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Explain two of the following: - The importance of the USA's development of the atomic bomb for relations between the superpowers in the years 1945-49 - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 3
Explain two of the following: - The importance of the USA's development of the atomic bomb for relations between the superpowers in the years 1945-49. - The import... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain two of the following: - The importance of the USA's development of the atomic bomb for relations between the superpowers in the years 1945-49 - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
The importance of the USA's development of the atomic bomb for relations between the superpowers in the years 1945-49.
Answer
The USA's development of the atomic bomb played a critical role in shaping relations with the Soviet Union during the early Cold War.
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Post-War Negotiations and Tensions: President Truman believed that possessing the atomic bomb would give the US leverage in negotiations with the Soviet Union. This perception was pivotal during discussions, such as at the Potsdam Conference, where the testing of the bomb began to complicate relationships, escalating tensions between the two superpowers.
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Arms Race Initiation: The atomic bomb's development marked the beginning of a significant arms race. The US's initial monopoly on nuclear weapons prompted the Soviet Union to accelerate its own nuclear program. This race fostered an environment of increased suspicion and competition, which defined US-Soviet relations in the following decades.
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Fear of Aggression: The existence of atomic weapons instilled fear of potential aggression. The US aimed to deter Soviet expansionism in post-war Europe by demonstrating military capability, which ultimately led to a strained relationship characterized by mistrust and competition.
Step 2
The importance of the Bay of Pigs incident for relations between the USA and the Soviet Union.
Answer
The Bay of Pigs incident, which occurred in 1961, had significant ramifications for US-Soviet relations.
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Failure of Diplomacy: The unsuccessful invasion illustrated the US's aggressive stance against Fidel Castro's government in Cuba, which angered the Soviet Union and confirmed the latter's suspicion of US intentions in Latin America. This failure highlighted the lengths to which the US would go to counter perceived threats, putting further strain on diplomatic relations.
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Increased Confrontation: Subsequently, the failure of the Bay of Pigs operation led to increased tensions and a more confrontational posture from both superpowers. The Soviet Union became more entrenched in supporting Cuba, leading to actions that intensified the Cold War rivalry.
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Strengthening of Coexistence Ideologies: The incident also had implications on Soviet leader Khrushchev’s belief in coexistence. The US's failure reinforced the idea that aggressive actions could lead to unexpected ramifications, strengthening Czechoslovakia's allegiance to the Warsaw Pact and the USSR's influence in Eastern Europe.