Cold War 1945-1972 Flashcards
What ideology did the USA follow?
Capitalism
What ideology did the USSR follow?
Communism
Who were the two main superpowers during 1945-1972?
USA and Russia
How did capitalism effect business and property?
Owned by individuals who make profits
How did communism effect business and property?
Owned and run by the government
Who did capitalism cause inequality between?
Rich and poor
What relationship did communism cause between the rich and poor?
Greater inequality
What is the political system in a capitalistic country?
Many political parties
What is the political system in a communistic country?
One party state, all candidates are from the Communist Party
What were capitalistic rights?
Personal freedom
What were communistic rights?
Control, individual rights were seen less important than the needs of the state. Personal freedom was limited
What is personal freedom?
Individual rights such as free speech or a free press valued
Who did the USA deport in the 1920’s?
Thousands of suspected communist
Why did the USSR mistrust Britain in the 1930’s?
The policy of appeasement
What was the policy of appeasement?
Britain policy of allowing Hitler to get away with certain foreign policy decisions in order to avoid a war in the 1930’s
What was the main disagreement at the Yalta conference?
Stalin wanted to move border of the USSR further into Poland.
The USA and Britain did not like this but felt they had to agree
When did the Yalta Conference take place?
February 1945
Who went to the Yalta Conference?
Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill
Why did the Yalta Conference happen?
To agree what should happen after the war was over
Was was agreed Stalin would join when Germany surrendered?
Join the war against Japan
How was Germany divided at Yalta?
Into zones run by USSR, USA, Britain and France
At Yalta what was agreed about Nazi War Criminals?
They would be hunted and prosecuted
What organisation did USA, Britain and USSR decide to join at Yalta?
United Nations Organisation (UN)
What was decided about the election is Eastern Europe at Yalta?
Hold free elections once they were freed from Nazi occupation
During Yalta what was decided about the Soviet sphere of influence in Europe?
Agreed that Eastern Europe would be a soviet sphere of influence
What was the soviet sphere of influence?
An area which the USSR has some control over
When did the Potsdam Conference happen?
July 1945
What lead to disagreements at Potsdam?
Many things had changed
What leaders had changed at Potsdam?
Roosevelt = Truman Churchill = Attlee
What was the difference between Roosevelt and Truman?
Truman was more anti-communism than Roosevelt had been
How was Stalin’s armies advanced from Yalta to Potsdam?
They controlled most of Eastern Europe
How did Stalin’s control of Eastern Europe cause disagreements?
Caused tension
What government had Stalin created in Poland?
A communist government
What did Stalin want to set up at Potsdam?
Pro-Soviet government throughout Eastern Europe
How did the Communist government in Poland and the idea of a pro-Soviet government throughout Europe cause disagreements at Potsdam?
Truman saw this as evidence that Stalin wanted to build a Soviet Empire
What disagreements happened at Potsdam that involve Germany?
Stalin wanted to cripple Germany Truman didn’t.
What did Stalin demand at Potsdam that caused disagreements?
$10 billion compensation from Germany
What did the USA develop which deepened the mistrust between the two sides?
The atom bomb
Why did the development of the atom bomb cause tension between the USA and the USSR?
Developed in secret, even though it was an ally of the USSR in the war
When did Stalin find out about the atom bomb?
At Potsdam Conference
When was the first atom bomb dropped?
6th August 1945
What do some historians believe was a warning to Stalin?
The dropping of the atom bomb
How did the Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe between USA and USSR effect the Cold War?
Increased tension
What countries were under a communist government by 1946?
Poland, Romania, Hungary, Albania and Bulgaria
How did Churchill describe the border between Eastern and Western countries?
An Iron Curtain
What did Stalin use to tighten his control in Eastern Europe?
Secret police
What year was Cominform set up?
1947
Why was Cominform set up?
To co-ordinate the work of the different Communist Parties
What did Western Europe accept that involve Eastern Europe?
Eastern Europe should be under a Soviet sphere of influence.
What did Western Powers expect after accepting Eastern Europe being under the Soviet sphere of influence?
