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GCSE History- USA > Cold War Rivalry > Flashcards

Cold War Rivalry Flashcards

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1
Q

What is meant by the Cold War

A

State of hostility between the USA and USSR and their allies, without actual fighting

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2
Q

What is meant by ‘Superpowers’

A

Term used to describe USSR and USA- they were so powerful in military and economic terms that they had left all other countries behind

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3
Q

What is meant by Capitalism

A

Belief that individuals should be free to make as much money as they can

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4
Q

What is meant by communism

A

Belief that the state should make sure everyone is equal

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5
Q

What is meant by containment

A

USA tried to prevent Communism from spreading and expanding into non-communist states

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6
Q

What is meant by Marshall Aid

A

US programme of financial and economic aid given to Europe after end of WW2

(Believed that if these countries weren’t suffering in terms of military and economy then they would have no reason to turn to communism)

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7
Q

True or false, the USA and USSR had good relations with each other in WW2

A

True
They worked together in WW2 to fight against Germany (a common enemy)
However once Germany was defeated in 1945 their relations began to deteriorate

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8
Q

After WW2 which system did the USA believe in, communism or capitalism

A

Capitalism
(They feared the spread of communism)

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9
Q

After WW2 which system did the USSR believe in, communism or capitalism

A

Communism

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10
Q

What is meant by the 6 ‘satellite states’

A

Refers to Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and East Germany
Stalin imposed Communist style governments upon these 6 states
A satellite state (e.g these 6 countries) is a country under the domination of a foreign power (e.g the USSR)

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11
Q

What is meant by a satellite state

A

Countries under domination of foreign power

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12
Q

True or false, by 1945 the USSR occupied large parts of Eastern Europe

A

True
Stalin did not intend to remove his troops but instead took over these countries forcing communism upon them

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13
Q

True or false, Truman resisted turning the USA into a communist state

A

True
Several measures were also taken to try and ‘contain’ communism e.g the Marshall Plan

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14
Q

How was the Marshall Plan meant to help ‘contain’ communism

A

Provided economic aid to Europe, idea being that countries with a strong economy (caused by money in Marshall aid) would be able to repel communism however those economically suffering would turn to communism because it meant that the wealth was distributed evenly so people would benefit (yet Truman didn’t want this)

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15
Q

Why might communism appeal to countries that are economically suffering after WW2

A

Means wealth is evenly distributed so they are benefitted from more money

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16
Q

What was the domino theory

A

Belief that if one country fell to communism then this would trigger all its neighbouring countries to turn to communism

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17
Q

Name of theory to describe belief that if one country fell to communism then this would trigger all its neighbouring countries to turn to communism

A

Domino theory

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18
Q

What theory was containment based on

A

Domino theory

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19
Q

What do the 4 Ds stand for of what the west and the USSR eventually agreed to do with Germany at the Potsdam conference

A

Divide
Democratise
De-militarise
De- Nazify

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20
Q

True or false, under the Truman Doctrine the Greek government were able to defeat the communists

A

True
USA gave financial aid to Greece (Britain had been given Greece money before this from 1944 to 1947 but could no longer afford it so USA took over in fear that otherwise Greece would come under USSR influence)

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21
Q

True or false, from 1945 rivalry between the US and the USSR increased once Truman had made it publicly clear of his attempt to ‘contain’ communism

A

True

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22
Q

What speech marked a turning point in US foreign policy that the US was going to become proactive to enforce the policy of containment

A

Truman’s speech March 1947
In this speech he offered to help any government threatened by communism including providing money to Greece

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23
Q

What is meant by ‘iron curtain’

A

Term used by Winston Churchill to describe the imaginary barrier between the west and Eastern Europe

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24
Q

Term used to describe imaginary barrier between the West and Eastern Europe

A

Iron curtain

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25
Q

Who first spoke about the ‘iron curtain’ in their speech and when

A

Winston Churchill in 1946
(Describing imaginary barrier between Eastern Europe and West)

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26
Q

When was the Marshall Plan introduced and by who

A

June 1947
General George Marshall, US Secretary of state

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27
Q

By 1953 how much Marshall aid had the USA provided

A

$17 billion

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28
Q

4 reasons why after 1945 USA became involved in a Cold War with the USSR

A

Fear of communism
Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe
Peace conferences
Mistrust of Stalin (and USSR)

