Cold war unit 2

Question 1

How did the refugee problem cause the Berlin wall

Answer 1

: Many East Germans – 3 million by 1958 - fleeing to west due to shortages of goods, little freedoms in East, 1/5 of the population migrated to western Europe

Question 2

How did Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum cause the Berlin wall

Answer 2

: Many East Germans – 3 million by 1958 - fleeing to west due to shortages of goods, little freedoms in East

Question 3

How did the summits cause the Berlin wall

Answer 3

Geneva (May 1959), no agreement reached. Camp David (Sep 1959) USSR withdraw Berlin Ultimatum. Paris (May 1960), that day announced that USSR had shot down a US spy plane which spiked tensions. Vienna (June 1961), renewed Berlin Ultimatum

Question 4

What did JFK do after the Vienna summit

Answer 4

After Vienna, JFK increases US spending on military by over $2 Billion.

Question 5

Why did so many East Germans suddenly move to West Berlin

Answer 5

In fear of Khrushchev closing the border, increasing numbers of East Germans flee to the west. One day in Aug 1961, 40,000 flee.

Question 6

What were the events of the building of the Berlin wall

Answer 6

On the night of the 12th Aug 1961, East German troops build a barbed wire fence between east and west and around Berlin. This later became a concrete wall that spanned 165km= Berlin Wall

In Oct 1961, there was an 18hr standoff at one checkpoint on the wall (Checkpoint Charlie) where the US stationed tanks on its side and the USSR in response sent an equal amount of red army troops

Question 7

What were the impacts of the Berlin wall for the USSR

Answer 7

Khrushchev abandons plans for united Germany. Stops refugees leaving for the west through East Berlin and sends message to the West that communism would survive in Berlin

Question 8

What were the impacts of the Berlin wall for the USA

Answer 8

West Berlin becomes a symbol of freedom and anti-communist fight. JFK gives ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech

Question 9

What were the impacts of the Berlin wall on relations

Answer 9

Improves relations.
JFK: ‘A wall is better than a war’
Physical divide

Question 10

Causes of the Cuban missile crisis (Cuban revolution)

Answer 10

Jan 1959 revolutionaries led by nationalist Fidel Castro overthrow pro-US gov in Cuba. Soviet Union agrees to fund Castro and the Communists in Feb 1960. In Jan 1961, US cuts off all diplomatic relations with Cuba

Question 11

Causes of the Cuban missile crisis (Bay of pigs)

Answer 11

April 1961 an invasion force of 1,400 Cuban exiles secretly sent by the US land in Cuba. The coup failed, as Castro was aware and had sent 20,000 soldiers to fight them. This was greatly humiliating for the US, and in Sep 1961 Khrushchev publicly announces that he’ll provide arms to Cuba

Additional reasons: NATO have missiles in Turkey, fear of another US attack on Cuba

Question 12

What did the US find which led to the 13 days

Answer 12

In Oct 1962, a US spy plane spots launch pads for missiles in Cuba, and intelligence agencies informed Kennedy that a fleet of soviet ships were sailing to Cuba, presumably containing the missiles.

Kennedy feared for the impact this would have on upcoming elections and US pride.

Question 13

What was the timespan of the 13 days

Answer 13

16-28 October 1962

Question 14

What happened everyday during the 13 days

Answer 14

Excomm met every day to decide what to do

Question 14

What decision ended the 13 days

Answer 14

On Oct 26th the SU sends a telegram offering to remove missiles from Cuba if the US don’t invade and both sides agree 2 days later.

Question 14

What did Kennedy decide first

Answer 14

On Oct 22nd Kennedy decides not to attack, but set up a Naval Blockade, and sent out a broadcast explaining the situation to the public. 2 days later, the Soviet ships reach the blockade and turn around.

Question 15

What were the consequences of the Cuban missile crisis on superpower relations

Answer 15

Closer relations between USA and SU

Question 16

What was set up in June 1963

Answer 16

June 1963 hotline set up between Moscow and Washington.

Question 17

What was set up in aug 1963

Answer 17

Aug 1963 test ban treaty signed

Question 18

What was set up in 1967

Answer 18

1967 outer space treaty signed

Question 19

What was set up in 1968

Answer 19

1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty signed.

Question 20

What were the consequences of the Cuban missile crisis on the reputation of the superpowers

Answer 20

Khrushchev looks weak
CK: Kennedy appears strong and becomes popular. The world is in some ways safer. Khrushchev claims that he was the victor in this agreement, but Moscow disagrees and this contributes to him leaving in 1964

Question 21

What causes the Prague spring (coup)

Answer 21

P: USSR’s support of coup in 1948
CK: Stalin had supported a coup (takeover) in Czechoslovakia that removed non-communists from power and established a pro soviet gov disliked by the public.

Question 22

What caused the Prague spring (Unhappiness)

Answer 22

P: Unhappiness with freedoms
CK: there was no freedom of speech, radios, newspapers and television were all censored. There were growing protests, particularly with student demonstrations in 1966

Question 23

What caused the Prague Spring (Purges)

Answer 23

P: Purges
CK: Under Stalin’s orders, the Czech gov carried out purges (killing opponents) in 1949 and 1954, and the victims were not only democratic politicians but many others disliked by the soviet union

Question 24

Who was elected as first secretary of Czechoslovakia communist party

Answer 24

In 1968, Dubcek is elected as first secretary of Czech communist party, effectively head of gov.

Question 25

What were some of the Prague spring reforms

Answer 25

He introduced the ‘Prague Springs’ reforms from April 1968, which:
- relaxed censorship
-gave wider powers to trade unions
-gave more power to regional govs
-increased trade with the west
-gave freedoms to travel abroad.
-the Idea of multi party elections

Question 26

What did Brezhnev think of the reforms

Answer 26

Brezhnev greatly disapproved, and took action after Dubcek invited other communist governments for discussions.

Question 27

What happened during the Prague spring

Answer 27

On 20th August 1968, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia and end the reforms.

Question 28

What speech was triggered due to the Prague spring

Answer 28

The Brezhnev doctrine:
Sep 1968, stated hat the actions of one communist country affect all others. In actuality, this meant that all communist countries would be prevented from implementing more liberal reforms

Question 29

What were the consequences of the Prague spring on eastern european relations

Answer 29

Impact on relations in East Europe
Yugoslavia and Romania condemn the USSR. Communists in Italy and France cut links with Moscow, the GDR and Poland welcome Brezhnev’s reforms. Increases control over Warsaw Pact members

Question 30

What was the consequences of the Prague spring on US and USSR relations

Answer 30

US and USSR relations
Many western govs protest to the USSR. There was an attempt to pass a formal resolution condemning the USSR’s actions in the UN but the soviets vetoed it. Is made clear that the US is unlikely to take action