Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

History > Cold War > Flashcards

Cold War Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® U.S. History flashcards European History 101 flashcards AP® European History flashcards AP® World History flashcards World History 102 flashcards U.S. History 102 flashcards World History 101 flashcards U.S. History 101 flashcards
1
Q

Yalta

A
  • Stalin agreed to join USA in fighting Japan once Germany surrendered
  • Germany and Berlin divided into four
  • Trial of Nazi war criminals
  • United Nations set up
  • Countries freed from nazis to hold democratic elections
  • Big three agreed that Eastern Europe should be seen as a soviet sphere of influence
  • Disagreement on p9ish border with USSR moving westward
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Potsdam

A
  • Stalin did not intend to allow democratic election in Germany
  • Stalin wanted Germany to pay reparations but Truman did not want to repeat Versailles
  • USSR setting up communist government in Poland
  • Truman disagrees to communist government in Easter Europe
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why did things get worse between Yalta and Potsdam

A

Death of Roosvelt / Replacement by Truman
- Truman was less tolerant to soviets and more anti-communist than Roosvelt
- Less tolerance and ability to work together

Situation in Eastern Europe
- Stalin did not intend to allow democratic elections
- Red army was in control I; poland and was setting up a communist government

Testing of the atomic bomb
- Truman hinted at the atomic bomb during the conference

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How did the USSR gain control of Eastern Europe

A
  • Winning democratic elections
  • Forming coalition governments
  • Imprisoning non- communist leaders
  • Lonaing other governments
  • Supporting existing communist governments
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why did Stalin take control of Eastern Europe

A
  • Determination to avoid another invasion of the USSR
  • Stalin felt he had the permission of the west
  • Stalin claimed he needed to protect the western capitalism and imperialism
  • The west believed the USSR expanded the extend communism and create a soviet empire
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

to avoid another invasion of the USSR

A

USSR had been invaded via Poland in 1914 and 1941, therefore Stalin intended to create a ‘buffer zone’ via his sphere of influence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Stalin felt he had the permission of the west

A
  • Stalin and Churchill had a secret known as the percentages agreement which divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence
  • During the Yalta conference, there was mutual agreement on the idea of a soviet sphere of influence
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Stalin claimed he needed to protect the USSR from western capitalism and imperialism

A

Stalin believed that the USA intended to spread goods worldwide and increase its power and influence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Greek civil war

A
  • 1941
  • British troops supported monarchy against communists
  • Once a civil war developed, the British could not afford costs of war and announced withdrawal
  • Truman paid British to stay and rpopped up the monarchist government
  • Set up Truman doctoring and policy of containment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Marshall Aid

A
  • Truman intended to give 17 billion USD for rebuilding of European economy
  • Plan not accepted in 1947but accepted after communist takeover of Czechoslovakia government
  • Intention of creating new market for American goods too
  • Stalin viewed Marshall aid as a a US attempt top dominate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Berlin blockade

A
  • Britain, France and USA combined their German zones in 1946 to form Trizonia
  • Reformed the currency in 1948 leading to economic recovery in western areas
  • Stalin viewed actions in Trizonia as provocative and blocked all supply lines into berlin from the west, intending to make Berlin entirely dependent on the USSR
  • Allies airlifted supplies into berlin (Berlin Airlift)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Consequences of the Berlin blockade

A
  • Germany is firmly divided, becomes a symbol of the Cold War (Berlin crisis)
  • Pattern of Cold War, use of unwilling to go to war
  • NATO formed in 1949 and charter stated that an attack against any member would be an attack against all
  • Provoked formation of the Warsaw pact
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Iron Curtain

A

First used by Churchill to describe the border between soviet controlled countries and the west

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Truman doctrine

A

Under the doctrine, the USA was willing to send money, equipment and advice to any country, which was, in American view, threatened by a communist takeover. accepted Eastern Europe as Communist but intended to prevent further spread

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Cominform

A

Set up by Stalin top coordinate the work of communist parties ion Eastern Europe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

