COURTNEY EARLE

GRADE 12
HISTORY
SBA TASK 001
SOURCE BASED TASK
THE COLD WAR
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
THE COLD WAR

1.1 Use Source 1A.

1.1.1 Who made up the Western Allies? (3x1) (3)

Britain, The United States, Russia.

1.1.2 Using information from the source and your own knowledge,
discuss the disagreements the Big Three had at the Potsdam
Conference. (2x2) (4)

The Big Three discussed the effects of World War Two at the Potsdam Conference.
Regarding further governing Germany, they were unable to come to terms. Stalin
wished for Germany to break down and to pay Russia reparations for the 20 million
people who died in World War 2. President Truman opposed a second Treaty of
Versailles because he did not want to make the same errors made at the end of
World War One, which led to the emergence of Hitler's Germany and the Second
World War.

1.1.3 Explain the statement: “The Potsdam Agreement consisted of a

comparatively short statement of principle...” (1x2) (2)

The Potsdam Agreement included far fewer principles than documents like the
Treaty of Versailles and others. Both agreements included provisions for how
Germany would be ruled following the separate wars.

1.1.4 Identify what completed the divide between East and West Berlin. (1x1)
(1)

The introduction of the Allied currency reform completed the division of Berlin into
East and West.

1.1.5 Account for why the four-power control of Berlin was “bound to fail”.
(1x2) (2)

The four-power control was "bound to fail" since the powers did not work together.
Separate governments, currencies, and police forces resulted from this. The 4-power
arrangement would then lead to conflicts between the several powers in charge of
Berlin.

1.2 Use Source 1B

1.1.1 Explain how the USA would benefit most from the removal of the USA
and Russia from
Berlin? (1x2) (2)

It would reduce tensions between the USA and Russia as they would no longer be
vying for control of Berlin. Additionally, it would reduce the likelihood of attacks from
either side, which would benefit the United States, Russia, the citizens of Berlin, as
well as the members of NATO and the Warsaw Pact since there would be no need
for mutual defence if no attacks were to be launched.

1.1.2 Name the two differing ideologies of USA and USSR. (2x1) (2)

Communism in the USSR and Capitalism in the USA.

1.1.3 Explain why Americans would be watching the Berlin situation “with
great concern”. (1x2) (2)

Americans would be watching the situation in Berlin "with great concern" as they
battle the spread of communism on Russia's side. Additionally, Berlin was under the
control of both the USA and Russia, raising the possibility of attacks and escalating
tensions. This would be bad for Berlin, Russia, and the United States.

1.1.4 Provide your thoughts on the recommendation made by Arthur Baer.

(1x1) (1)

I feel that implementing Arthur Baer's suggestion will lead to a better result. The
likelihood that one side would attempt to overthrow the other would decline if the US
and Russia were removed from Berlin, resulting in a reduction in Cold War tensions
and an improvement in relations between the two countries and their allies
internationally.

1.2.5 Refer to Sources 1A and 1B. Explain how the information in Source 1A
prompts the opinion of Arthur Baer’s in Source 1B. (2x2) (4)

The 4-power control of Berlin is discussed in Source 1A along with how this led to
the division of Berlin into many cities with various governments, police forces, and
later, various currencies. The lack of cooperation between these four powers
regarding how Germany was to be run is also mentioned in Source 1A. Source 1B
demonstrates that it is of the opinion that the Soviet Union and the United States
should be expelled from Berlin in order to reduce tensions since Berlin was already
beginning to suffer as a result of these stressful and uncooperative conditions.
1.3 Use Source 1C
1.3.1 What was the purpose of the formation of NATO? (1x2) (2)

President Truman wanted to keep American forces in Europe because he thought

their departure would endanger American security, which is why NATO was first
established. Along with this, the Soviet Union's occupation of Czechoslovakia
confirmed Truman's concerns. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was
established as a result of the Berlin Blockade, which drew together a defensive
Western Military. In the end, NATO was established for the Western Allies' mutual
defence.

1.3.2 List 3 members of NATO. (3x1) (3)

The United States, France and Britain.

1.3.3 What was the Berlin Blockade? (1x2) (2)

All points of interaction between Berlin and the outside world were shut down during
the Berlin Blockade. The Western Allies lost access to Berlin via the railroad and
canal.

1.3.4 Explain why “the Berlin Blockade was a low point for international
relations”. (2x2)
(4)

Due to how much more polarized the world became as a result of the Berlin
Blockade, it was a low moment for international relations. Because of ideological
disagreements, trade would be difficult as a result, and some nations would refuse to
continue trading with others.

1.3.5 Define the term “mutual defence” in the context of the source. (1x2) (2)

According to this source, mutual defence refers to the NATO member states'
agreement to support one another militarily in the event of an attack on a member
state.

1.4 Use Source 1D

1.4.1 Explain why Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone around the USSR.
(1x2) (2)

Stalin sought to establish a buffer zone around the USSR to defend it from any
potential attacks from anti-communist nations.
1.4.2 Define the term ‘Sphere of Influence’. (1x2) (2)

"Spheres of influence" refers to the foreign occupation of a region. Because both

countries controlled and had influence over some areas of Berlin, Berlin was
regarded in this context as being under the influence of both Russia and the United
States.

1.4.3 Name TWO countries that came under control of the USSR. (2x1) (2)

Romania and Poland.

1.5 Using information from the relevant sources and your own knowledge,
write a paragraph of about TEN to FIFTEEN lines (about 100 words) in which
you discuss how the Berlin Blockade contributed to Cold War tensions
between the Western powers and the Soviet Union. (8)

During the Berlin Crisis' the four-power control was not cooperative in the run-up to
or during it, according to Source 1A. They were unable to come to an agreement on
how to govern Berlin, which resulted in two distinct governments, currencies, and
police forces between the two parts of Berlin. As no decisions were made regarding
how Berlin should be governed, this lack of cooperation led to a great deal of tension
between these powers. The installation of the Berlin Blockade had led to further
divisions within Berlin and its ruling powers, as Source 1B demonstrates. Berlin
became a contentious location as a result of the tensions between the Western Allies
and the Soviet Union, which had a negative impact on international relations. The
Warsaw Pact, NATO, and the Berlin Wall are all implemented in Source 1C. As
nations declined to trade with the United States, Russia, and Germany, the Berlin
Wall represents a decrease in international relations. Further conflicts resulted from
the fact that basic needs were now more challenging to get. The growth of NATO
and the Warsaw Pact was beneficial for the countries that made up both alliances,
but the ongoing mutual defence of the two sides increased tensions because neither
side was willing to give ground. The Cold War's tensions increased as a result of the
brinkmanship-like action that followed. This source also demonstrates how the Cold
War had gained widespread recognition. As a result, tension would have grown
across the rest of the globe about the possibility of the Cold War evolving into a "Hot
War." The Iron Curtain, which was put in place to shield Russia from invasion by
capitalist states, is shown on a map in Source 1D. However, as capitalist nations
fought for and alongside those in the iron curtain, this exacerbated already existing
conflicts. The Berlin Blockade contributed to Cold War tensions between the
Western Powers and the Soviet Union, as can be observed by using Sources 1A,
1B, 1C, and 1D.

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