11 mark
Which year did the Tehran Conference take place?
1943
1944
1945
1946
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The Origins of the Cold War, 1941-1949 (Edexcel GCSE History)
Exam Questions
19 mins19 questions
21 mark
What was the main reason why the Grand Alliance was formed during the Second World War?
To spread democracy across Europe.
To defeat the Axis powers of Germany and Japan.
To establish communism in Eastern Europe.
To develop atomic weapons.
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31 mark
What is the definition of capitalism?
An ideology where everyone is free to own property and businesses to make money.
An ideology where all property is owned by the state to ensure that everyone has a fair share.
A government that believes in freedom and equality between people by voting.
A government that is ruled by a single person or small group that has unlimited power or authority.
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41 mark
Who replaced Roosevelt and Churchill at the Potsdam Conference?
Eisenhower and Macmillan.
Truman and Attlee.
Johnson and Wilson.
Kennedy and Thatcher.
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51 mark
Which country did the Soviet Union intend to use as a buffer zone against the West?
China.
Germany.
Poland.
Japan.
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61 mark
What was a key reason for Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech in 1946?
To support Soviet expansion.
To warn against the threat of communism.
To encourage US-Soviet cooperation.
To announce his resignation.
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71 mark
Which countries were referred to as 'Baltic States' that were taken over by the Soviet Union during the Second World War?
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Poland, Hungary and Romania.
Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria.
Finland, Sweden and Norway.
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81 mark
What was the ‘Long Telegram’?
A message from Stalin warning the USA.
A report by George Kennan on Soviet intentions.
A telegram from Roosevelt to Churchill.
A request by the Soviet Union for peace talks.
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91 mark
What did Churchill mean by the ‘Iron Curtain’?
A physical barrier across Europe.
The Berlin Wall.
A military alliance between Eastern Europe and the USSR.
The division between capitalism and communism.
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101 mark
What did the Novikov Telegram suggest about the USA?
The USA wanted world domination.
The USA supported Soviet expansion.
The USA was committed to isolationism.
The USA were not concerned with European affairs.
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11 mark
Why did the USA drop atomic bombs on Japan in 1945?
To prevent Soviet expansion into Japan.
To scare Western countries to ensure that they ally with the USA.
To quickly end the war with Japan by forcing them to surrender.
To demonstrate the USA’s power to Germany.
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21 mark
Why did dropping the atomic bombs on Japan increased tensions between the USA and the USSR?
The USA did not share this nuclear technology with the USSR, causing mistrust.
The USSR refused to join the United Nations because the use of atomic bombs showed that the USA was not dedicated to maintaining world peace.
The USSR disagreed with using nuclear technology in war, especially against civilians.
The USSR feared that the use of atomic bombs could destroy the world.
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31 mark
What was one of the outcomes of the Potsdam Conference in 1945?
The complete withdrawal of Soviet troops from Eastern Europe.
The formal end of the Second World War.
The USA, Britain, France and the USSR would govern the four zones of Germany.
The division of Berlin into three zones.
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41 mark
Why did Stalin push for the creation of Soviet satellite states?
To spread capitalism across Eastern Europe.
To create a buffer zone against potential invasions.
To force an alliance with the USA.
To prove their strength so the USSR could join NATO
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51 mark
What was a cause of the Truman Doctrine?
To spread communism across Europe.
To contain the spread of communism.
To create the European Union.
To rebuild Europe after the First World War.
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11 mark
What impact did the Novikov Telegram have on US-Soviet relations?
The telegram had a significant impact on US-Soviet relations. Novikov had discovered information about the USA that shocked the USA, damaging their positive relationship.
The telegram improved relations and cooperation as it showed both countries had a line of communication.
The telegram had no impact on US-Soviet relations. The telegram stated what both countries knew about each other already.
The telegram damaged relations. It increased tension and distrust between the USA and the USSR.
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21 mark
What was the significance of the Yalta Conference for post-war Europe?
The creation of NATO to show a commitment to world peace.
The division of Germany into zones of occupation.
The USSR was allowed to absorb Eastern Europe into their territory.
The USA and the USSR would open a ‘Second Front’ by attacking Nazi-occupied France.
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31 mark
How did the atomic bomb affect US-Soviet relations?
It led to increased cooperation between the two superpowers. The USSR knew it needed to keep the USA as a friend rather than an enemy.
It had no impact on their relations. Both sides possessed nuclear technology.
It increased mistrust between the USA and the USSR. It led to an arms race as both countries wanted to have the best nuclear technology.
It resulted in the USSR adopting capitalism to be able to build the same nuclear technology as the USA had.
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41 mark
How important was ideology in the origins of the Cold War?
Ideology was very important. Both countries had a different vision of how the world should be run. They wanted to prove that either communism or capitalism was the superior ideology.
Ideology was important but other factors caused the start of the Cold War. One of these was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Ideology was not important. Both leaders used ideology as an excuse to cause a conflict after the Second World War.
Ideology played no role in the origins of the Cold War. Neither country felt strongly about communism or capitalism. The Cold War was caused by the USA and the USSR wanted to be the biggest ‘Superpower.’
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