Still allow democratic governments in Eastern Europe
How did Truman respond to Eastern Europe being communist?
Truman Doctrine
What is the Truman Doctrine?
The policy of the USA trying to stop the further spread of Communism
What was Cominform?
An organisation to co-ordinate the work of the various Communist parties in different countries
What was the aim of the Truman Doctrine?
Policy of containment
Who was in a civil war in Greece?
Monarchists and Communist
Why was there a civil war in Greece?
Monarchists who wanted to return of the King and Communist who didn’t
Who tried to take control of Turkey?
Stalin
Why was the USA concerned when Stalin tried to take control of Turkey?
Because this would allow the USSR to spread communism in the Middle East
Why did USA think Turkey was important?
Fit it’s oil reserves
What did Truman persuade the US Congress to do that involves Greece?
Grant $400 million aid to Greece and Turkey
How did the $400 million grant improve the relationship between the Greece and Turkey?
This made Turkey an ally of the USA and helped monarchists in Greece
How did the $400 million grant to Turkey and Greece affect the relations with the USSR?
Harmed the relations, caused tension
What was the Marshall Aid aim?
To stop the spread of communism
What did General Marshall find in post-war situations when sent to access ?
Ruined economics and extreme shortages
How much did the Marshall Plan propose to help rebuild Europe?
$17 billion
What did Marshall believe will make it harder to spread communism?
Believe tackling poverty would make it harder for the spread of communism
What year did Truman go to congress to approve aid and failed?
1947
What year did the Congress grant Marshall aid ?
1948
What shocked the Congress into granting the aid?
Communist took control in Czechoslovakia
Who was suspicious of the Marshall aid?
Stalin
Who did Stalin ban from Marshall Aid?
Communist countries
What was Stalin’s version of Marshall aid called?
Comecon
What increased in the period 1946-1949?
Increased tension
What did the Berlin Blockade do to the relations of the West and East?
Brought the two sides close to war
What did Britain, USA and France do to recover Germany’s economy more quickly?
Combined their zones
What year did Britain, USA and France combined their German zones?
1948
Why did Stalin worry when Britain, USA and France combine zones?
Worried Germany was being built up deliberately
What was Stalin’s response to Britain, USA and France combining their zones?
Berlin Blockade
What zone was Berlin in?
Deep in the Soviet zone
When did Stalin close links between Berlin and the West?
June 1948
How did the Berlin Blockade effect the West?
West which left West Berlin without supplies
Which way of responding to the Berlin Blockade would have been seen as a act of war?
Use of tanks to move roadblocks
What did the allies do instead?
Flew supplies to Berlin
What fear did the West have when flying to Berlin?
That the Soviets would shoot down planes which would start the war
How long did Stalin keep the links closed?
11 months
What two countries were formed after the Berlin Blockade?
Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic
What country that formed after Berlin Blockade was the West’s?
Federal republic of Germany
What country that formed after Berlin Blockade was the East’s?
German Democratic Republic
What year was Korea divided into North and South?
1948
What year did China become a communist country?
1949
What lead China to becoming a communist country?
A revolution
What year did the USSR sign a treaty with China?
1950
Who originally controlled Vietnam?
France
What year did France withdraw from Vietnam?
1954
What part of Vietnam did Communist control?
North Vietnam
Why did tension increase between superpowers in 1949?
China became communist
When did the Chinese occupation end?
In 1945
What happened when the Chinese occupation ended?
Civil war restarted between Nationalists and Communist in China
Who did the USA back in the Chinese Civil War?
The Nationalists
How was the Nationalists run in China ?
Unpopular and poorly led
Who was leading the Communist in China when they triumphed?
Mao Zedong
What country was the most populous country that was Communist?
China
When did the USSR sign a treaty of friendship with China?
February 1950
How did America feel about the USSR and China being allies?
Greater fear of communism
Was the Truman Doctrine successful in Asia?
No
What did the US influence in the United Nations?
Refused to recognise the new communist leaderships
Who represented China?
Chiang Kai-Shek in exile in Taiwan
How did the USSR protest to UN not recognising Communist leaderships?
