Cold War Flashcards

1
Q

What were the West’s aims for the Yalta conference?

A

Forming the UN should prevent war. International economic cooperation to help restart global economy. Liberated countries in Eastern Europe should have to right to self determination and there should be no spheres of influence.

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2
Q

Soviet’s aims for Yalta?

A

Spheres of influence should be created round the SU. Germany should pay for rebuilding of damage from WW2. Germany should remain weak so it doesn’t become a threat. Non acceptance of the world bank but some willingness to cooperate with the UN.

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3
Q

what happened at the Yalta conference?

A

The formation of the UN, reparations were agreed to, Poland’s borders were moved, SU agreed to join the war in the Pacific, Germany was divided into 4 zones, liberated Europe was to have self-determination.

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4
Q

Who was at the Yalta conference?

A

Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin

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5
Q

When did Stalin set up it’s future communist government for Poland?

A

1944

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6
Q

Changes between Yalta and Potsdam?

A

Roosevelt was replaced with Truman, Churchill was replaced with Attlee, almost all European countries were now communist governments and the red army had taken over.

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7
Q

What happened at Potsdam?

A

USSR got Polish land, denazification was agreed on, Stalin rejected the western ideas for Eastern Europe, America rejected Stalin’s request to run to Ruhr(Germany’s rich industrial area, owned by USA), further reparations agreements and German zones agreed on.

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8
Q

Affects of the atomic bomb on Japan?

A

78,000 killed them 140,000 died by the effects by the end of the year. City destroyed, surrendered.

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9
Q

Atomic bomb effects on USSR?

A

Felt betrayed he hadn’t mentioned it at Potsdam, this created mistrust. Increased tension and showed military power and began arms race.

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10
Q

Atomic bomb reaction from USSR?

A

1949, USSR had caught up and developed their own nuclear bomb. MAD(mutually assured destruction let to tense conflicts.

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11
Q

Cominform?

A

Set up by Stalin to sustain communist policies in other countries.

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12
Q

Truman doctrine?

A

March 1947 Truman made a speech announcing the Truman Doctrine, about containing communism within Eastern Europe. Asked for 400 million dollars to help eliminate poverty which he believed would make people less likely to be communist.

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13
Q

The Marshall plan?

A

4 year American scheme giving money to European countries

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14
Q

Which countries were helped by the Marshall plan?

A

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands and UK

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15
Q

Which countries didn’t accept help from the Marshall plan?

A

USSR, Poland and Czeckslovakia

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16
Q

When was the Marshall plan occurring?

A

April 1948- December 1951

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17
Q

Reasons for Marshall plan being innocent and helpful?

A

Marshall plan was offered to both western and European countries to help starving and unemployed

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18
Q

Reasons for Marshall plan being strategy?

A

The Marshall plan aimed to contain communism, helping the west would make them str mg allies, they wanted Europe as trading partners.

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19
Q

Stalin’s reaction to Marshall plan?

A

Comecon and cominform

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20
Q

When was comecon set up?(economic)

A

1949

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21
Q

When was cominform set up?(political)

A

1947

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22
Q

Cominform?

A

To coordinate the communist governments and the SU could give instructions to them.

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23
Q

Comecon?

A

Co ordinate industries and trade with each other, not the West.

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24
Q

Why did the Berlin blockade happen?

A

In 1947 USA and Britain joined their German zones(Bizonia) in 1948 France joined(trizonia). June 1948 introduced deutschmark which strengthened West German economy and causes economic crisis in the east. Stalin felt betrayed they had not discussed this before with him.

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25
Q

What was the Berlin blockade?

A

USSR stopped the main autobalm and stopped all traffic between Berlin and western Germany, West Berlin was surrounded by soviet troops and the east was short of power, gas, coal and electrics.

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26
Q

Berlin airlift?

A

Saturday 26 June- May 12 1949. 5000 tonnes of food everyday

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27
Q

Stalin’s response to the Truman doctrine and Marshall plan?

A

Cominform and comecon

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28
Q

Reaction to Berlin blockade?

A

Berlin airlift

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29
Q

Vietnam contribution to Cold War?

A

SU supplied them with arms to fight USA, if south vietnam spread to communism it would start a sphere of influence in Asia

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30
Q

China affect on Cold War?

A

Good relationship with SU, China, the most populated country in the world became communist 1949, SU sent $300 million in aid, seen as a victory for Stalin

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31
Q

Korea affects on Cold War?

A

1949 Stalin helped invade South Korea, North Korea became communist, UN helped south with weapons so West and USSR were indirectly fighting.

32
Q

When did Stalin lift the blockade?

A

1949

33
Q

How long did the lies maintain their airlift?

A

10 months

34
Q

What was the knock on effect of the Marshall plan?

A

The Marshall plan caused the Berlin blockade, to which the allies replied with the Berlin airlift.

35
Q

What was the allies military alliance called?

A

NATO

36
Q

What was the SU’s response to NATO?

A

They created their own military alliance called the Warsaw Pact

37
Q

Members of the Warsaw Pact?

