Cold War Flashcards
Who were the two groups fighting in the cold war?
Soviet Union & US army
Definition of Cold War
A conflict through threat, pressure, propaganda and espionage
What are regarded as the proper weapons of the Cold War?
- Economic competition (money)
- The arms race (weapons + military prowess)
- Alliances amongst countries
- Conflict between smaller nations
What type of government did America view Russia as having during the Cold War?
An evil and brutal kind of government that was corrupted by communist ideas
What America think Russia would do?
Spread their communist ideas across powerful nations (w/ propaganda)
How did the Soviet Union perceive America during the Cold War?
Convinced that America and the capitalist world were their enemies
What characterises the relationship between America and the Soviet Union during CW?
Mutually fear and suspicion, both were worried that they may use military power to attack
What was the trigger for conflict between the countries?
Marked by differing ideologies
What was the Communist belief of Russia?
- Represents a superior socio-economic system
- Attempt to overthrow capitalist ‘threats’
- Needed strong state control over its citizens to ensure political and economy superiority
What was the American POV?
- Communism was a threat to democracy and fair voting
- Belief that if one country fell to communism, many would follow
- Use of high military ability
- Used high increase of propaganda to support democracy and capitalism
What is the key element of countries political self interest?
Security of the country
How do countries often enforce security in their country?
Military, economically and diplomatically
What does the US believe in?
DEMOCRACY = the rights and private property of individuals
What did the USSR believe in?
COMMUNIST = ideals of Karl Marx (marxism) opposing the private property and believing the state is more important than the individual
What was one main thing the US and USSR agreed on during the Cold War that made them cautious?
They both had large ownership over atomic nuclear weapons and thus both were aware that if one of them used it, both would be eradicated/destroyed (hence the cold war meaning as it was attempted peace and negotiating)
What was the no. 1 threat of the Cold War ?
The threat that one of the countries would use nuclear weapons on the other
What was the economic element of the Cold War?
As nuclear weapons were not in use, both countries used money to stock on nuclear weapons and pay off countries who they wanted on their side (in the case of their being another war)
What was the space race?
The space race was an economic competition to get to space faster. Both made it, with America making it to the moon (w/ some skepticism)
What was the role of media in the Cold War?
The US and USSR spent money to create propaganda regarding the oppositions political position. It was an attempt to paint ones own beliefs in a good light whilst painting the other poorly (evilly)
Which countries had become communist following Wk 2?
- Czechoslovakia
- Poland
- Hungary
- China
- Cuba
- North Korea
What’s the ‘iron curtain’?
Refers to the division between Western Europe (democratic/capitalism) and Eastern Europe (communist influence)
Following WW2, what happened to Germany?
Split in two; East Germany became another communist country whilst West Germany didn’t
How many zones was Germany split into following WW2? Who did they belong to?
East = Soviet Zone
West = British, French, American
What city in Germany was split again amongst the 4?
Berlin
What was the Truman Doctrine (March 1947) promising?
That America would support free people and would avoid persecution from outside pressures
Why was the Truman Doctrine developed?
Truman had been horrified by the policy of appeasement and was determined to stand up to the Soviets
