Cold War Flashcards

1
Q

What does the Truman doctrine state?

A

America should help countries resist communist takeover with economic troops if necessary. It said that capitalism vs communism is like good vs evil.

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2
Q

What did Truman make it clear that they needed to do?

A

Contain communism which becomes central to American foreign policy e.g vietnam, Korea

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3
Q

What was the Truman doctrine a declaration of?

A

A declaration of war

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4
Q

What did the Truman doctrine want to do?

A

Provide economic aid to countries in Europe to rebuild after the war. Truman wanted to do this because communism would look like a fancy option to poorer countries after the war but he wanted to contain the spread of communism. Truman made a speech saying that he would probide 400 million to help Greece and Turkey and send American troops over.

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5
Q

What did the marshall plan do?

A

It was a practical outcome of the Truman doctrine. It provided economic aid to help war torn countries from communism.

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6
Q

What could the European countries now do after the aid from the Marshal plan

A

Rebuild without communism

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7
Q

What would the Marshal plan do to the Us economy?

A

It would improve it as the countries had to agree to trade with them

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8
Q

What was the Soviet response to the Marshall plan?

A

Stalin said they were ‘enslaving weakened capitalist countries’ and ‘imitating Hitler’.

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9
Q

What term did the Soviets use for the marshall plan?

A

Dollar imperialism is how the soviets saw the marshall plan as trying to divide Europe in 2 and use their economic power to influence countries in Europe.

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10
Q

What actions did the USSR take in response to the Marshall plan?

A

Stalin insisted that Eastern European countries should refuse it.

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11
Q

How many countries accepted the marshall plan?

A

16 and they were given significant help in recovery

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12
Q

What did the 16 countries accepting the Marshall Plan result in?

A

No more grand alliance

Europe Divided

Intense rivalry for 50 years after

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13
Q

What were the events of the Hungarian revolution in 1956?

A

23rd Oct - student demonstrations began in Budapest demanding free elections and withdrawal of Soviet troops

24th - Krushchev agrees Nagy can be new prime minister

28th - Soviet troops withdraw from Budapest, government promises free elections and freedom of speech

3rd Nov - Nagy announces Hungary is leaving the Warsaw Pact.

4th - Soviet troops return, after a bloody street battle Soviets regain control.

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14
Q

How did Krushchev respond to events in Hungary?

A

Ordered Soviet invasion of Hunagry

4 Nov 1956, 1,000 tanks entered budapest

Killed up to 20,000 hungarians

Kidnapped and killed Nagy as a message to all other socialist leaders.

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15
Q

What were the effects/consequences of the Hungary uprising?

A
Hungary:
20,000 died
New-pro communist government under Kadar
Nagy hanged in 1958 
200,000 fled the country 

USSR:
Krushchev position in Soviet Union made stronger
Stringer position in Warsaw pact
Maintained the empire

Superpower relations:
Krushchev became more confident in dealing with USA
West condemned the Soviets - but didn’t back up words
Soured relations

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16
Q

What were some reasons for Hungary demonstrations?

A

Living standards were poor but Soviet’s saying they are better than ever, lying to the people.

No freedom, western clothes ‘dangerous’. Strict punishments.

Krushchev was a forceful ruler and willing to use force

Purged political opponents

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17
Q

What started the cuban missile crisis?

A

A US U2 spy plane discovered the Soviet Union’s missile sites in Cuba in 1962. The USA was torn on how to respond: attack and risk war or do everything possible to avoid war

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18
Q

What was the events of the cuban missile crisis?

A

8 sept - Soviet ships carry nuclear warheads and missiles to Cuba

16 Oct- Kennedy is informed that spy planes found missiles sites on Cuba

20 Oct - Kennedy orders a blockade of Cuba

24 Oct - USSR says a blockade is an act of aggression and its ships will ignore it.

25 Oct - USA and Soviet Union prepare for immediate nuclear attack.

27 Oct - Cuba gets ready for invasion. Krushchev offers to publicily remove Cuban missiles if US does same for it’s Turkey and Italy bases. US remove missiles secretly to make them look better. US agreed to never attack Cuba again

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19
Q

What were the consequences of the cuban missile crisis?

