SPECIFICATION INFORMATION:

•   AQA

  These webpages have been written to address the first section: 'Origins of the Cold War' of the Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 specification and the recommended Scheme of Work.

•   Edexcel

  These webpages cover the content of sections 1 & 2 of the Key Topic: 'The origins of the Cold War, 1941–58' of the Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91 specification.

•   OCR

  The OCR unit on International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 covers a wide subject-area, but you will be able to use these pages to deepen your knowledge on the background and, specifically, the Rising Tensions element of the specification..

  

Contents:

1.  From Hot War to Cold War

2.  Causes of the Cold War

3.  Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam

4.  Hiroshima and the Cold War

5.  Salami Tactics: the Soviet takeover of eastern Europe

6.  Churchill's Fulton Speech

7.  Truman Doctrine/ Marshall Plan

8.  The Berlin Blockade

9.  Interpretations

10.  Origins of the Cold War Cascade

11.  Self-test

  

Click the yellow arrow for advice on:

• How to STUDY this topic:
  • 1.   Start by reading some easy sources – for instance the ‘Basics ’ sheet in the ‘Going Deeper’ panel on this page.  Get a grasp of the basic story.

    Make a list of key dates - leave space to add other dates you may discover during your studies. 

    It might be an idea to do this before you study this unit in class.

  • 2.   Work through the study sections 1-8 above.  You can do this over time as you study the topics in lessons.

            Take advantage of some of the links to explore, more deeply, aspects of the topics which attract your interest.  Try to become ‘an expert’ on some issues.

  • 3.   Study the historiography, to learn how historians have interpreted the causes, and to consider what YOU think about the debates.
  • 4.   Plunder the Cascade webpage to help you write any essays you are given.

•  How to REVISE this topic:
  • 1.   Pre-revision:
    Skim-read the study pages in this unit to refresh your memory of what you have learned in the lessons.
  • 2.   Four weeks to go:
    Go through the topics on the Cascade webpage; for each, use the yellow arrows to think FIRST how you would answer, before checking against my suggestions.
  • 3.   Three weeks to go:
    Choose the revision factsheet which suits you best from the ‘Going Deeper’ panel, and learn it off by heart; get someone to test you on it.  Then, using the yellow arrows to check your answers, do and re-do the Self-test until you can get every question ‘right enough’.  Also, suss out the Smartass list of specialist terms with which to wow the examiner!  
  • 4.   Two weeks to go:
    Invite a friend to revise with you and do the Revision Activies together, using them as an opportunity to share all you know.
  • 5.   Last week:
    Go through the blue Exam-style Questions for your specification to rehearse how you will tackle the kind of questions you will meet in the exam.  Spend the last evening re-revising your chosen revision aid.