Cold War Crises (1958- 1970)

Question 1

Alexander Dubcek

Answer 1

He was a good friend of the Soviet leader (Leonid Brezhnev)
He was a communist and a supporter of the Warsaw Pact
His reforms resulted in the 1968 ‘Prague Spring’

Question 2

Impact on Soviet rule in Czechoslovakia

Answer 2

Czechoslovakia’s economy and living standards declined
Any opposition to communism was crushed
Communist rule became unpopular

Question 3

Bay of Bigs disadvantages (17th April 1961)

Answer 3

Most Cubans did not want their own leader back, (Batista)
US planes were photographed and recognised
Castro knew of the Bay of Pigs invasion in advance

Question 4

Bay of Bigs Advantages (17th April 1961)

Answer 4

Most Cubans hate Castro
Castro’s control of Cuba is very weak
Invasion will look like a Cuban Revolt

Question 5

USA and Fidel Castro

Answer 5

USA refused to recognise Castro’s Government
CIA tried to assassinate Castro with no success
CIA convinced J.F.K to invade Cuba

Question 6

Vienna conference (June 1961)

Answer 6

Neither was willing to back down
Khrushchev saw Kennedy’s inexperience as a weakness
Reissued his ultimatum

Question 7

Paris Summit (May 1960)-

Answer 7

Disaster
Khrushchev stormed out because USSR had shot down a USA spy plane over Russia

Question 8

Camp David (Sept 1959)-

Answer 8

A further meeting arranged in Paris

Question 9

Geneva Summit (May 1959)-

Answer 9

No solution agreed but a further summit
scheduled in Camp David, USA

Question 10

Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum

Answer 10

Stated that all of Berlin belonged to East Germany
Occupying troops must leave in 6 months
Series of summit meetings took place

Question 11

Refugee Crisis in Berlin

Answer 11

1949- 1961 2.7 Million East Germans crossed into West Germany through West Berlin
Population of West Berlin increased dramatically

Question 12

West Berlin (2)

Answer 12

Was deep inside Soviet-controlled Germany
Divided Berlin gave USA a foothold
Better jobs with high wages in West Berlin

Question 13

Cuban Missile Crisis

Answer 13

Soviet Union saw Cuba as a fix to a key strategic problem
Cuba saw Soviet Missiles as a great way to Prevent the USA from invading Cuba

Question 14

How should the USA respond?

Answer 14

Ignore the Cuban Missiles
Nuclear attack
Destroy Cuban Missile sites
Invade Cuba

Question 15

Brezhnev’s response to Dubcek Reforms

Answer 15

August 1968, Soviet Union sent tanks to Prague and Dubcek was arrested
Czechoslovakia returned to being under strict Soviet control under Gustav Husak

Question 16

Impact of the 1961 Berlin Wall

Answer 16

The wall solved the refugee problem
Number of military alerts in Berlin declined
The wall was a propaganda victory for the West

Question 17

International relations on Czechoslovakia (West)

Answer 17

The USA and West Germany condemned the invasion
USA and West Germany offered no military support

Question 18

International Relations on Czechoslovakia (East)

Answer 18

The invasion limited reforms in other Eastern Bloc countries
Invasion strengthened Soviet control as they could use military action