Cold War (intensifies) Flashcards
When did the USSR test its first atomic bomb?
1949
When did the USA develop a hydrogen bomb?
1952
When did the USSR develop a hydrogen bomb?
1953
What is the significance of both the USA and USSR having nuclear weapons?
- Any nuclear war would lead to MAD (mutually aided destruction) so the USA and USSR had to find way to stop disputes escalating into dangerous wars involving nuclear weapons
Why did the cold war not become a hot war?
Due to both sides having nuclear weapons
When was the Warsaw Pact created and what was it?
14th May 1955, a collective defense treaty
What were the significances of the Warsaw Pact?
- The formation of the pact meant that there were now two opposing alliances in Europe separated by the Iron curtain
- Both alliances planned for military action against the other, including the use of nuclear and conventional weapons
- Pact gave the USSR direct control of the armed forces of its satellite states, strengthening its control of Eastern Europe
When did Stalin die?
1953
Who and when did the new leader of the USSR come to power?
Khrushchev in 1955
How did Kruschev hint that Soviet control would relax?
- In 1956, in his ‘secret
speech’, Khrushchev attacked Stalin saying that he was a murderer and a tyrant - He also said he wanted peaceful co-existence with the West
What did Khrushchev do to Russia and what were its effects?
- He began to ‘de-Stalinise’ it by reducing the activities of secret police and by setting political prisoners free
- This gave hope that Stalin’s era of repression had ended, so opponents of communism in Eastern Europe began to make demands
What were some causes of the Hungarian uprising?
- Poverty
- Russian control - they hated it, including censorship and the secret police
- Religious issues - Communist party banned religion
When was Eisenhower president?
From 1953
Why did Hungarians start demonstrating against communist control?
Because of poor harvests and bread shortages, in october 1956
What things did the Hungarians do that demonstrated their hatred for communist control?
they pulled down statues of Stalin, attacked secret police and Russian soldiers