Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
The Atomic Bomb's impact on US-Soviet Relations (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Joel Davis
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
The Impact of the Atomic Bomb - Summary
Tensions increased dramatically between the USA and Soviet Union following the atomic bomb explosions in Japan in August 1945.
The decision to use atomic weapons against Japan was officially justified as being a way to end the war. However, there is no doubting the USA’s intention to send a clear message to Stalin and the Soviet Union
President Truman had hoped that the demonstration of the USA’s technological power would prevent other European countries - particularly those in the East - from becoming communist. He also believed that the use of atomic weapons on Japan would prevent the potential for any future wars.
On the other hand, Stalin saw the use of atomic bombs by the USA as a threat to the East and the safety of the USSR. Soviet scientists accelerated their own atomic bomb tests. Stalin became more determined to establish communism in Europe in order to protect the Soviet Union from the West.
Both the USA and the Soviet Union entered an arms race, where both sides wanted to ensure that they had more numerous and better weaponry.
Why did the USA Drop an Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima & Nagasaki?
The success of the Trinity test in July 1945 meant that the USA were capable of using atomic bombs
The USA dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945:
The first exploded in Hiroshima
The second exploded in Nagasaki
Around 120,000 Japanese civilians were killed by both bombs
Location of the atomic explosions in Japan
The USA had a number of justifications for using the atomic bombs on Japan:
Official reasons involved wanting to end the war against Japan and save US lives
Unofficial reasons were that the USA wanted to scare the Soviet Union
President Truman believed that the use of atomic bombs on Japan would make it easier for the countries of Western Europe to support the USA
He also hoped that the countries of Eastern Europe would resist Soviet expansion and ally themselves with the USA
Stalin’s Reaction to the Atomic Bomb
Stalin was informed of the success of the Manhattan Project during the Potsdam conference in July 1945
After the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, Stalin became even more determined to protect the security of the Soviet Union
Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone between Germany and the Soviet Union, full of communist countries who would protect the Soviet Union from any potential invasions from the West
Stalin accelerated the Soviet Union’s own atomic bomb project, the first successful test of which was on 29 August 1949
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A question could ask you to write a narrative account of the origins of the Cold War. This could include the development of the atomic bomb. A common misconception that students have is that a narrative account is a story. A narrative account answer should follow CHRONOLINK:
Put the sequence of events in chronological order
Link each section of the narrative to the next event that occurred. You should use linkage terms such as: 'as a consequence', 'this led to' or 'because'
You should have three sections to your narrative. Each section should include specific knowledge about the events in the narrative. Your answer should include process words such as 'affected', 'increased' and 'worsened.' This allows you to move through the narrative and explain how key themes like tension developed through the chosen event.
Why did the Atomic Bomb Increase Tension?
Truman and the USA had hoped the atomic bombs in Japan would reduce tensions and make it easier for them to prevent communist expansion in Europe
However, Truman had underestimated Stalin’s desire to protect the Soviet Union from capitalism and his belief that the West wanted to destroy communism
How did the atomic bombs increase tension between both sides?
As a result of the atomic bombs on Japan, Cold War tensions dramatically increased between the two leading superpowers
The defeat of both Germany and Japan meant both an end to the Second World War and to the ‘Grand Alliance’
Worked Example
Explain the importance of the USA’s development of the atomic bomb for relations between the superpowers in the years 1945-49
8 marks
Partial answer:
The development of the atomic bomb worsened the relations between the superpowers. The USA used two atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, in the middle of the Potsdam Conference. They did not inform the Grand Alliance of their plan. This led to an increase in Cold War tensions as it made Stalin distrust the USA more. He used the event as evidence that the USA wanted to achieve world domination. As a result, Stalin expanded the influence of the Soviet Union into Eastern Europe to create a 'buffer zone' between him and the West. This worsened US-Soviet relations as both Stalin and Truman viewed the other as hostile and a threat to world peace.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
To access all 8 marks, you would need to write another paragraph on the importance of the atomic bomb on US-Soviet relations.
In this style of question, ensure your answer has a chain of impacts in each one of your paragraphs. The worked example argues that:
The USA used the atomic bomb during the Potsdam Conference
They decided not to inform Stalin which made him distrust the West
As a result, Stalin created a buffer zone in Eastern Europe
This increased tension as both countries believed the other threatened world peace
These points link together to create a developed explanation as to why the atomic bomb impacted US-Soviet relations. Attempt to make a chain of impacts when writing your own answers to this type of question.
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