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 jurisdiction 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 rule 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. Due to 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 defense 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)

To prevent the spread of communism, 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. Due to the fact that both
countries controlled and hence had influence over some areas of Berlin, Berlin is 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)

The Berlin Crisis' 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 ties. 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 defense 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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