1 Flashcards
Briefly explain the key features of Cominform (1947) and
Comecon (1949).
Set up and controlled by the USSR, this was to bring the
communist parties of eastern Europe together and co–ordinate
their activities. Cominform was anti–British and especially anti–
American.
Explain why there was an uprising in Hungary in 1956.
Explains why causes led to the uprising
The student supports the statement with relevant contextual
knowledge to show how the event led to the stated outcome.
e.g. Hatred of Soviet control and the Hungarian leader, Rakosi
eventually led to demonstrations in October 1956. The
Hungarians disliked the communist agricultural policies and the
withdrawal of basic human freedoms. Moreover, Hungarians
disliked having to pay for Soviet troops being stationed in
Hungary and the biggest insult of all– the use of the Russian
language in their own country.
Explains how factors are interlinked or prioritises factors.
LINKING
As Level 2 plus
… Soviet control, attempts to relax control with de–
Stalinisation, Nagy’s attempts to break free and then
Khrushchev’s handling of the crisis show why there was chaos in
Hungary. Without the imposition of tough Soviet control, it is
clear to see why there was an uprising.
Briefly explain the key features of the Bay of Pigs invasion, 1961
e.g. About 1,500 Cuban exiles based in Florida had some backing
from the USA in their attempt to invade and overthrow Castro.
They received money and training from the CIA, however, at the
last moment the US government withdrew military support.
Briefly explain the key features of the Soviet invasion of
Czechoslovakia, 1968.
Soviet Union had objected to the changes introduced by
Dubcek and saw them as a threat to communism and the Warsaw
Pact. There was no military resistance from the Czech people but
there was universal hostility from them.
Explain why Berlin was a Cold War flashpoint in the years 1957–
63.
Explains why causes led to crises
The student supports the statement with relevant contextual
knowledge to show how the event led to the stated outcome.
e.g. West Berlin came to be a symbol of the success of capitalism
and contrasted against the dour nature of communism. Many fled
to West Berlin from the east in order to secure a better life and
the brain drain began. Thousands began to leave the east.
• 4–5 marks for one developed argument.
• 6–7 marks for two developed arguments.
• 8–9 marks for three developed arguments or more.
3 10–12 Explains how factors are interlinked or prioritises factors
As Level 2 plus
… Berlin was the symbol of the Cold War and neither side
wanted to be defeated here. The USA was unwilling to go to war
over Berlin but was unwilling to leave it. Crises seemed to be
every two years or so, the flood of refugees led to the building
of the Wall and then Kennedy made his famous speech. For both
countries, it was easier to fight the Cold War in Berlin than have
a hot war
Briefly explain the key features of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), 1987.
Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to eliminate nuclear and
conventional ground–launched ballistic and cruise missiles with
specific ranges. Within four years the two sides were to destroy
hundreds of these missiles and there were stringent procedures
whereby inspectors checked the treaty was being followed. The
treaty was a great breakthrough.
Briefly explain the key features of the collapse of the Warsaw
Pact in 1991.
The summit between Gorbachev and Bush in 1990 covered
START talks and within one year agreements had been made. The
USA and USSR agreed to reduce their nuclear weapons and thus
the threat of war receded. There seemed no need for east–west
alliances. As the Soviet Union disintegrated and the countries of
eastern Europe became independent, there was no need for the
Warsaw Pact.
Explain why relations between the USA and the Soviet Union
changed in the years 1981–85.
e.g. Reagan was keen to make the USA the most powerful
country in the world and he challenged the USSR. He put forward
the idea of the SDI and called the USSR the ‘evil empire’. He
wanted to stop the spread of communism and was prepared to
increase US defence spending.
LINKING
As Level 2 plus
… Relations changed not only because of Reagan but because of
the lack of continuity in the Soviet leadership. Relations changed
for the better on 1985, when Gorbachev took over in the Soviet
Union because he realised that the Soviet Union needed to
change.
Briefly explain the key features of the events of the Hungarian
Uprising (1956).
e.g. After the ‘secret speech’, there were riots in Hungary
against Soviet control and as a result, Khrushchev agreed to the
appointment of Nagy, a more liberal leader. Nagy wanted to
leave the Warsaw Pact and move towards a democracy.
Khrushchev did not want any changes so he ordered in tanks and
there followed several weeks of fighting. Nagy was arrested and
executed.
