-16 marks) you must discuss the stated reason in the question. For this example, you would have to discuss the creation of NATO.
For further guidance on this question, you can read this revision note on how to answer the 16-mark “How far do you agree” question.
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