Cold War Flashcards
Course of action of the Cold War
The Cold War was a period of tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet
Union (USSR) that lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991. The main cause of the Cold War was ideological differences between the two
superpowers. The US believed in democracy and capitalism, while the USSR believed in
communism
What was the course of the Cold War
- Military Buildup: Both the US and USSR built up their military forces, including nuclear
weapons, which created a tense atmosphere known as the “arms race.” - Proxy Wars: Instead of fighting each other directly, the US and USSR supported opposing
sides in conflicts around the world. Examples include the Korean War and the Vietnam War. - Space Race: Competition extended into space exploration, with both countries striving to
achieve milestones such as the first satellite (Sputnik by the USSR) and the first manned moon
landing (Apollo 11 by the US). - Espionage and Propaganda: Both sides engaged in spying on each other and spreading
propaganda to influence public opinion. - Economic Competition: The US and its allies formed economic blocs like NATO (North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and the USSR formed the Warsaw Pact, both aiming to increase
their influence and economic power
Tell me about the consequences of the Cold War
- Global Division: The Cold War divided the world into two blocs: the Western Bloc led by the
US and the Eastern Bloc led by the USSR. This division affected politics, economics, and culture
worldwide. - Arms Race: The constant competition in military technology led to the proliferation of
nuclear weapons, increasing the threat of global destruction. - Proxy Conflicts: Proxy wars in various regions led to significant loss of life and instability in
countries such as Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. - Technological Advances: The space race spurred significant advancements in science and
technology, leading to innovations in areas like telecommunications, computing, and aerospace. - Collapse of the Soviet Union: The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in
1991, leading to the emergence of the United States as the sole superpower and the beginning of
a new era in international relations.
What is the Cold War
Overall, the Cold War was a period of intense rivalry and tension between the US and the USSR,
which had far-reaching consequences for global politics, security, and society.
What was containment
containment, which aimed to limit communism to countries where it was already established, but would not attempt to remove it (as this would mean war against the Soviets).
What was the Korean War
In June 1950, the North Korean army invaded the South. They had Soviet weapons and quickly pushed the South Korean army back, taking the capital, Seoul. Fearing that the South would be conquered, President Truman ordered Us military support for the South and persuaded the United Nations to send an army to help them. The Chinese thought MacArthur intended to invade China and they sent 500,000 soldiers to help the North Koreans repel them.
Truman refused to allow MacArthur to attack communist China with nuclear weapons. The war settled into a stalemate along the 38th parallel and dragged on until 1953. In June 1953, the two sides agreed to a truce to end the war.
What were the consequences of the Korean War
The division of Korea became permanent. The North became a brutal communist dictatorship.
The South emerged as a prosperous, industrialised capitalist economy.
• The USA considered the war a success for the policy of containment, as communism had been stopped from spreading to South Korea. As in Berlin, all-out war had been avoided while the communists had been confronted and contained.
• The Cold War divided Asia, as it had Europe. The USA gained new allies in South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. The USSR and China became allies.
Tell me about the collapse of communism
In 1988, Gorbachev declared that the Soviet army would no longer be used to keep communist governments. The following year, protests broke out in all the countries under communist rule. Without the Soviet army to back them up, each of the communist governments fell. In November 1989, the Berlin Wall - the symbol of the Cold War - was opened and communist rule came to an end in Europe.
Tell me about the Berlin aircraft
Stalin hoped that he could force the Allies to leave Berlin, which would give him total control of the eastern part of Germany. On 24 June 1948 the Soviets cut off all road, rail and canal links to West Berlin. The Western countries were determined not to give in to the Soviets and they decided to supply Berlin by air. Codenamed Operation Vittles, the Berlin Airlift was a huge operation, with cargo planes bearing food, clothing, medical supplies and fuel for over 2.5 million people. The airlifts continued until April 1949. Stalin eventually realised he would not be able to drive the Allies out of the city.
What were the consequences of the Berlin blockade and airlift
The division of Germany became permanent. In 1961, the Berlin Wall was built to permanently divide the city between the communists and the free people. It came to symbolise the Cold War.
• The USA, Canada and ten other Western European states set up a military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1949.
• The Soviets accelerated their nuclear weaponsprogramme and detonated an atomic bomb in 1949.
What was the Cuban missile
In October 1962 a US to spy plane photographed missile base being built in Cuba . American Navy would prevent any ship from landing in Cuba until the Soviet agreed to move the missile. Soviet ships continued so sail towards Cuba. After many days of tension waiting for the side to fall the two side came to an agreement to end this major problem the USA public declared that it would not invade Cuba and remove missile from Turkey and return the Soviet degree to dismantle the missiles from Cuba and the Soviets ships returned home.
The consequences of the Cuban missile
Consequence of this event was that a telephone hotline set up between Moscow and Washington in case of another crisis. The nuclear test ban treaty was agreed by the big nations meaning the testing of atomic weapons was banned on land in the air and in space.