Explain why relations between the USA and USSR worsened in the
years 1949–55.
e.g. As the Berlin Blockade developed, it became clear that the
two former allies had become enemies. Each Superpower tried to
develop its own area of Europe and the Soviet Union formed
Comecon in retaliation to the Marshall Plan. This then continued
when they formed West and East Germany from their zones of
occupation.
LINKING
As Level 2 plus
The differences between the Superpowers grew and after the
failure of the Blockade, Stalin wanted greater control and so he
spread his economic influence, just like the USA. It was perhaps
the formation of the two military alliances which created the
greatest tension - NATO in 1949 and the Warsaw Pact in 1955.
Briefly explain the key features of the events of the crisis about
Berlin in 1961.
e.g. Khrushchev was aware that East Berliners were leaving the
city at an alarming rate and he had to stop them. The only way
to stop the brain drain and the threat to East Germany’s
economy was to build a barrier and in August 1961, the Wall was
constructed.
Briefly explain the key features of the events of the Cuban
Missiles Crisis in October 1962
e.g. Once the USA knew there were missile bases, Kennedy
decided to place a naval quarantine around Cuba. Any military
vessel or ship carrying materials for the bases would not be
permitted to pass. Any attempt to pass would be met with force.
The USSR turned several ships away and after an exchange of
letters, Khrushchev pulled out the bases. The USA also pulled out
its missile bases from Italy and Turkey.
Explain why Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces invaded
Czechoslovakia in 1968.
e.g. The Soviet Union was concerned that the basic ideas of the
Prague Spring might spread to other members of the Warsaw
Pact and lead to a weakening of the Soviet Union’s control. In
addition, Ulbricht, the leader of East Germany and Gomulka,
leader of Poland, were frightened that such democratic ideas
would cause uprisings in their own countries.
LINKING
As Level 2 plus
The spread of democracy in a Warsaw Pact country and the idea
that democracy might be demanded by other Soviet satellite
states pushed the Soviet Union to send forces into
Czechoslovakia. However, the fear that Czechoslovakia might
leave the Warsaw Pact and join NATO was perhaps the main
reason behind military intervention.
Briefly explain the key features of the summit conferences
between the Superpowers in the years 1985–88.
e.g. The summit conferences proved to be the breakthrough in
Superpower relations. The first meeting in Iceland achieved little
because Reagan still wanted to keep SDI. However, at the third
meeting in 1987, the INF Treaty was signed and this signalled a
clear improvement. The summit conference in Moscow in 1988
showed the world that the USA and the USSR were now on very
friendly relations.
Briefly explain the key features of the collapse of the Soviet
Union in the years 1989–91.
e.g. Economic problems led to Gorbachev relaxing the Soviet
Union’s grip on the satellite states and in 1989 the iron curtain
came down. Allowing freedom in eastern Europe had tremendous
effects on the Soviet Union and in 1990, Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania declared themselves independent. There were other
demands for independence by national groups and this pressure
led to the end of the Soviet Union.
Explain why relations between the USA and Soviet Union changed
in the years 1979–83.
e.g. President Reagan hated communism and called the Soviet
Union and its satellites the ‘evil empire’. He wanted to stop the
spread of communism and announced that he would increase
defence spending in order to challenge the Soviet Union. He took
the arms race further than ever when he announced the
development of SDI. His aggressive policy clearly worsened
relations with the Soviet Union.
LINKING
As Level 2 plus
The invasion of Afghanistan was crucial in the change in relations
because it ended détente. However, the policies of Reagan were
perhaps the most important reason behind the changes. His
decision to increase defence spending and his open hostility in
speeches made it clear that unless the Soviet Union softened its
policies then the USA would not avoid conflict.
Briefly explain the key features of the Warsaw Pact, 1955.
e.g. …The Pact was created by the USSR and formed in
response to West Germany joining NATO. It was called the
Eastern European Mutual Assistance Treaty and each
country agreed that an attack on one was an attack on all.
Military exercises were held in each country on a rotating
basis and the overall head of forces was a Soviet
commander.
Explain why relations between the USA and USSR
worsened in the years 1947–49.
e.g. …1947 seemed to be a year when the wartime
alliance broke down. Following Britain’s inability to
continue offering support to the monarchists in Greece
against the communists, the USA stepped in with aid. It
offered $400million of military and economic aid to
support the government. From this emerged the Truman
Doctrine whereby the USA promised to defend any
country being threatened by ‘armed minorities or outside
pressure’. He meant communists and Stalin saw this as
a threat and thus began the open worsening of relations.
