Developments in Africa and Americas Flashcards
why did Africa become so significant in Cold War tensions from the 1960s onwards?
the US and USSR were vying for influence on the continent and they often used economic aid as a way to gain allies, withdrawal of European control left countries without stable government/civil service and colonial boundaries in debate
which European power had controlled Angola prior to April 1974?
Portugal
what does MPLA stand for?
Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola)
what does FNLA stand for?
Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola (National Front for the Liberation of Angola)
which two countries supported the FNLA?
China and the USA
which two countries supported the MPLA?
USSR and Cuba
in what year did the civil war in Angola erupt?
1975
what side did the South African government support and why?
FNLA - they were concerned that if an MPLA government took power in Angola, the ANC would have a base from which it could attack the apartheid system in South Africa at the time
what does ANC stand for?
African National Congress
how many troops did Cuba send to Angola?
12,000-52,000
which side won the Angolan Civil War and who was their leader?
MPLA - Agostinho Neto
in what way was Britain responsible for sowing the seeds of conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia?
awarded Ethiopia the traditional Somalian territory of Ogaden after WW2
name the Ethiopian emperor overthrown in 1974
Haile Selassie
what sort of dictatorship did Colonel Mariam establish and which countries supported him in power?
Marxist Leninist - USSR and Cuba
who was elected leader of Chile in September 1970?
Salvador Allende
what actions did he take that alarmed the USA?
was another Castro, socialist, millions of hectares of land were seized and redistributed as farm co-operatives, nationalisation programme was introduced which brought the banking system and the copper industry under control
what actions did the USA take to remove him from power?
40 committee tried covert action to prevent his election (failed), 40 committee allocated extensive funds to undermine him ($8 million between 1970-1973), influenced the World Bank not to lend Chile money and withdrew all its own economic aid, workers strikes due to economic pressure with some being instigated by the CIA
name the general who led a military coup in Chile in September 1973
General Augusto Pinochet
what actions did Reagan take in Grenada in 1983 and why?
feared a communist take-over following a military coup by the pro-leftist Coard faction, so assembled a 7,000 strong invasion force
what actions did Reagan take in Nicaragua and why?
Jan 1979 FSLN led by Daniel Ortega Saavedra seized power from General Somoza, Carter recognised the FSLN and provided support to prevent them turning to USSR, Reagan viewed them as communists (compared them to Cuba), March 1981 the USA supported Contras by providing funds equipment and training, Honduras provided a safe haven for the Contras (after US pressure)
