Cold War Crises Flashcards
Why did the US refuse to recognise Castro’s government?
- Didn’t want a socialist country in their sphere of influence and it had links to soviet union
When was the Bay of Pigs?
17th April 1961
What did the CIA tell Kennedy what was going to happen in the Bay of Pigs?
- Disguised Old US planea like cuban ones and invasion will look like a cuban revolt
- Castro’s control of Cuba is weak
- Most Cuban’s hate Castro
What actually happened in the Bay of Pigs?
- The planes were recognised as US planes and the information was published and the world knew it was USA that backed the invasioj
- Castro knew the invasion in advance and 20,000 Cuban troops were met by 1,400 US troops
- Most Cubans did not want their old leader as he was corrupt
What were the consquences of the Bay of Pigs?
- Castro announced he was a communist
- Ended all chances with a US and Cuban relationship
- Millitary defence for Cuba with the help of Soviet Union
How did the Soviet Union see the Cuban missile crisis result as?
- To place missiles in Cuba as Cuba saw this a way to prevent USA invading them again
What happened in September 1962?
- Soviet ships carried nuclear warheads and missiles to Cuba
What happened in October 1962?
US spy planes spotted the Cuban Missile sites and the secret was out. US public was in pannic
What was detente?
The cooling period of tensions between soviet union amd USA
What were the short term consequences of Cuban Missile Crisis?
- Kennedy assured USA would not invade Cuba again
- The soviet union looked weak as the world did not know USA had removed missiles from Turkey. Brezhnev then replaces Khrusvhev in 1964
What were the long term consequences of Cuban Missile Crisis?
- Hotline agreement created a direct link between Washington and Moscow
- August 1963 both sides agreed to ban nuclear weapon testing except underground testing
- 1963 Kennedy gave a speech on how he was working with SU to focus on common intersts
- Soviet union catched up with USA in Arms race. MAD should be avoided at all costs
- Signed Outer space treaty in 1967 which banned nuclear weapons in space and not share nuclear technology with other countries
Why sis Kennedy start to prepare for the nuclear war?
The four summit meetings USA and SU failed to resolve the problem in Germany
Why was the Berlin wall built?
To prevent East Burliners travel to West Berlin and if they did try they would be shot
When was the Berlin wall built?
August 12th 1961
What Happened on August 12 1961?
East German troops put barbed wire arround West Berlin wall. The fence was heavily guarded
And Soviet tanks were deployed to stop western access to the east
When was west Berlin completely cut off from East Germany?
October 1961
How many soldiers were shot trying to cross the wall between 1961 and 1989?
Over 200
Why was the Berlin wall built?
- Khruschev knew he couldn’t win a war
- The wall stopped East Germans crossing the border to the west and if they did they’d be shot
- The wall made krushev look strong
What was the impact on Soviet Rule of Czechoslovakia?
- Czechoslovakia’s economy and living standards declined
- Communist rule became very unpopular
- Opposition to communism was crushed
Who was the leader of Czechoslovakia in 1968?
Alexander Dubeck
Things about Alexander Dubeck?
- Became czechoslovakian leader in 1968
- Good friend to soviet leader Brezhnev
- Wanted communism easier to live under
What was socialism with a human face?
He wanted to make communism easier to live under