A

USA appeared strong
Soviet’s appeared weak and Krushchev was replaced by Brezhnev
Communist Cuba survived

Both sides moved towards détente
Hotline created between Washington and Moscow
Limited Test Ban treated was signed
Outer Space treaty

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20
Q

What was the olympic boycotts?

A

In 1980, the USA boycotted the Moscow olympics in retaliation to the Soviet invasion of Afganistan. This was effective as it meant the Soviet Union couldn’t use the olympics to promote communism as it has intentended to do so and it showed the USA’s influence.

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21
Q

What did the soviets do to retaliate from the olympic boycott in Moscow in 1980?

A

In retaliation the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 olympics in Los Angeles

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22
Q

What happened in the fall of the Berlin wall?

A

East Germany was slow to take on Glasnot and Parestroika

Once neighbouring countries broke free many East Germans started leaving through those countries e.g Hungary

East German government forced to allow greater freedom of travel including opening border with West Berlin.

9th Nov 89 - mistaken announcement by East German press secretary that the birder was to open immediately

Thousands flooded to Berlin wall and started to dismantle it - very symbolic.

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23
Q

What happened in the breakup of the warsaw pact?

A

Dec 88 - Gorbachev announces end of Brezhnev doctrine

Aug 89 - Hungary opens its borders to East Germans

Oct 89 - sinatra doctrine, Soviet Union no longer interfere with affairs of eastern block

Nov 89 - Berlin wall falls

Dec 89 - communists governments fall in Czechoslovakia (Velvet revolution), Romanian (leader executed), Bulgaria (resigns) and Yugoslavia colapses.

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24
Q

What was the meaning of glasnost?

A

Glasnost: Russian for ‘openess’ or ‘transparency’. Describes Gobachev new attitude to government and foreign relations.

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25
Q

What was the meaning of parestroika?

A

Parestroika: Russian for ‘rescontruction’. Describes his programme for resconstructing and restructing the Soviet state.

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26
Q

What did Gorbachev recognise?

A

Gorbachev recognised that the economy was failing and that public opinion was low.

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27
Q

Why did Berlin become a flashpoint in 1948?

A

The division of Berlin annoyed the Soviets, as consequently there existed a small island of capitalism within their communist Eastern zone.

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28
Q

What was economic specialisation?

A

Each country was responsible for a certain part of the economy. Ussr controlled the whole thing.

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29
Q

How did the soviets respond to the Marshall plan and truman doctrine?

A

Made cominform and comecon.

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30
Q

What date was cominform made?

A

22nd September 1947

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31
Q

What date was Comecon made?

A

25th January 1949

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32
Q

What were the aims of Cominform?

A

Direct and control the governments of the satellite states. Making sure they followed communism and took orders from moscow.

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33
Q

What were the effects of Cominform?

A

It would effect the spreading of communism.

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34
Q

What were the aims of comecon?

A

Provided economic development to mentoring states. Main activities were arranging trades and credit agreements between member countries.

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35
Q

What were the effects of comecon?

A

It would create even more of a divide and help rebuild the Soviet economy.

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36
Q

What was the name of the combination of the Usa, Britain and France Zones in Berlin?

A

Trizonia

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37
Q

What did France, Usa and Britain create in Trizonia?

A

Deutschmark, which gave Trizonia economic unity.

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38
Q

What did Deutschmark create?

A

A separate economic unit from the East and it acknowleged that there was 2 Germany’s- East and West.

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39
Q

What did Stalin see the creation of Deutschmark as?

A

The west ‘ganging up’ on the Soviet union. He thought they were trying to send the Soviets into poverty.

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40
Q

What did the Berlin blockade do?

A

Shut off land routes across Soviet-controlled Germany into Berlin.

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41
Q

What did Stalin want to show the Western countries with the Berlin blockade?

A

That a divided Germany wouldn’t work.