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29
Q

2 key peace conferences in 1945

A

Potsdam
Yalta

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30
Q

What year was the Cuban missile crisis

A

1962

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31
Q

When was NATO signed and by who

A

April 1949
Western European states and USA

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32
Q

Main purpose of NATO

A

Prevent soviet expansion

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33
Q

What was set up by USSR in 1955 to counteract NATO

A

Warsaw Pact

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34
Q

When was Warsaw Pact set up

A

1955

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35
Q

Who replaced Stalin as leader of USSR when he died in 1953

A

Krushchev

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36
Q

What year was the Berlin Wall built

A

1961

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37
Q

What happened in 1959 that sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis

A

Castro overthrows Batista and sets up a new communist government in Cuba
(Cuba has been long term allies with America but is now communist)

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38
Q

What does the doomsday clock represent

A

How close the world is to a nuclear catastrophe (12 means a nuclear war with missiles flying)

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39
Q

True or false, in the Cuban missile crisis the USSR and USA were on the very verge of war

A

True, however the war didn’t happen

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40
Q

After the Cuban missile crisis what was the new way for the 2 superpower leaders to communicate

A

Through hotline telephone link between the WhiteHouse (Washington DC) and Kremlin (Moscow)
Instead of letters

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41
Q

What Treaty was signed in 1963 following the Cuban missile crisis

A

Partial Test Ban Treaty
USA and USSR agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons (therefore there was not threat of a nuclear war occurring between them in the future)

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42
Q

What year did Cuba turn Communist and what did this lead to

A

1959
Cuban Missile Crisis

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43
Q

Why did Cuba turn communist in 1959

A

Castro overthrew Batista and set up a new communist government

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44
Q

Why is it an advantage to the USSR if Cuba are communist

A

They are only 160km away from USA so they can keep weapons there to help threaten the west/ USA

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45
Q

During the peace conferences how did the USSR and USA decide to split up Germany

A

West Germany + West Berlin = Federal republic (capitalist)
East Germany + East Berlin = Democratic republic (communist)

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46
Q

How many occupation zones was Germany split into after ww2

A

4

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47
Q

Why did Stalin see the Western allies (USA, France and Britain who each had an occupation zone in Germany) as a threat

A

The western zones set up free elections to establish democracy and were strong and reunited
Stalin feared that a strong, democratic and reunited Germany on the borders of the USSR soviet zone would spread into the East of Germany and undermine the control of East Germany

48
Q

In 1948 what do the Western allies announce a plan to create which sparks the Berlin crisis

A

A new currency and west German state

49
Q

In 1948 what does Stalin do in response to The Western allies announcing a plan to create new German state and currency

A

Cuts off access by land to West Berlin so that the troops in West Germany can no longer send food supplies etc there by canal/ road/ rail

(His plan is to starve West Berliners)

50
Q

When does the airlift begin and why

A

June 1948
Stalin blocks off access by land to West Berlin in attempt to starve the West Berliners to reduce their power against the USSR
Therefore the Western troops in Germany send over food supplies by plane instead (as air access hasn’t been blocked off)

51
Q

Why does the airlift prove to the USSR that Truman is serious about containment

A

He finds a way round Stalin trying to starve West Berliners and wants to do anything he can to keep the West powerful so that they don’t fall to communism

52
Q

Why does Stalin fail in trying to starve the West Berliners through blocking off access to West Berlin by road/ rail/ canal

A

Western troops send food supplies over by plane so they don’t starve
Stalin doesn’t want to shoot down the planes because he wasn’t prepared for another war and therefore sees that his plan hasn’t worked so that there’s no point in the blockade

53
Q

How long does the airlift last

A

10 months

54
Q

How many tonnes of supplies are transported each day in airlift

A

4,000

55
Q

By 1961 many people were the USSR losing across the border into West Berlin per month

A

20,000

56
Q

By 1961 why were so many people moving across the border from the USSR into West Berlin and what type of people where they

A

Young and educated
Tempted by money and freedom offered in Western

57
Q

In 1961 what did Krushchev do to stop people from East escaping into West Berlin

A

Built Berlin Wall
(Around whole of West Berlin to prevent Soviets escaping into west)

58
Q

When was there an 18hr stand off between US and USSR where tanks faced each other with no fighting

A

Oct 1961 (after Berlín wall had been built)

59
Q

What 3 methods of warfare did the US use in the Vietnam war

A

Chemical warfare
‘Operation rolling thunder’
‘Search and destroy’

