Cold War Flashcards
U2 crisis 1960 - what happened
MY 1960 - the USSR shot down an American spy plane, the U2.
The plan took photographs of missile bases in the USSR
Gary Powers was broadcasted on TV and accused of spying
Consequences of U2 spy plane
The USSR had proof that USA was spying. Krischeb therefore refused to attend the planned Paris Peace summit (where USA and USSR had planned to have friendly conversations).
USA were worried the USSR might respond. They were keen to keep going with the arms race
Hungarian Revolution 1956 what happened
People living in Hungary were unhappy with their living conditions. They particularly didnt like their communist leader Rakosi.
Consequnces or Hungarian Revolution
By sending in tanks, the USSR broke their ‘thaw’
The USSR promised not to let other Communist countries fall out of their control im future
Czechoslovakia and prage springs what happened
1968: A new communist leader in Czechoslovakia, introduced more relaxed reforms to try to keep everyone in Czechoslovakia happu abour communism
These refroms were knows as the ‘Prague springs’
The USSR were unhappy as they thought they were losing a Communjst ally. - USSR sent tanks
Consequces of Czechoslovakia and prage springs
The USSR had showh that they were serious abiut trying to maintain communism in Europe
This made the USA angry and worried
Space race what happened 1950-1960s
The USA and USSR had a competition to imrpove soace technologies and to get men into space
This included Yuri Gagarin, sputnik (USSR’s space satellites) and Apollo 11
Space race what 1950-1960s consequnces
Competition between East and West increased
The space race led to increased spying
Propaganda was used in the home countries to increase support for the Cold War
Arms race 1950-60s what happened
The USA and USSR had a competition to produce the most nucleur weapons
This included the ICBMs and Polaris
The USA spent lots of money trying to close the ‘bomber gap’
Consequnces of the Arms race
Both the USA and USSR had a good range of nucleur weapons, which they then wanted to use,
Competition increased
The arms race led to increase in espionage
What happened in Marshall plan 1947
The USA promised $17billion to countries in West Europe
They did this because they wanted those countrues to lift themselves out of poverty
To the USA, poverty led to support in communism
Comencon & cominform 1947-1949 what happened
1947 - USA set up Cominform, this co-ordinated the governments in communist countries
1949 - USSR set ip Comencon. This supported trade and businesses in the Communist countries
Yugoslavia was the only Communist country not to join.
Consequences of marshall comencon & cominform
The USSR felt that they were beginning to challenge the Truman Doctrine. They gained confidence to challenge the West on other points, e.g Berlin
The USA continue to be worried about the soread of communisy ideas - domino effect
China becomes communist 1949
1949 - Chairman Mao made China communist
1950 - China sign an alliance friendship with the USSR
Consequences of China becoming communist
The USA were very fearful, they promised to act more quickly in the future to stop communism from spreading. They went againts the Truman Doctrine (which had focused on containment)