A

8: SU, Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany, Albania, Poland, Hungary & Czeckslovakia

38
Q

Members of NATO?

A

12: USA, UK, Canada, France, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Luxembourg, Iceland, then West Germany afterward

39
Q

When did the USSR launch Sputnik 1?

A

Oct 1957

40
Q

When did the USA satellite launch explode on the launch pad?

A

Dec 1957

41
Q

When did the first man go to space (USSR)?

A

April 1961 (Yuri Gagarin)

42
Q

When did Alan Shepard become the first USA man in space?

A

May 1961

43
Q

When did Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon?

A

July 1969

44
Q

Big cause of arms race ?

A

USA atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945) ending the war with Japan

45
Q

SU blew up their first atomic bomb in 1949

A

Arms race

46
Q

MAD

A

Mutually assured destruction

47
Q

Brinkmanship

A

Pushing each other to the edge because they know they will back down due to MAD

48
Q

USA built hydrogen bomb in 1952, what was SU reaction ?

A

They built a hydrogen bomb in the same year

49
Q

Why did Kennedy win the election?

A

1961- because he promised to be tough on soviets

50
Q

Which 2 situations did Kennedy prove himself weak?

A

Vienna summit- Khrushchev shouted and bullied Kennedy about Berlin
Building of the Berlin Wall- Kennedy was helpless

51
Q

Bay of Pigs 1961 plan

A

A large group of Cuban exiles , trained by the CIA, would take control of Cuba. The US Air Force would give them support. The assumption was that the invasion would inspire other Cubans to go against Castro

52
Q

Problems in the Bay of Pigs

A

Short after they put the plan into action, it was clear most Cubans still supported Castro and wouldn’t join the invasion. A number of senior members in US government thought their involvement was illegal under international law. However, they’d spent 5 million dollars on it so decided it was worth the risk.

53
Q

Consequences of the bay of pigs

A

The USA had broken international law and been humiliated. Kennedy, just months into his presidency looked incompetent. This pushed Castro further into alliance with the USSR

54
Q

What happened in the invasion of the bay of pigs

A

April 1961 the Cuban exiles landed on the beach . It was a disaster and Kennedy soon the support of the US airforce and the exiles were left vulnerable. 200 were killed and 1197 were taken prisoner by Castro.

55
Q

1962, missiles were found where?

A

Khrushchev placed missiles in Cuba

56
Q

Different ideas as to why Khrushchev placed missiles in Cuba?

A
  • use them to bargain with USA
  • to trap USA
  • to test Kennedy
  • upper hand in the arms race
  • to defend Cuba(especially after bay of pigs situation)
57
Q

When did Kennedy announce a naval blockade from the SU to Cuba?

A

October 1962

58
Q

Which DEFCON did Kennedy put the American forces on?

A

DEFCON 3

59
Q

Where did the USA have a missiles base?

A

Turkey

60
Q

When did the first nuclear weapons from SU arrive to Cuba?

A

Summer of 1962

61
Q

What did the Soviet ships approach Cuba with with more missiles?

A

23 October

62
Q

When we’re the USA ships facing the SU waiting to back down

A

24 October

63
Q

How many troops did Kennedy assemble, ready for an invasion of Cuba?

A

120,000

64
Q

When did Kennedy receive a letter from Khrushchev saying he would remove the missiles?

A

26 October

65
Q

What happened on 27 October in Cuban missile crisis?

A

US navy detected a an SU submarine close to Cuba and forced it to the surface , it was clear it had no contact with the outside world as it thought the war had already begun and nearly launched a nuclear torpedo

66
Q

Khrushchev sent a second letter again pro,using to remove the missiles but also demanded the removal of US missiles in Turkey and Italy, what was Kennedy’s response?

A

Kennedy agreed as long as the removal of the US missiles would be kept a secret

67
Q

Consequences of the Cuban missile crisis for USA?

A

Kennedy seemed stronger as he got them removed, but also they secretly had lost their advantage of weapons in Turkey

68
Q

Consequences of Cuban missile crisis for USSR?

A

Khrushchev lost power as he looked weak, but he’d actually scored a big win by getting rid of USA nuclear weapons in Europe

69
Q

Prague spring?

A

Dubcek introducing reforms in politics in Czeckslovakia

70
Q

SU reaction to Prague spring?

A

After a letter of warning they arrested Dubcek and 100 protesters were killed, 500 wounded.

71
Q

How did detente occur in 1970s?

A

President Nixon reconciles with the SU

  • sanction spying on eachother
  • USA sells wheat cheaply to SU
  • SU agreed to improve human rights and freedom of speech
72
Q

What was SALT(1969)

A

The strategic arms limitation talks

73
Q

In 1971 what did the USA allow China to join?

A

UN

74
Q

What happened in space July 1975?

A

USA and soviet astronauts met up and shook hands

75
Q

What was the Helsinki agreement(signed by 35 countries including USA and SU)

A

West recognised frontiers of Eastern Europe and acknowledged soviet influence in that area.
All countries Agee’s to improve human rights, particularly freedom of speech, religion and movement