USSR/Stalin to blame for the cold war

A

-Stalin opposed the idea of democratic elections
- Stalin waned a sphere of influence in eastern europe
- Stalin imposed Berlin blockade causing a rise in tensions
- USSR led the creation of the warsaw pact

17
Q

USA/west/Truman to blame for the Cold War

A
  • Truman doctrine established USAs strong opinions during the Greek civil war
  • Western powers consolidated their German territory in Germany, creating a divide between the east and the west
  • Churchill offered Stalin a sphere of influence via the percentages agreement
  • Currency reforms in Trizonia triggered the Berlin blockade
  • USA led creation of NATO triggering formation of Warsaw pact
18
Q

Why did the Korean War happen
DUCKS

A

Domino Theory
Undermine communism
Cold War
Kim II sung visited the USSR
Syngman Rhee

19
Q

DUCKS Domino Theory

A

Truman believed that if one country fell to communism, then the others would follow. He was worried about Japan becoming communist.

20
Q

DUCKS undermine communism

A

In April 1950, the American security council issued a report recommending that America abandon’containment’ and start ‘rolling back’

21
Q

DUCKS Cold War

A

Truman realised that the USA was in competition for world dominance with the USSR. By supporting South Korea, the USA could fight communism without attacking the USSR.

22
Q

DUCKS Kim II sung visited the USSR

A

in 1949, the leader of north Korea visited Stalin and Stalin saw a fight against the south as an opportunity to fight the USA without attacking. Kim Sung II also visited Mao Zedong

23
Q

DUCKS Syngman Rhee

A

In 1950, the president of South Korea boasted of attacking North Korea, giving the North Korea an excuse to invade the South.

24
Q

Why did Krushchev arm Castro

A

TO BARGAIN WITH THE USA;
Khrushchev could negotiate the removal of missiles from Cuba in return for American concessions (eg. removal of missiles from Turkey)

TO TEST THE USA:
The failure of the Bay of Pigs incident encouraged khrushchev to test the US policy of containment

TO TRAP THE USA:
Khrushchev wanted the USA to find the missiles and be drawn into a nuclear war which they would have an advantage in

TO CLOSE TO MISSILE GAP:
Missiles in Cuba would prevent the USA from war, launching a ‘first strike’. The missiles acted as a nuclear deterrent

TO DEFEND CUBA:
Cuba was the only communist country in the western hemisphere and was in the USAs ‘backyard’. This provided an excellent propaganda tool for the USSR

TO STRENGTHEN KRUSHCHEVS POSITION IN THE UhSSR:
US superiority in terms of missiles undermined Khrushchev’s reputation in the USSR. Cuba was an opportunity for Khrushchev to show his strength and the USSRs power as a nuclear country

25
Q

Outcomes of the Cuban missile crisis for Kennedy and the USA

A
  • Kennedys reputation improved as he stood up to Khrushchev and made him back down
  • NATO allies unhappy with secret removal of missiles from Turkey
  • Kennedy had to accept communist Cuba in backyard
26
Q

outcomes of the Cuban missile crisis for Khrushcev and the USSR

A
  • In public, Khrushchev was seen as a peacemaker as he was willing to compromise
  • kept valuable ally in Cuba safe
  • Able to get missiles out of Turkey but due to secret nature of agreement, he was unable to use it for propaganda
  • Soviet military humiliated by withdrawal
  • USSR still trailed in the missile gap
  • Cuban missile crisis contributed to Khrushchev’s downfall in 1964
27
Q

Oucomes of the Cuban missile crisis for castro and Cuba

A
  • Castro kept control of American companies and other economic recourses
  • Cuba remained communist and highly armed
    -Upset with USSRs deal with the USA but intended to continue to support the USSR
28
Q

Why did the USA go to war in Vietnam

A

DOMINO THEORY:
- Communism in Vietnam would lead to a spread of communism in south-east Asia

US SUPPORT FOR NGO DINH DIEM:
- US supported the prime minister of Vietnam who was a hard Anti-Communist
-His regime showed little respect for Buddhism, was corrupt and treated peasants with contempt