LINKING
e.g. … Relations between the Superpowers had already
been deteriorating before 1947, but as soon as the
Truman Doctrine was issued it seemed they could not be
improved. The Marshall Plan further threatened the
Soviet Union and then the response of Moscow with
Cominform and Comecon and the Berlin Blockade all
served to worsen an already bad situation. Though the
reasons are linked, the Truman Doctrine would appear to
be the root cause.
Describe one international reaction to the Soviet invasion
of Czechoslovakia in 1968.
e.g. Yugoslavia and Romania condemned the invasion and
split
the communist world by making an alliance with
Communist
China.
Briefly explain the key features of the opposition to Soviet
control in Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1968.
e.g. …The Soviet Union had forced Czech industry to
produce materials for the Soviet economy. The Czechs had
experienced falling living standards and began to demand reforms and this meant attacking the leadership of
Novotny who followed whatever Moscow said. Novotny’s
position was challenged and he was replaced by a more
liberal leader, Dubcek.
Briefly explain the key features of the refugee problem in
Berlin in the years 1957–61.
e.g. …There had been no physical border in Berlin after
1945 and it was easy for people to move between the
zones of occupation. As the Soviet Union imposed its rule
on its zones, many Germans began to seek refuge in the
West. Numbers increased in the late 1950s so that by
early 1961 more than 20,000 people were leaving the East
via Berlin. Many were skilled workers.
Explain why there was a crisis over Cuba in 1962.
e.g. …Following the Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuba grew
much closer to the USSR and by the end of 1961 there
were Soviet military advisers on the island. During Spring
and Summer 1962, Khrushchev sent more advisers,
military supplies and then technicians who began to
construct ballistic missile bases. When a U2 spy plane
from the USA photographed the bases the crisis began.
LINKING
As Level 2 plus
e.g. …The long term cause is the arrival to power of
Castro and his actions led to the trade embargo with the
USA. This led to the USSR becoming involved and
escalating its influence. However, the crisis was brought
about by the construction of the missiles bases and
Kennedy’s decision to make a stand.
Briefly explain the key features of détente in the years
1972–75
e.g. …Helsinki was a high point when Agreement were
reached about human rights, security and co-operation.35
countries signed agreements which recognised the frontiers of Europe and the Soviet Union accepted the
existence of West Germany. This seemed to relax relations
and was a key feature of détente.
Briefly explain the key features of the loosening Soviet
grip on eastern Europe in 1989.
e.g. …Gorbachev had made it clear in 1988 that he would
not interfere in the politics of Warsaw Pact members. This
was the Sinatra Doctrine. Demonstrations were growing in
East Germany and East Berlin and people demanded
greater freedom. Free elections were demanded and the
East German government allowed free movement through
Berlin. This led to the Wall being knocked down.
Explain why relations between the USA and Soviet Union
changed in the years 1983–87.
e.g. …The arrival of Gorbachev as leader of the USSR
really changed relations. He realised that the USSR could
not keep up the arms race with the USA and he also
knew that he had to sort out the Soviet economy. He was
prepared to meet Reagan and make deals. His approach
led to summits which, after a frosty start led to real
improvements and culminated in the INF Treaty in 1987.
LINKING
e.g. …Both Reagan and Gorbachev are crucial in the
changing relations. Reagan’s hardline attitude and
announcement of SDI really concerned the USSR. When
Gorbachev became leader he faced up to the problems
facing his country and was prepared to make changes.
Yet so was Reagan. In this instance it is like the chicken
and the egg – what is clear is that by 1989, the two
Superpowers announced that the Cold War was over
Describe one reason why the Marshall Plan was drawn up in 1947.
e.g. Many countries in Europe were in no position to rebuild
their economies because of the war and the US stepped in to
help.
Briefly explain the key features of the Teheran Conference, 1943.
e.g. The Allies agreed that the Soviet Union should have a sphere
of influence in Eastern Europe at the end of the war. This would
give the Soviet Union some security and prevent threats from its
neighbours.
Briefly explain the key features of Soviet rule over Hungary in the
years 1945–55
e.g. The Soviet Union established an oppressive regime and set up
a communist government, banning all other parties. Control was
established by means of a strict police, army and Soviet officials
in the government.
