Cold War 1945 - 1972 Flashcards
What is the political status in the USA?
Capitalist
What is the political status of USSR?
Communist
What were USA ideologies?
People are free to start own business and property’s
Make as many products as can be sold
Freedom and opportunity for all
Variety of political parties to choose from
What were USSR ideologies?
Fairness and equality for all Only one political party Strict censorship Only make as many products as needed Everyone works for the state
When did relations between USA and USSR turn sour?
End of WW2 - only bond between them dissolved (common enemy was defeated)
When was the Yalta conference?
February 1945
Who was involved in the yalta conference?
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin
What agreements were made at yalta?
Stalin to join war against japan
Germany was to be divided into four zones
Join United Nations organisation
Eastern Europe would be a soviet sphere of influence but have free elections
When was the Potsdam conference?
July 1945
Who was present at the Potsdam conference?
Attlee, Truman and Stalin
What was the disagreement at yalta?
Stalin wanted to move USSR border further into Poland
What caused the disagreements at Potsdam?
Starlings armies controlled a lot of Eastern Europe
Stalin had set up a soviet government in Poland and wanted to do it in other countries
Stalin demanded $10 billion from Germany
Why was there mutual distrust between the two superpowers?
USSRs previous alliance with hitler
Russia lost 27 million in WW2, USA lost way less
What happened in May 1945 that led to the dropping of the bomb?
Japan clearly losing war - requested peace was refused
Japan was asked to surrender unconditionally during the Potsdam conference
What happened on 3 August 1945that led to the dropping of the bomb?
Japan offered to surrender but was rejected as it wasn’t unconditional
What happened on 6 August 1945that led to the dropping of the bomb?
America dropped first bomb (nicknamed ‘little boy’) on Hiroshima
Everything in a 2 mile radius was flattened
How many people are said to have died from the Hiroshima bombing by AMERICA?
117000
How many people are said to have been killed by the Hiroshima bombing by JAPAN?
250000
What happened on 9 August 1945that led to the dropping of the bomb?
America drop another bomb on Nagasaki
What happened on 14 August 1945that led to the dropping of the bomb?
Japan surrender and WW2 is officially over
What was the traditional justification for dropping the bombs?
To end war in Japan quickly and Savin millions of American casualties
How do revolutionists explain the dropping of the bomb?
Truman wanted to end war before USSR could enter to scare the soviets from trying to fight USA and seem a threat as they have developed nuclear bombs
What is a satellite state?
Officially independent but in reality controlled by another more powerful country
By 1946 what countries were under heavy soviet influence?
Poland, Albania, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria
What did Churchill describe the border between these countries and Western Europe?
An iron curtain
What is containment?
Stop communism spreading to Eastern Europe
What is dollar imperialism?
America controlling other countries by making them dependant on money
What so the Truman doctrine?
March 1947 America’s job to stop growth of communism
Triggered by crisis in Greece
What is Marshall aid?
1948 $17 billion dollars to help rebuild Europe
Majority accepted except those in Russia’s sphere
What is cominform?
1947 to unify communist countries as he thought the Truman doctrine was a threat to communism
What is Comecon?
1949 to coordinate industries and trade in Eastern Europe to rival Marshall plan
Favoured USSR produces goods
Did not have enough funds to provide financial assistance to countries
What did the allies introduce in Berlin to help build the economy of their side?
Changed currency to Deutschmark - this became more valuable the soviet zone mark
Why did Stalin introduce their Berlinger blockade?
West Berlin was thriving and many people were trying to escape from east to west as communism looked bad compared to capitalism
What was the Berlin blockade?
In June 1948 staking closed all the road, rail and canal links to West Berlin stopping goods from entering of leaving the city in the hope that it would eventually lead to starvation as they only had enough supplies for 6 weeks and therefore force the allies out of Berlin.
What did Truman do o combat the Berlin blockade?
Berlin airlift
What was the Berlin airlift?
Food and raw materials were taken by aircrafts to Berlin through 3 airports
How often were planes sent?
