Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
The Impact of the Telegrams (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Joel Davis
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
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.
The Long Telegram by George Kennan encouraged the USA’s greatest fear that the Soviet Union wanted to destroy capitalism. However, the USA believed that Soviet expansion could be ‘contained’.
Later that year, Nikola Novikov’s telegram back to Stalin implied that the USA wanted to take over the world, which would lead to the destruction of communism.
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
The Long Telegram, February 1946
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The Superpower Relations 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
The Novikov Telegram, September 1946
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
The telegrams led to both sides adopting policies toward the other:
How did the telegrams influence US and Soviet policy?
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 Long and Novikov Telegrams. 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.
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’ and the divide between East and West
The ‘iron’ refers to the impenetrable divide between capitalism in the West and communism in the East
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
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