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42
Q

What did Stalin try and achieve with the Berlin blockade?

A

The main section wouldn’t be able to communicate with Berlin and Berlin would soon run out of food. Stalin hoped the West would just ‘give up’. He gambled.

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43
Q

What would have been the disadvantages if the West withdrew from Berlin?

A

Would make them look weak.

Lose Berlin

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44
Q

What would the advantages if the West withdrew from Berlin?

A

No war

No lives possibly lost

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45
Q

What were the disadvantages if the West supplied Berlin by air?

A

Could get shot down.

On soviet territory.

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46
Q

What were the advantages of if the West supplied by air?

A

Get supplies to Berlin

Don’t look weak.

47
Q

What were the disadvantages if the west drive through the Berlin blockade?

A

Could end in war.

Military confrentation

48
Q

What were the advantages of if they drove through the Berlin blockade?

A

Look strong

Get supplies to Berlin.

49
Q

What happened in operation vittles? (Berlin airlift)

A

The West flew food, coal and other necessities over to Berlin.

2000 tonnes per day

50
Q

When did operation vittles take place?

A

June 1948- May 1949

51
Q

What was the peak month of operation vittles?

A

January 1949, 170,000 tonnes of supplies flown over.

52
Q

When did the Soviets give in and lift the blockade?

A

May 1949

53
Q

Were there any casualties in operation vittles?

A

No. There were no civilian, military or allied casualties.

54
Q

What were the effects for the west of operation vittles?

A

Great propaganda success. It made them look strong but not aggressive.

55
Q

What happened in the division of Germany?

A

May 1949: 3 Western zones of Berlin became West Berlin.

56
Q

What was the most severe consequence of the blockade?

A

The permanent division of Germany.

57
Q

Why was the permanent division of Germany the most sever consequence of the blockade?

A

Because it meant that you couldn’t see relatives etc and there was a higher chance of military confrentation.

58
Q

What were the key dates of the arms race?

A

1945: Usa develops atomic bomb
1949: Soviet Union develops atomic bomb
1952: Usa tests the hydrogen bomb
1953: Soviet union tests the hydrogen bomb
1957: Usa tests inter-continential ballistic missile. (ICBM)
1957: Soviet Union makes first successful ICBM launch.

59
Q

What was the point of both countries spending all the money in the arms race?

A

Because they felt intimidated by the enemy and this would be the only way to protect themselves. They would also feel more powerful after purchasing these weapons.

60
Q

What were the Usa advantages in the arms race?

A

By 1961 it had 20 times as many nucleur missiles as the USSR.
Missile bases in turkey

61
Q

What were the USSR advantages in the arms race?

A

Tsar bomb- 1961

Spuntrik Satellite- 1957

62
Q

What effect did the new leader in the USA in 1953 have on relations between the USA and USSR?

A

The new leader in the Usa had no real effect as he had the same beliefs as the last one and was very anti communist.

63
Q

What effect did the new leader of the USSR in 1953 have on relations between the USA and USSR?

A

The new leader in the USSR however looked to change relations because he didn’t believe in any of Stalin’s policies and believed they could work peacefully in co-existance.

64
Q

Why did Krushchev issue the ultimatum in 1958?

A

Because he wanted to get the Western countries out of Berlin.

65
Q

What did Krushchev hope after issuing the ultimatum in 1958?

A

He hoped that the Western countries would leave Berlin so it would be harder for East Germans to go to West Germany.

66
Q

Where and when were the summit meetings held?

A

Geneva 1959
Camp David 1959
Paris 1960
Vienna 1961

67
Q

What happened at the summit meeting in Geneva 1959?

A

No real agreement but arrangements made for Krushchev to visit USA.

68
Q

What happened at the summit meeting in Camp David in 1959?

A

No solution but agreed further summit meetings. Krushchev withdrew Berlin ultimatum.

69
Q

What happened at the summit meeting in Paris in 1960?

A

A disaster. Krushchev storms out after Eisenhower refused to apologise about u12 spy-plane incident.