In the first 3 days there were 500 landings - this rose to 600 a day for over 10 months
Who were brought out of Berlin on the planes?
Sick children
How did China become communist?
1927 - communists revolt gov
From 1937 - 1945 they work together against Japan
1946 - fight again
1949 - mao declares China as communist
Who is Mao?
Chinese leader
What is the US national security resolution? (NSC - 68)
A top secret document repeating American commitment to containing communism in 1949
How do America react to China becoming communist?
Unhappy and scared
- lose trade
- failed containment
- had to put more money into containment (NSC-68)
- worried about balance of power
What was Russia’s reaction to China becoming communist?
Happy
- communist ally
- recognised China as a republic
- sign treaty of friendship with China (USSR give $300 million in aid)
Who recognises China as communist?
USSR
UN refuse under US influence
How do USSR public ally show their support for China?
Boycotted the UN
When was the Korean War?
1950 - 1953
What three proxy wars did US and USSR engage in?
Afghanistan war 1979-89
Vietnam war 1955-75
Korean War 1950-53
Who was Korea owned by during WW2?
Japan but they had to surrender their empire after WW2
What was the Korean boarder called and who spilt it?
UN temporarily split Korea through the 38th parallel
Who controlled Korea?
North - USSR
South - US
What was the situation in North Korea?
Refused to hold free elections
Communist state
Funded by USSR with weapons
What was the situation in South Korea?
Syngman rhee leader Republic of Korea established Took control over from US military All US military leave in 1949 US give weapons but no tanks - ill-equipped for war
Describe the Korean War.
Stalin directed the north to cross the 38th parallel in 1950
He expected no objections from the US as they had already left and didn’t interfere with China
US got involved through mutually assured destruction MAD
Why did America get involved in the Korean War?
The proposed it during UN meeting
USSR not there to veto it
Resolution passed
Who led the UN forces?
General MacArthur
How did relations between USA and USSR worsen during the Korean War?
- both used it to test new weapons (advanced jet aircraft and faster tanks)
- became a stalemate (peace treaty signed in ‘53)
- UN proved it could take effective actions
- USSR returned to seat in UN council and didn’t miss any other important votes
Why couldn’t the French (and USA) defeat the Viet Minh in the Vietnam War?
Terrain
Help from Chinese
Motivation
Guerilla tactics
Why was terrain a problem for France in the Vietnam War?
French not well equipped with Vietnamese land
Forests and mountains made it had to locate armies
Why was the help from the Chinese a problem for France in the Vietnam War?
- It gave more support to the viet minh to make a more efficient fighting force
- ranch struggled to target the supplies effectively
Why were guerilla tactics a problem for France in the Vietnam War?
- viet Minh couldn’t fight head on as ranch were well- equipped
- viet Minh hid in jungles and randomly attacked isolated units (scared French, unable to strike back)
Why was motivation a problem for France in the Vietnam War?
Viet Minh fighting for family and independence whilst French were tired from WW2 and didn’t see point
What was the domino theory?
US justification for their involvement
Communism would spread like dominos once Vietnam was communist
How was Vietnam split?
17th parallel
- North = Ho Chi Minh with support from China and USSR
- South = Diem with support from USA
Who were the Vietcong?
Formed in 1960 - hated Diem, were communist
Started a civil war between them and capitalist southern army
What was the Ho Chi Minh trail?
The paths taken by the Viet Minh across the 17th parallel to help the Viet Cong
In what ways was Diem a good leader?
Helped over 1 million fleeing the north to safe refuge
Set up bank of Vietnam to help economy
Built factories for economy
In what ways was Diem a bad leader?
Anti-buddhist (Buddhists persecuted in 1963)
Imposed catholic laws
No democracy vote in 1956
Had communist opponent arrested in 1959m
Killed 12000 and arrested 40000 political opponents between 55 and 58
Why did the US continue to support Diem in South Vietnam?
Didn’t care about human rights in Vietnam, cared about stopping communism spreading and domino theory