60
Q

What is meant by defoliant and why is it relevant to the Vietnam war

A

Chemicals that remove leaves from trees and plants

The US used this as part of their chemical warfare method to try and destroy the jungle cover and expose the Vietcong who were sneaking through there into the south

61
Q

2 examples of defoliants the US used as chemical warfare

A

Agent Orange
Napalm

62
Q

What does Napalm do

A

Type of bomb that sticks to skin and burns at 800 degrees through skin, flesh and bone

63
Q

Name for chemical weapon US used that is a type of bomb and sticks to skin at 800 degrees and burns right through skin, flesh and bone

A

Napalm

64
Q

How many million litres of Agent orange did the USA spray over the jungle in the Vietnam war

A

82 million litres

65
Q

What was the name for a highly toxic weed killer used to destroy the jungle in the Vietnam war

A

Agent orange

66
Q

What was Agent orange

A

Highly toxic weed killer used by USA to destroy the jungle in the Vietnam war (type of chemical welfare)

67
Q

How long did the ‘operation rolling thunder’ last

A

3.5 years
1965-1968

68
Q

What years did Operation Rolling Thunder take place between in the Vietnam war

A

1965-1968

69
Q

Name of US bombing campaign in North Vietnam that lasted 3.5 years between 1965-1968

A

Operation Rolling Thunder

70
Q

What did the US hope to do in the Operation Rolling Thunder

A

Destroy Vietcong supply routes to the south through bombing

71
Q

What was Operation Rolling Thunder

A

Bombing campaign of North Vietnam by US between 1965-1968 to try and destroy Vietcong supply routes into south

72
Q

True or false, operation rolling Thunder was very successful for the US

A

False
It encouraged even greater support for the war from the North
Didn’t destroy the supply routes
(Effectively gave confidence to the North to make them even more strong)

73
Q

True or false, the ‘Search and Destroy’ method only killed the targeted Vietcong

A

False
Innocent villagers in the south and US troops were also killed

74
Q

What was the ‘search and destroy method’ used by US in Vietnam War

A

US commander ‘Westmoreland’ established secure, heavily defended bases near coast on south Vietnam
From bases US and South Vietnamese Forces (ARVN) launched ‘search and destroy’ tactics using helicopters where they would descend on villages suspected of assisting the Vietcong and destroy it (called Zipporaids)

Unsuccessful as many innocent villages who were anti- communist in the South were killed as well as US troops
Made USA very unpopular to south Vietnamese peasants who were more likely to now support the Vietcong

75
Q

What is meant by ARVN

A

South Vietnamese forces/ army

76
Q

What was the South Vietnamese Army called

A

ARVN
The Army of the Republic of Vietnam

77
Q

What were the search and destroy attacks called where US and South Vietnamese troops descended on villages

A

Zipporaids

78
Q

Why did the search and destroy tactics make the US and ARVN very unpopular

A

Many innocent people from villages in the south were killed/ their homes were destroyed

79
Q

Why did the North Troops want to infiltrate into South Vietnam

A

To try and take over with communism

80
Q

How did the North troops travel into south Vietnam

A

Tunnels and jungles

81
Q

What are the tactics of the North Vietnamese to try and take over the south with Communism and why

A

Travel through tunnels into south then hide in jungles to ambush US troops (surprise attacks)

(They knew that they had less weapons than the US therefore they didn’t want to go face to face in a physical fight with the risk of losing)

82
Q

Why was it very hard for the US to target the Vietcong using chemical warfare methods in the Jungle

A

The jungle was so vast and all members were scattered about (not concentrated in one large group) so were harder to target

83
Q

What chemical weapons was like stick fire

A

Napalm

84
Q

True or false, the US were defeated in the Vietnam war

A

True

85
Q

Name for type of tactics used by Vietcong in Vietnam war

A

Guerrilla tactics
(A low tech war where they used the jungle terrain in south Vietnam to their advantage)

86
Q

Who supplied North Vietnam and the Vietcong with rockets, tanks and fighter planes during the Vietnam war

A

China and USSR

87
Q

True or false, China supported the Communist North in the Vietnam war

A

True

88
Q

What 2 causes were the North and Vietcong fighting for in Vietnam war

A

Communism and the Reunification of Vietnam

89
Q

Why was it important/ a strength that the Vietcong and North Vietnamese were fighting for a cause (Communism and reunification of Vietnam)

A

They were prepared to die in order to beat the policy of containment and therfore weren’t going to give up fighting or surrender