70
Q

What happened at the summit meeting in Vienna in 1961?

A

Neither side back down, Krushchev tries to exploit Kennedy’s inexperience and repeats 6 month ultimatum.

71
Q

What happened in the u2 incident in 1960?

A

Gary Powers was flying a u2 spy plane when it was brought down over the Soviet Union.

Powers managed to parachute to safety but was arrested by Soviet soldiers.

72
Q

When was the border at East Germany closed?

A

13th August 1961.

73
Q

Why would the Berlin wall be seen as successful by Krushchev?

A

It stopped the refugee crisis. It allowed Krushchev to avoid war while appearing strong.

74
Q

How could the Berlin wall be seen as a defeat by Krushchev?

A

He had been unable to force the West out of West Berlin. Humiliating that the Soviets had to build a wall to keep the people of East Germany in.

75
Q

Why could the Berlin wall be seen as successful for Kennedy?

A

It avoided a war.
Krushchev had admitted he was not able to force the West out of Berlin.
Propaganda victory for the West.

76
Q

How could the Berlin wall be seen as a defeat for Kennedy?

A

West Berlin was now encircled by a wall which limited their freedom and America had not done anything to stop this being built.

77
Q

How did the Berliners react to Jfk’s visit to Berlin in 1963?

A

With loads turning up to see him and treat him like a sporting hero or a rock star.

78
Q

Why did lots of Berliners turn up when Jfk visited in 1963?

A

Because they saw it as a sign of hope that the borders between East and West Berlin would be opened once again.

79
Q

Did Jfk’s visit to Berlin in 1963 worsen or improve the relations between the USA and USSR?

A

It worsened relations because he was speaking badly about communism and the Soviets.

80
Q

Who was Alexander Dubcek?

A

New ‘liberal’ communist party leader.

81
Q

What did Dubcek’s ‘socialism with a human face’ mean for Czeckoslovakia?

A
More political opposition
Relaxation of press cencorship
More trade with the West
Multi party elections discussed
Government control of industry was reduced.
82
Q

Why did Breznhev send an invasion into Czechoslovakia?

A

Dubcek invited Ceausescu of Romania and Tito of Yugoslavia to Prague for talks.

Dubcek didn’t respond to Breznhev’s attempts to persuade him not to go along with his reforms.

He was worried they would leave the Warsaw pact.

83
Q

What was the Moscow protocol?

A

Dubcek forced to sign it. Committed Czechs to protect socialism by removing opposition and reintroducing cencorship.

84
Q

What was the Breznhev doctrine?

A

USSR (and any other communist country) had right to invade any country that threatened the security of the Eastern bloc.

85
Q

What was Johnson’s reaction to the Czechoslovakian invasion?

A

Weary of the USSR. He won’t intervene because he was too busy fighting in Vietnam. Wasn’t able to intervene anyway.

86
Q

What was the reaction of Spychalski (polish leader) to Czechoslovakian invasion?

A

Happy because he now felt more secure.

87
Q

What was Yugoslavia’s reaction to the invasion of Czechoslovakia?

A

They condemned the invasion

88
Q

What was Detente?

A

A period of comparative reduction in tension in superpower relations that took place from the late 1960’s throughout the 1970’s.

89
Q

What led to detente?

A

Soviets wanted access to foreign aid ans trade.
Limited nucleur weapons
Co-existance attractive to both sides.

90
Q

What were the key features of the Helsinki accords?

A

Agreements in 3 areas known as ‘baskets’
Borders are invioable, they can’t be altered by force.
Respect human rights and individual freedoms such as: Free speech, Religion and free movement across Europe.

91
Q

What did the Helsinki accords in August 1975 tell us?

A

The soviets were keen on the borders idea (borders cant be altered by force) and they didn’t agree with the 3rd basket but decided that if they agreed no one could force them to follow it.

92
Q

Why was Apollo Soyuz important?

A

Because it showed the Soviets and Americans working together showings that they were able to co-operate.

93
Q

Why was Salt 2 important?