EMERGENCE OF VIET CONG:
- Viet cong started a guerilla war against South Vietnam
- Targeted government forces and American supplies

JFK ASSASINATION AND GULF OF TONKIN:
- Lyndon B Johnson took over after JFK assassination. He was more prepared for full state conflict in Vietnam
- After gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964 where North Korean troops fired at US ship, US congress passed Tonkin Gulf resolution giving president to ‘take all necessary measures’

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER:
- Johnson took advantage of the Tonkin Gulf resolution to launch a bombing campaign against north Vietnamese

29
Q

US Army strengths and weaknesses during the Vietnam War

A
  • During initial years, soldiers were well trained but after new policy of one year service, many were young conscripts
  • Troops lacked morale and faced devastating psychological effects
  • Used chemical weapons such as agent orange (weedkiller sprayed from planes to destroy jungles, very toxic) and napalm (destroyed jungles and burned through skin and bones)
  • Relied on bombing and search and destroy tactics
  • Bombed industrial targets and Ho Chi Minh trail
  • Bombing made US soldiers unpopular with peasants
  • Most well equipped army in the world
30
Q

Viet kong strengths and weaknesses

A
  • Heavily outnumbered and outtrained
  • No match for US forces in open warfare
  • Suffered greater losses but refused to give in
  • Used Guerilla tactics and forces US army into close quarter combat to overcome weakness of poor technology and weapons
  • Used ambushes and booby traps such as pits or sharpened bamboo sticks
  • Used tunnel complexes to avoid being bombed
  • Viet song helped peasants but were also willing to kill those who opposed
  • Later received equipment from China and the USSR
  • Relied on supplies which came along the Ho Chi Minh trail
31
Q

Why was the Vietnam war unpopular

A
  • Tet offensive
  • Cost: Money could be used for better purposes back home
  • Racism: African Americans were more likely to get drafted and accounted for a majority of the casualties
  • Purpose, did not feel the war was needed
  • Media: Showed pictures of bombings and Mai Lai massacre, removed illusion of winning the war
  • Anti war protests
  • Mai Lai Massicare
32
Q

Tet Offensive

A
  • The US put in lots of resources into the war but the surprise of the offensive served as a realisation for people
  • Made people question if the war was worth it
  • Viet cong offensive on US embassy in Saigon took people by surprise
33
Q

Mai Lai Massicare

A
  • 300-400 people killed and no Viet song found, only 3 weapons found
  • Photographs of massacre were published, triggering investigation
34
Q

Ending the Vietnam War

A

1968 - Nixon elected president. Worked to ending the war with Kissinger, wanted peace and honour

IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE USSR AND CHINA: In 1968, China and USSr pull out, thus trying to improve relations with the USA

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH NORTH VIETNAM: From 1969, Kissinger had regular meetings with the chief Vietnamese negotiator

‘VIETNAMISATION’ OF WAR EFFORT: Began handing responsibility to south Vietnamese and started withdrawal of US troops

INCREASED BOMBING: Increased bombing campaigns in North Vietnam to show that he was not weak

35
Q

How successful was containment KOREAN WAR

A
  • Showed that the USA had the means and the will to contain communism
  • Containment succeeded but rolling back did not and the USA had to accept communism in North Korea
  • North Korea later become a hardline communist and nuclear power
  • Communism did not spread to other countries such as Japan
36
Q

Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban Missile Crisis

A
  • Communist state established in USAs backyard
  • Failure of Bay of Pigs wakened Kennedy’s position
  • Communism did not spread to any other country in the western Hemisphere
37
Q

The Vietnam war

A
  • Containment as a vast military strength could not stop communism
  • Could not stop south Vietnam going communist
  • By 1975, both Laos and Cambodia had communist governments, enabled by US bombing so US policy sped up the domino effect
  • Propoganda disaster due to failure
  • Improved relations with USSR and China after the war

History (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions