Cold War Crises Flashcards
Sputnik 1
Occurred in 1957- USSR launched the first man-made satellite
Cuban Revolution
Occurred in 1959, Cuba’s Pro-American government was overthrown by a left wing revolution led by Fidel Castro
Geneva Summit
1959- USA and USSR met to discuss Berlin’s future but no solution was agreed
Paris Conference
1960- Khrushchev stormed out of Paris meeting after Eisenhower refused to apologise for the U2 Spy plane incident.
Vienna Conference
1961-Khruschev and Kennedy met to discuss Berlin further but neither appeared willing to back down over US presence there,
Kennedy increased US defence spending by $3.2bn
Berlin Wall
12 August 1961–Khrushchev ordered the building of a barbed wire fence around West Berlin, eventually reinforced to become the Berlin Wall
Bay of Pigs
1961- CIA helped Cuban exiles try overthrow Castro but they fail, however this invasion pushed Castro closer to USSR and embarrassed the USA.
What occurred in the Cuban Missiles Crisis?
In 16-28 October 1962-US spy planes discover Soviet nuclear bases on Cuba(16 October 1962), but despite tension, the crisis ends peacefully as on 27 October 1962, Kennedy sets up a deal to withdraw US missiles from Italy and Turkey, and on 28 October 1962 Khruschev agrees to withdraw its missiles from Cuba: The USA had to agree never to attack Cuba again as well.
What occurs when JFK visits Berlin
Occurred in 1963, Kennedy famously toured West Berlin to show support for its people
Hotline
Set up in 1963, direct communications link up set up between Washington and Moscow to avoid communication problems of Cuban crisis
Test ban treaty
Set up in 1963, agreement between superpowers to stop nuclear tests above ground
When were US troops sent to Vietnam
In 1965 US troops were sent into Vietnam to fight against communist North
Prague Spring
Occurred in 1968-Dubcek takes power in Czechoslovakia and tries to bring about reform
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
In 1968 after Brezhnev failed to persuade Dubcek to stop reforms, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia(20 August 1968). Non-violent protest, but Dubcek arrested.US condemned Soviet actions.
Impact of the Berlin Wall
It stopped East Germans escaping to the West(ended refugee crisis)
Khrushchev looked strong but didn’t fight a war
Wall= powerful symbol of communist strength and a physical symbol of the Cold War division of Europe