Berlin, Cuba and Czechoslovakia Flashcards
In what year was the Berlin wall constructed?
1961
What were the key causes of the Berlin Crisis? (Berlin Wall)
- East Germans fleeing.
- West Germany joining NATO in 1955 and being rich.
- The Berlin Ultimatum and Vienna Summit.
- Increased defence spending (by $3.5 billion by Kennedy, 30% by Khrushchev.)
What were the key features of the Berlin crisis? (Berlin Wall)
- 3 million people crossing from east to west in 1946-1960 due to bad economies.
- High standard of living in the west contrasted massively with that of the east.
What were the consequences of the Berlin Crisis? (Berlin Wall)
- Flow of refugees reduced to a trickle.
- Western nations had a propaganda victory as it seemed that communists had to put up a wall to stop their citizens leaving.
- Wall became symbol of division in the world.
- Huge difficulties for German people- families split.
What was issued by Khrushchev in 1958?
The Berlin Ultimatum.
In what years was the Cuban Missile crisis?
1962
When did Castro become president of Cuba?
1958
What were the key causes of the Cuban Missile crisis?
- Castro coming into power.
- Cuba becoming close with the USSR.
- Khrushchev sent military supplies to Cuba
- The U-2 spy plane taking pictures of a missile site on Cuba.
When did the crisis peak?
October 1962 (the Thirteen Days)
What were the key features of the Cuban Missile crisis?
- The naval blockade.
- Crisis nearly started a war.
- Khrushchev puts soviet missiles in Cuba.
- Crisis was solved by a deal between superpowers.
What were the consequences of the Cuban Missile crisis?
- Kennedy’s status and prestige increased.
- Khrushchev humiliated and was removed in 1964.
- Hotline telephone link set up.
- The partial test ban treaty signed.
- Began trading with each other.
- The Nuclear Non- proliferation treaty in 1968.
- SALT began.
When was the Czechoslovakian crisis?
1968
What were the causes of the Czech crisis?
- Memories of brutal murder of Jan Masryk.
- The Czech leader (Antonin Novotny) was a hard line communist who refused to introduce reforms, even Khrushchev’s de-Stalinisation policy.
- The poor economy.
- Many Czechs wanting democracy.
What were the key features of the Czech crisis?
- Prague Spring reforms.
- Soviets invading Czechoslovakia.
What were the consequences of the Czech crisis?
- Demonstrations against the Soviets until April 1969.
- The Czech communist part purged.
- Dubcek forced to resign.
- The Brezhnev Doctrine.
- Some communist countries began moving away from Moscow.
- Worsened relations between east and west, but détente continued.
What were the Prague Spring reforms and who were they introduced by?
- Were introduced by Dubcek.
- reforms were; censorship of press was ended, other political parties apart from the Communist party allowed and some political prisoners were released.
Who became the Communist Party Secretary in Czechoslovakia in 1967?
Alexander Dubcek.
What did these reforms represent in terms of tensions?
The easing of tensions between the east and west after the Missile crisis.
How did America react to the Czech crisis?
They did nothing- they were busy fighting the Vietnam War.
What did the end of the Prague Spring show?
That the soviet leadership would not tolerate reform in its satellite states.
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
That a threat to a communist country was a threat to all and that force would be used whenever necessary to keep the soviet satellites under soviet control.
What was the Bay of Pigs?
- US sent Cuban exiles to fight communism in Cuba in 1961
- 1400 exiles vs 20000 army
- Humiliating defeat
- Soviets became friends with Cuba