Boycotting the UN Security Council
What is boycotting?
Refusing to take part or use something as a form of protest
What happened in Korea in 1948?
Korea divided into two countries
What control was North Korea under?
A communist dictatorship
Who supported North Korea?
USSR and China
What control was South Korea under?
Anti-Communist, Capitalism
Who supported South Korea?
USA
What was a flaw with the way South Korea was run?
Not run very democratically either
When was Korea invaded?
June 1950
What happened when Korea was invaded?
North Korea invaded South Korea, most of the South was quickly taken over
When did America propose a UN resolution to the Korean War?
July 1950
Who would had vetoed the resolution to American intervene?
USSR but they were boycotting
What was the UN Resolution for the Korean War?
The UN would intervene to help South Korea
When did the UN invade?
September 1950
Who in the UN invaded?
Mostly American troops but supported by other countries including Britain
Who led the UN forces?
American General MacArthur
How did the Korean War effect the relationship between the USSR and USA?
Worsened relationship, led to USSR to distrust the UN
When was the first time the divisions between East and West were played out in a physical conflict?
The Korean War
How did both sides use conflict to develop their weapons?
To test weapons such as advanced jet aircraft aircraft and faster tanks
What significant event happened in the Korean War?
Became stalemate quickly
What does stalemate mean?
Neither side could win
When was the Korean Peace treaty signed?
1953
What had the UN proved during the Korean War?
That they could take effective action
Why was the UN able to make effective action?
The USSR had not been present
What did the USSR do after the UN invasion?
The USSR returned to its seat at the UN Security Council and was careful not to miss any other important votes
How were the superpowers relationships effected when the Vietnam War outbreak?
Further divided the superpowers
What time period did France rule Vietnam?
1945-1954
Who fought against the French rule in Vietnam?
Communist fighters called the Viet Cong
When did the French withdrew from Vietnam?
In 1954
What happened when France withdrew from Vietnam?
Vietnam temporarily divided into North and South Vietnam
Who supported the South Vietnam and how?
USA continued to send aid to the south which was capitalist
Who supported North Vietnam?
USSR and China
How did creating military alliances effect the USSRs and USAs relationship?
Increased tension
Why did Truman want European bases for US troops?
During Berlin Blockade Truman saw how easily Soviet troops could invade Western Europe bases for US troops across the Atlantic
When does NATO stand for?
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
When was NATO formed?
April 1949
What did NATO allow?
Allowed USA troops in Europe. Members agreed to defend each other if they were invaded
How did the USSR feel about USA developing a military bloc?
Furious and increased tension
When did West Germany join NATO?
1955
When was West Germany allowed an army?
In 1955
Who was the new leader of the USSR?
Khrushchev
What did Khrushchev do in response to the creation of NATO?
Created military bloc called the Warsaw Pact
What year was the Warsaw Pact created?
1955
Who was included in the Warsaw Pact?
All communist countries in Eastern Europe except Yugoslavia
Why wasn’t Yugoslavia allowed to join the Warsaw Pact?
Yugoslavia reached out for aid from Marshall Aid from USA not the USSR. This was seen as betrayal
When did the USA and USSR lock in an arms race?
From 1949
What was the aim of the arms race?
To develop more powerful nuclear weapons to prove who was the best superpower
Who dropped the first atom bomb?
USA
When did the USSR have its own atom bomb?
1949
How did the USA feel about the USSR developing their first atom bomb?
Shocked, USA thought the USSR would take longer to develop its own atom bomb
What did the USA do as a response to the USSR developing an atom bomb?
Boosted its spending money on defence and military technology
Ho much of US spending money went to the Air Force during the Cold War?
40%
What has the USA developed in the arms race by 1952?
A hydrogen bomb
What was the hydrogen more commonly known as?
H-bomb
How many more times more powerful was the hydrogen bomb that the atom bomb?
1000 times
When did the USSR develop a hydrogen bomb?
1953
What did the USA develop by 1954 in the arms race?
An H-bomb that could be dropped from a plane
How long after the USA did the USSR create a H-bomb that was dropped from a plane?
A few months later
