CIVIL RIGHTS/ Divided Union 1945-1974 Flashcards
HISTORY REVISION 1.8.24
How is the USA governed?
3 Branches
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
What does the legislative government do?
*Writes the laws
*Confirms presidential
appointments
*Ratifies treaties
*Grants money
*Declares wars
What does the executive branch do?
*Proposes laws
*Administers laws
*Command armed forces
*negotiates treaties
*conducts foreign policies
*appoints ambassadors and other officials
Name 6 key Features of the constitution
republicanism
federalism
Limited gov
separation of powers
checks and balances
Individual rights
What does the judicial branch do?
Interprets the constitution and other laws
Reviews lower court decisions
What is republicanism?
Principle of gov of the people by the people for the people -Abe Lincoln Gettysburg 1863
Belief in representative Gov
EST. foundations of democracy
Describe Federalism
System of gov shared powers between federal and state
Name some aspects of limited gov
Gov subject to rule of law- if a member breaks it then they would face trial
prevents tyranny as gov limited by laws
What does it mean by separation of power in terms of the constitution
Principle 3 branches
gov separate in terms of personal - cannot be a member of 2 branches eg Barack O resigning from senate
What provides citizens in USA with constitutional rights
The First Amendment of - Bill of Rights
1789
What was the Cold War
Tension and rivalry between USA and USSR 1945-1990
What does USSR stand for
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Why was there tension between USA and USSR
Belief in diff ideologies
USA wants to spread democracy and capitalism
USSR wants communism
How did the USA and USSR fight
Indirectly and by proxy
weapons to non communist sides
Korean War (1950-53) is first example - USA support south Korea
Who emerged as the superpowers after WW2
USSR USA
What did the term ‘East’ mean
USSR and her ALLIES in Eastern Europe
Poland East Germany Czechoslovakia Bulgaria Romania Hungary
Was Yugoslavia part of the East?
Yes and communist BUT not directly under the influence of USSR during the Cold War
When was the Russian revolution
October 1917
Why was the West shocked by the Bolsheviks
The executed the Romanovs - royals
Lenin used force to overtake gov
Who did Britain France and USA provide aid to
Anti communist Russians
West suspicious that Communism taking over
Who became leader of Russia in 1928
Joseph Stalin
What did Stalin Fear
Western Invasion
What led to tensions btw Russia and West before 1945
Mutual distrust
differnce of ideologies
What year did Stalin become leader
1928
What forced the West and USSR to become temporary partners?
The threat of Hitler - they bid to destroy Nazis
What was the Grand Alliance?
It was made up of USA USSR Britain France to lead a fight against the AXIS powers (Germany Italy Japan) in WW2
Why was there tension in the Grand Alliance?
Stalin had previously signed the Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact in August 1939 with Hitler
Why was Stalin increasingly suspicious of the West?
The delayed the opening of the Second Front
What was the Second Front?
The border between USSR and Poland which could have eased pressure on Red army who were doing the brunt of fight against nazis
What did Stalin suspect interns of the West and the Second Front?
Stalin thought they were deliberately delaying sending help so the nazis could kill many more soviets and thus weaken communism
When were the Yalta Potsdam conferences
1945
Who met at the Yalta Conference?
Churchill Roosevelt Stalin
What were the allies keen to agree on at Yalta?
Take actions after victory over nazis
Why was it Roosevelt’s last meeting with the leaders?
He died in April 1945
What were the Yalta Agreements
USSR needed to help the West fight Japs
Germany divided into 4 zones post war
nazis brought to criminal trial
UN created
Eastern Europe Soviet sphere of influence
Name some of the disagreements at Yalta
Stalin disagreed with how much reparations Germany should pay he wanted 20 billion dollars
Stalin wants Poland as a barrier against future invasion
he wants a friendly Poland and protection against Germany- west thought Stalin wanted control and no democracy
When was Potsdam Conference?
July 1945
Who was at the Potsdam Conference?
Stalin, Harry Truman and Clement Attlee
Since Yalta where had the red army liberated the most?
Eastern Europe
Where did the red army remain in 1945?
Germany- east Poland Romania Bulgaria Hungary
What type of gov did Stalin set up in Poland in 1945 and what did the west think?
Communist and the west was suspicious of USSR motives
What did the USA test in secret in 16th July 1945?
The first atomic bomb
How many zones was Berlin split into
4
When was the Potsdam Conference?
July 1945
Name some of the agreements in Potsdam Conference
Divide Germany into 4 zones
run by Britain USA USSR
Demilitarise Germany
Establish democracy - free elections and speech
Reparations-raw materials
USSR given 1/4 in return for food and coal from soviets
Ban Nazi Party
What did they disagree on during Potsdam Conference in 1945?
The amount of reparations - USSR want Germany to be weak and USA want revive to prevent rise extremism in future
Truman wants free elections
Stalin wants ‘friendly governments’ in Eastern Europe
Why did USSR want to spread communism in Eastern Europe?
USSR had been invaded twice before by Germany
USSR invaded once by west in 20th century
Eastern Europe seen as buffer zone against aggressive nations
what methods did USSR use to overtake Eastern Europe?
Coalition gov
Communists given powerful positions
opposition forced to leave
Rigged elections
which countries foreign policy was responsible for beginning of Cold War?
Americas- under Truman 1945-52
What anti communist measures did Truman introduce?
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
What was the Truman doctrine?
Policy to contain communism anywhere in the world
What was the Marshall Plan?
Package financial aid and loans to help countries resisting communism
Why was The Truman Doctrine introduced?
USA convinced USSR spreading communism
Britain appeals to USA to help fight communists in Greece- 40 000 brit troops needed help in 1946
Churchills iron curtain speech
Why was Marshall plan introduced?
Stop extremist movements - such as countries in economic crisis
investment would lead to prosperity and other countries would turn against comm
it could only be effective with financial backing
How did USA implement Truman Doctrine?
Military resources and financial aid
How was Marshall plan implemented?
17 billion investment between 1948-52
creates jobs infrastructure education and machinery