A

Becausw it included restrictions on missile launchers ans strategic bombers, as well as a ban on testing or deploying new types of ICBM.

94
Q

What was the timeline of the Soviet union invading Afganistan in 1979?

A

April 1978: A pro-Soviet government took control in Afganistan and receieved economic assistance from moscow.

September 1979: Hafizuallah Amin staged a popular coup.

December 24th 1979: Soviet forces invaded Afganistan, and claimed they had been invited by Amin to support his government.

December 27th 1979: Amin was assasinated almost certainly by Soviet commandos and replaced by the non-soviet Babrak Kamal.

95
Q

What was the carter doctrine?

A

Modelled on the truman doctrine.
Imposed economic sanctions on the Soviet Union.
Began sending weapns and funds to the Mujahideen.

96
Q

What was the invasion of Aganistan’s impact on detente?

A

It finally ended detente.

Some people say the Usa over-reacted so they could purposefully end detente.

97
Q

What was the significance of the ‘Evil empire’ speech by Reagon?

A

Clear this is an issue of good vs evil.
Warns Usa against complacency
Justifiies continuation of Arms race
USSR is an evil empire.

98
Q

What was the strategic defense initiave?

A

Reagon’s new initiative to win the cold war. Satellites equipped with lasers could intercept Soviet missiles in space and destroy them before they could reach the US. Also known as ‘star wars’

99
Q

How did SDI affect the relationship between the USA and USSR?

A

It broke detente
It turned the space race into an arms race
It ensured that the USSR could no longer keep up in an arms race.

100
Q

What was the significance of the iron curtain speech (1946)?

A

Churchill made famous speech to warn about spread of communism in Europe. Upset Stalin, increased tension.

101
Q

What happened at the Teheran conference in Novemeber 1943?

A

Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met in Teheran, Iran, to discuss their military plans to defeat Hitler.

102
Q

What did they agree to in Teheran?

A

That the Soviets would have a ‘sphere of influence’ in Eastern Europe after the war, and Britain and the Us would have sphere of influence in Western Europe.

103
Q

What happened at the Yalta conference (February 1945)?

A

Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill met to plan the end of world war 2.

104
Q

What did they agree about in at Yalta?

A

Russia would help the Us defeat Japan.
‘Declaration on Liberated Europe’ to work for democracy in Europe. Agreed to set up UN, restated agreements about ‘spheres of influence’

105
Q

What were signs of tension at Yalta?

A

Differing ideas about democracy- Stalin thought it meant Communism as it represented the working people.

106
Q

What happened shortly after the conference at Yalta?

A

Roosevelt died, and the new president, Truman, did not have such a good relationship with Stalin.

107
Q

What happened at Potsdam (July 1945)

A

Truman, Stalin and Attlee met to discuss what to do about Germany.

108
Q

What did they agree to at Potsdam?

A

They agreed to reduce the size of Germany. They divided Germany (and Berlin) into 4 zones. Theg agreed to denazify Germany, put leading nazis on trial.

109
Q

What did they not agree to at Potsdam?

A

Taking reparations from Germany- the Soviets wanted to impose heavy reparations, the US wanted to rebuild Germany.

110
Q

What were some signs of tension at Potsdam?

A

Stalin was worried because the Usa had just tested the Atomic bomb. Truman was worried because the Red army occupied most of Eastern Europe.

111
Q

What did Churchill’s iron curtain speech lead to?

A

Further fears of the threat of communism

112
Q

How did Communism collapse in Eastern Europe (1989)?

A

Gorbachev’s reforms (e.g. withdrawing troops) led to increased desire for more change and communist regimes across Eastern Europe collapsed. Berlin wall fell in November 1989.

113
Q

When was the Warsaw pact dissolved?

A

After a collapse in communist governments in Eastern Europe, the warsaw pact was finally dissolved in 1991.

114
Q

When was the dissolution of the Soviet Union?

A

After a coup against gorbachev failed in August, he officially announced the dissolution of the Soviet union in December 1991.