Paper 1B — Wider world: Conflict and tension 1945–72 (Cold War)
AQA GCSE History revision on Paper 1B — Wider world: Conflict and tension 1945–72 (Cold War). Aligned to the AQA GCSE History 8145 specification. This bank has 79 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 79)
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Question 1
The 'Iron Curtain' speech was given in 1946 by...
- A) Roosevelt
- B) Stalin
- C) Churchill
- D) Eisenhower
Show answer
Answer: Churchill
Churchill (out of office post-war) coined 'an iron curtain has descended across the Continent' to describe Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. Speech crystallised Western recognition that wartime alliance with USSR had ended + a new ideological conflict had begun. Stalin called it a 'declaration of war'.
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Question 2
The Truman Doctrine (1947) committed the USA to...
- A) Supporting communism in Asia
- B) Containing the spread of communism worldwide
- C) Disarming completely
- D) Joining the UN only
Show answer
Answer: Containing the spread of communism worldwide
Triggered by Greek civil war + Turkey crisis. Truman: USA would 'support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures'. Funded the Greek government + Turkey against communist insurgents. Defined US Cold War policy for decades. Followed by Marshall Plan (1948) - $13bn to rebuild Western Europe + bind it to US.
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Question 3
The Berlin Blockade (1948-49) was Stalin's attempt to...
- A) Take all of Germany
- B) Force the Western Allies out of West Berlin by cutting off road + rail access
- C) Start WWIII directly
- D) Liberate Berlin from Nazis
Show answer
Answer: Force the Western Allies out of West Berlin by cutting off road + rail access
After Allies introduced new currency in West Germany. West Berlin was deep in Soviet zone, dependent on land routes through East Germany. Stalin closed roads + railways, hoping Western Allies would abandon Berlin. Response: BERLIN AIRLIFT - Allied planes flew in food, fuel, supplies for 11 months (~2 million tons). Stalin gave up May 1949. First major Cold War showdown - won by the West without firing a shot.
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76 more questions on Paper 1B — Wider world: Conflict and tension 1945–72 (Cold War) — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole History spec.
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