cold war pt 2 Flashcards
EFFECTS OF U2 INCIDENT
increased mistrust and damaged relations between the US and the USSR.
Before the U2 incident, tensions decreased slightly as the two leaders met in Geneva and Camp David to reach agreements regarding Berlin and how it should be run.
However, when the Russians shot down an American U2 spy plane, the Americans tried to claim it as a weather aeroplane.
This damaged relations as the Soviet Union became more suspicious of the USA, while America was more determined to take a stronger stance so as to save face.
The damaged relations after the U2 incident can be seen with the lack of agreement regarding the Test Ban Treaty and the future of Berlin. during the Paris Summit, which was used to resolve various tension points
Indirectly led to the escalation of the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Because of the spy operation being uncovered, mistrust between both sides increased as they were unsure what the others were doing.
Because of this, the meeting in Vienna in 1961 became tense, as Kennedy refused to make concessions and increased spending on armed forces, which led to Khrushchev toughening his stance on Berlin.
As seen by the wall built between East and West Berlin, which dramatically escalated tensions.
EFFECT OF BERLIN WALL ON RELATIONS
stopped the refugee crisis in East Germany = increased tensions
Before the construction of the Wall, many East Germans chose to leave their homes, and by 1958, almost 3 million people had crossed the border to the West. Many were skilled professionals, and these included teachers, engineers and technicians.
Without these essential citizens, East Germany suffered a ‘brain drain’, this meant that it would be a huge propaganda fail for Khrushkev, as it was clear that many preferred the West. Because of this, the Berlin Wall was built to stop any more citizens leaving.
In contrast, after the construction, only 5 thousand could successfully leave, stopping the refugee crisis in East Germany.
The West thought of this as an example of the USSR suppressing the people, which increased tensions between the two countries.
increased mistrust between the US and the USSR.
Before the construction of the wall, tensions were high as the West was angered by Khrushkev’s demands of the Berlin Ultimatum as they thought this was a way in which the Soviet Union was seeking to extend communism.
However, with the construction of the Berlin Wall done without the knowledge of the US, this severely heightened mistrust and suspicion in the US, as Kennedy would start to believe the USSR would be doing even more behind their back and start having a more intense stance on US-USSR relations.
An example of this can be seen with America’s tough actions during the Missile Crisis, and the Soviet Union taking action in Cuba with the setup of nuclear missiles.
EFFECT OF BAY OF PIGS ON RELATIONS
Increased American motivation = increased competition
USA = humiliating, embarrassing failure, seen as hypocritical (previously accused USSR of trying to build an empire, now looked like they were acting exactly the same
Soviet Union = used Cubans being happy as a propaganda for communism → angered the US
Needed to prove themselves to their allies and to the world = taking a harder stance on communism
Increased military tension
Stronger relations between Cuba and Soviet Union → Castro asked Khrushchev to help him defend Cuba, Khrushchev publicly announced he would provide arms
US = stronger stance as this meant that Cuba would now have modern military equipment and training from Soviet experts
= both sides were prepared militarily
EFFECT OF CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
damaged relations between the US and the USSR.
Tensions were extremely high during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and examples of this can be seen when it was discovered that the Soviet Union was building missile launch sites in Cuba.
The setup of this missile launch sites increased tensions even more between the two countries, as the US feared the threat of a nuclear war due to the missiles being on the border with their land. In response to this, Kennedy set a naval blockade around Cuba, where 54 bombers were prepared. With both sides being armed with nuclear weapons and continuously putting forth offensive action against one another, it is clear that relations were damaged between the two countries.
long term impact = led to an improvement of relations between the US and the Soviet Union
Due to both sides becoming extremely near to nuclear war, they both felt the responsibility to protect their citizens and take steps to stop it happening again in the future.
Examples of nuclear war prevention can be seen with the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968 the signing of SALT 1, where it placed restrictions on missiles as well as laid down rules for conduct of nuclear warfare.
The start of a Detente period makes it clear that both countries wanted to put the Cold War behind them and start having closer relations.
EFFECT OF SOVIET INVASION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA
increased tension between the Soviet Union and the USA.
With Brezhnev ordering Warsaw Pact troops to invade Czechoslovakia and end the Prague Spring, many in the West saw it as an aggressive attempt of the USSR intervening with another eastern European country.
US was angered by the “wave of oppression” in which 1000 Czechs were arrested. In response to this, America made strong protests to the Soviet Union and attempted to pass a formal resolution criticising the invasion in the UN, but was vetoed by the Soviet Union.
This severely impacted relations between the two countries as the US was shocked by the hostility encountered by the Czech people, which made them hold a stronger stance against the Soviet Union.
weakened Soviet control over Eastern European Communist parties, increasing competition between both the US and the USSR.
September 1968, the Soviet paper, Pravda, set out what was to be known as the Brezhnev Doctrine.
threat to all of the other countries part of the Warsaw Pact, as the Brezhnev Doctrine was a threat to any communist country wanting to introduce reforms to make their country more liberal.
countries like Romania and Albania signed out of the Warsaw Pact and introduced new reform.
This worsened relations between the US and the Soviet Union as the US was more determined to help the countries that left the Warsaw Pact, which in response angered the Soviet Union.
REASONS FOR DETENTE
US perspective
Public view → USA should take less active role in international affairs
Billions of dollars for Vietnam War, extremely unpopular → led to growing belief that military intervention was not satisfactory to conduct foreign policy
Other affairs
Vietnam War = 170 billion on war, shortage of money to spend on other problems
Civil rights = inequality
Detente was attractive as that meant it would allow the US to spend less money on weapons, more to try and solve social issues
Concerned about growing China = China had tested atomic bomb, Nixon felt that if USSR and China became closer, it would be a threat to the US
Soviet Union perspective
Felt that the US would be willing to recognise Soviet control over Eastern Europe
Felt that they were equals in nuclear weapons, discuss arms limitation from a position of strength
Economic issues
Wanted to cut spending on weapons, devote more resources to improve living standards and updating its economy
30% of GDP on defense
EFFECTS OF SALT 1
move for better relations between the USA and the Soviet Union.
It had major symbolic importance as it showed that both countries wanted to reach agreement and demonstrated their better relations publicly.
This is seen through the both countries’ upholding the Basic Principles Agreement, where both countries had to ‘make every effort to avoid this risk[nuclear war]’.
Due to SALT 1, Nixon visited Brezhnev in Moscow and Brezhnev visited the United States in 1973, which showed that both sides were willing to negotiate and put the past behind them, making this period a detente.
A negative impact of SALT 1 was that its success was limited.
Though both sides were able to agree to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty as well as the Interim Treaty, success was limited.
This can be seen with the creation of SALT 2, which was to cover matters not solved by SALT 1.
Moreover, the treaty did not cover the latest technological development, MIRVs. These carried multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile.
