The Impact of the Telegrams (AQA GCSE History) : Revision Note
What did the telegrams show about Cold War tensions? - Summary
After the demonstration of the atomic bomb on Japan, tensions between the USA and Soviet Union were made worse following the Long Telegram and Novikov Telegram in 1946. Both Truman and Stalin were concerned about the attitudes of the other, especially following the end of the Second World War. Consequently, telegrams were sent from members of each government, detailing what they believed the other side was planning. Winston Churchill's speech in 1946 further deepened the tensions between the Soviet Union and USA, by confirming that there was a clear divide in Europe between Capitalism in the West and Communism in the East. |
Soviet attitudes: Kennan’s Long Telegram
George Kennan was the USA’s ambassador in Moscow
His opinion on the Soviet Union was highly respected because he had lived and worked there for many years
In February 1946, Kennan sent a telegram from Moscow back to President Truman
It was nicknamed the ‘Long Telegram’ because it contained around 8,000 words, far more than a typical telegram message
The telegram contained Kennan’s assessment of Soviet attitudes towards the USA
Stalin saw capitalism as a threat to communism that needed to be destroyed
The Soviet Union and the spread of communism could be ‘contained’
Peace would not be possible between the Soviet Union and the USA
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The Conflict and Tension Between East and West exam tests you on your understanding of the narrative and themes of the Cold War. The Long Telegram is significant in changing US foreign policy.
Before the Second World War, the US followed the principle of Isolationism. After the Long Telegram, the USA got more involved in international affairs. They believed that they could fight and 'contain' communism. As a result, they implemented the policy of Containment. The effects of Containment can be seen in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Novikov Telegram
Nikolai Novikov was the Soviet ambassador in Washington:
In September 1946, Novikov sent a telegram from Washington back to Stalin
The Soviet Union were aware of the Long Telegram and wanted to make a similar report on the USA
The telegram contained Novikov’s assessment of American attitudes towards the Soviet Union
The USA wanted to build up its military strength to achieve world domination
Following Roosevelt’s death, the USA no longer wanted to cooperate with the Soviet Union
The American people would support a war against the Soviet Union
Why did the telegrams increase tension?
The relationship between the USA and the Soviet Union had broken down following both the defeat of Germany and the demonstration of the atomic bomb on Japan
Both sides believed the other to be untrustworthy and planning their destruction
These fears were confirmed in both Kennan’s and Novikov’s telegram
How did the telegrams influence US and Soviet policy?
A British perspective: Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech
Winston Churchill was no longer the British Prime Minister, but he was still a very influential figure
Churchill was concerned at how Hungary, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria had become Communist
In March 1946, Churchill delivered a speech about the Soviet Union being a threat to freedom and peace:
from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent
The 'Iron Curtain' in post-war Europe
The ‘Iron Curtain’ refers to the impenetrable divide between capitalism in the West and communism in the East
It was not a physical divide
The 'Iron Curtain' represents a divide in ideas about how countries should be run
As Churchill gave the speech in the USA, Stalin believed that it also reflected the beliefs of Truman and the US government
This led to even greater tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union, leading to a build-up of military forces by both sides
Worked Example
Source A is critical of the Soviet Union. How do you know?
[4 marks]
Source A: A cartoon published in the USA in 1947 by J.N. (Ding) Darling. The figures on the left represent the USA, Britain and France. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society owns the copyright of "Ding" Darling cartoons.
Answer:
Source A is critical of the Soviet Union because of its content. The characters labelled USA, Britain, and France are struggling to pull open a large iron wall labelled "Iron Curtain" (1). This suggests that the USSR is being secretive and refusing cooperation. The USA believed the USSR was acting in secrecy because, after the Second World War, Stalin had placed Communist governments in Eastern European countries, increasing fears of a Communist takeover of Europe (1).
It is also critical due to the provenance. The cartoon was published in the USA in 1947 by J.N. (Ding) Darling, a cartoonist likely to reflect Western views at the start of the Cold War (1). This was just after Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech and the start of Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe. Therefore, the cartoon reflects American concerns that the USSR was dividing Europe and no longer wanted to work with the West (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You must use the provenance of the provided source to answer the 4-mark “How do you know” question.
The provenance usually tells you:
who created the source
what type of source it is, for example, a newspaper article
when the source was made
where the source was created
For the example question, here is a breakdown of the provenance of Source A:
Who | J.N. (Ding) Darling, an American cartoonist |
|---|---|
What | A cartoon on the Iron Curtain |
When | 1947 |
Where | The USA |
For further guidance on this question, you can read this revision note on how to answer the 4-mark “How do you know” question.
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