90
Q

True or false, the North Vietnamese and Vietcong had lots of support from the South Vietnamese during the Vietnam war

A

True
Many turned to support the North due to being alienated by US tactics and brutality where many innocent south Vietnamese had homes and families destroyed during the ‘search and destroy’ tactics

91
Q

Why were US troops a weakness for the USA in the Vietnam war

A

Many were too young and inexperienced to cope with guerilla warfare
Most didn’t understand why they were fighting in Vietnam
These things led to low morale including drug taking and some brutal behaviour

92
Q

Why were US tactics in the Vietnam war a failure

A

Unable to develop effective response to Vietcong Guerilla tactics
US tactics encouraged even greater peasant support for Vietcong in countryside (opposite of what they were trying to do as they wanted to contain communism and stop it from spreading)

93
Q

What was the Tet offensive

A

1968 Vietcong launched massive attacks on over 100 towns and cities in South Vietnamese during New Year (Tet) holiday

94
Q

Why was Tet offensive an important turning point in the Vietnam War

A

First time Vietcong employed ‘physical’ attack which proved their power
Made US morale even worse and made the war seem unwinnable

95
Q

When was Tet Offensive

A

Jan 1968

96
Q

How many towns and cities in South Vietnam were attacked by the Vietcong in Tet Offensive

A

Over 100

97
Q

By 1969 how many members of US military had been killed in Vietnam War

A

36,000

98
Q

Which US presient marked the end to the Vietnam War (Vietnamisation)

A

Nixon

99
Q

True or false, Vietnam war was propaganda disaster for US

A

True

100
Q

Why did the Vietnam War make President Johnson very unpopular so that he didn’t try to seek re-election in 1968

A

Undermined ‘The Great Society’ as so much money was being spend on the war efforts that not much could be spent on implementing his policies

101
Q

True or false, as an effect of the Vietnam War the American policy of containment had failed

A

True
Vietnam had turned to Communism and caused Laos and Cambodia to also fall to Communism by 1975

102
Q

Which 2 neighbouring countries turned to Communsit by 1975 following the Vietnam War

A

Laos and Cambodia

103
Q

Why did the Vietnam War damage the US reputation on its defence of capitalism

A

Atrocities (cruel acts) were committed by American soldiers which resulted in innocent people being killed including through chemical weapons and search and destroy tactics etc

104
Q

What years did the Cold War take place between

A

1945-1991

105
Q

Who won the Cuban Missile crisis

A

Kennedy (USA)

106
Q

What is meant by Vietnamisation

A

Us policy of transferring the fighting of war in Vietnam from American forces to those in South Vietnam
(The plan was that to end US involvement in the Vietnam war the South Vietnamese soldiers would be trained and well equipped to gradually take over from the US troops as their withdrew yet it was unsuccessful as the South Vietnamese troops were no match for the communist forces so the whole country turned to communism)

107
Q

By what year had all US troops left Vietnam

A

1973

108
Q

What year was the ceasefire signed in Paris, followed by the peace treaty to mark the end of The Vietnam War

A

1973

109
Q

What is meant by Brinkmanship and which crisis did this occur in

A

Where the USA and USSR were pushing each other to the very verge of a nuclear war
(Cuban Missile crisis)

110
Q

What year was it decided that Vietnam would be temporarily divided into North and south along the 17th parallel

A

1954 at Geneva agreement

111
Q

In 1954 who was leader of the North Vietnam and who was leader of the south

A

Ho Chi Minh (communist) leads North
Ngo Dinh Diem (non- communist) leads south

112
Q

When does Ho Chi Minh (president and leader of north Vietnam) order the Vietcong to begin a terror campaign in the south

A

1959

113
Q

Which Vietnamese leader was overthrown in 1963

A

Diem (leader of south- he is assassinated as he was a very corrupt and unpopular leader)

114
Q

Why does the Vietcong become even more popular in south following 1963 when Diem (old leader of south) is assassinated

A

Diem is replaced by a series of short- lived and weak governments so people are tempted by the power and money of North

115
Q

What was the Gulf of Tonkin incident 1964

A

A North Vietnamese patrol boat fired at the US Destroyer Maddox (a warship)
President Johnson used this as an excuse to send troops to aid Vietnam

116
Q

When did the Vietnam war officially start and end

A

1954 (Vietnam is divided into North and South following Geneva agreement)
1975 (Vietnam is reunited through communism under Ho Chi Minh)

GCSE History- USA (8 decks)

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