Cold War chapter 3 Flashcards
What happened to Korea after WW2?
Korea was liberated by the USA and USSR and divided along the 38th Parallel. The North received support from the USSR and was Communist, while the Capitalist South received support from the USA.
What event marked the beginning of the Korean War?
On 25 June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea and pushed their forces back rapidly.
How did the USA respond to North Korea’s invasion?
The USA reported the invasion to the United Nations.
Why couldn’t the USSR veto the UN’s decision to help South Korea?
The USSR was not attending the UN at the time.
What was the composition of the UN force sent to Korea?
A UN force from 16 countries was sent to Korea, with most troops being American and led by General Douglas MacArthur.
What was the outcome of the initial UN military efforts in Korea?
The UN force was able to push the North Koreans back to the 38th Parallel and then further until they were close to the Chinese border.
What significant action did China take during the Korean War?
China entered the war with 260,000 soldiers and pushed the UN force back to the 38th Parallel.
What happened to General MacArthur in April 1951?
MacArthur was dismissed after advising Truman to use the atomic bomb on China.
What was the state of the Korean War by 1953?
The war became a stalemate and continued for another two years until an armistice was agreed in July 1953.
What impact did the Korean War have on US foreign policy?
The USA committed to supporting other countries in Asia resisting communism, leading to the formation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) in September 1954.
How did military spending change after the Korean War?
Both the USA and the Soviet Union increased spending on defense, with the USSR increasing its armed forces from 2.8 to 5.6 million soldiers between 1950 and 1955.
What was the Warsaw Pact?
The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance established by the USSR in response to West Germany joining NATO in 1955, including countries in the USSR’s buffer zone.
What sparked the arms race between the USA and the USSR?
The USSR developed its own atomic bomb in 1949, leading to a massive development of nuclear arms on both sides.
What was significant about the hydrogen bomb developed by the USA?
The hydrogen bomb, developed in 1952, was 1000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb.
What was the concept of deterrence in the Cold War?
(MAD)
Both sides had enough weapons to destroy each other multiple times, leading to a change in thinking where the risk of using nuclear weapons acted as a deterrent.
What changes occurred in the Cold War after 1953?
The election of Eisenhower and the death of Stalin seemed to reduce tensions, with Eisenhower aiming to block communist expansion while avoiding nuclear war.
What was Khrushchev’s approach to the West?
Khrushchev criticized Stalin’s policies and suggested peaceful coexistence with the West.
What led to the Hungarian Uprising in 1956?
The people of Hungary protested due to lack of political freedom and shortages, hoping for reforms after Khrushchev’s de-stalinisation.
What was the outcome of the Hungarian Uprising?
Khrushchev ordered a Soviet invasion, resulting in the deaths of up to 20,000 Hungarians and the establishment of a pro-communist government.
How did the USA respond to the Hungarian Uprising?
The USA did not send military support, as it was not prepared to interfere in the USSR’s buffer zone to avoid a nuclear war.
What was the impact of the Hungarian Uprising on East-West relations?
The USA opposed the invasion and believed Khrushchev was as bad as Stalin, while the USSR was strengthened by showing Warsaw Pact countries the consequences of rebellion.
