History PP1 A Flashcards
1 a) What was the Truman Doctrine? (5)
It was an American policy of containment
Announced by Harry Truman in 1947
It meant that the USA would help any country threatened by Communist aggression.
The USA sent help in the form of military and economic aid
It had aided Greece when it was under Communist threat
1b) Why was the failure of the Berlin Blockade important? [6]
I was to force the US, France and Britain out of Berlin, but the sayed
They defeated it by using a massive airlift to keep the people in Berlin supplied with essential goods.
Berlin stayed divided between the Soviet Union and the West
At the height of the crisis, Britain, France & USA met in Washington and formed NATO in 1949
Germany was then divided into two separate countries (West: German Federal republic, East: German Democratic republic)
The West introduced a new currency (Deutschmark)
1c) 2 Why is it surprising that Britain and the United States agreed at Yalta that Eastern Europe should be a Soviet sphere of influence? [4]
Churchill and Roosevelt were very anti-Communist
Stalin wanted to go further than having a sphere of influence and really wanted to control them
Clear when it was agreed that there would be Communists in the Polish government
Went against another agreement at Yalta – that there would be free democratic elections in countries freed from Nazi control.
1 c 1 Why is it unsurprising that Britain and the United States agreed at Yalta that Eastern Europe should be a Soviet sphere of influence? [3]
The Allies recognised that the Soviet Union needed security, especially after Germany had invaded it
Stalin wanted a wall of friendly countries
Britain and America thought this wouldn’t lead to complete Soviet domination of Eastern Europe because the USSR agreed to free elections in these countries.
2 a Describe MacArthur’s role in the Korean War. (4)
He commanded the UN forces.
He led an attack at Inchon, 200 miles behind enemy lines
He argued in support of using nuclear weapons against China.
He was communicating with foreign governments that he planned to expand the war. This was not US policy.
2 bWhy did Kennedy go ahead with the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961? [6]
*The plan for the invasion was put together by President Eisenhower
when Kennedy became President in 1961 he decided to go ahead with the plan to invade Cuba
*Kennedy thought that Castro was a danger to the US
Castro had broken all ties with the USA and taken US assets in Cuba.
Cuba was super close to the USA, just off the coast of florida
In 1960, Castro declared he was a Communist and an ally of the USSR.
2c1 How did United States’ strategy and tactics lead to its failure in Vietnam. [4]
The USA was better armed and had more advanced weapons, this wasn’t an advantage in the type of guerrilla war that the Vietcong and North Vietnamese fought.
They mixed in with ordinary villagers so that the Americans never knew who was an enemy soldier
They also used small surprise hit and run attacks instead of big battles.
The Americans were not used to this and did not know how to respond.
2c2What, other than United States’ strategy and tactics, led to its failure in Vietnam. (4)
American public gradually turned against the war
Partly because of the number of American soldiers being killed
incidents like the My Lai Massacre
Americans thought that the war would never end and there were anti-war demonstrations all over the country
3 aWhat were Stalin’s main achievements at the Yalta Conference? (4)
He weakened Germany.
Germany was divided into four
He obtained the eastern zone of occupation of Germany
Germany was to pay reparations
3bWhy was it difficult to deal with Poland after the Second World War? (6)
*The Western Allies wanted Poland to have a government elected by free and fair multi-party elections.
They wanted the elections to be held as soon as possible,
Agreed to a provisional government of pro-Soviet Lublin Poles and exiled London Poles.
*Stalin wanted a pro-Soviet government on his border.
Was willing to murder opposition leaders and fix the elections
Stalin wanted to move USSR border Westwards into Poland
3c1 How was the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) an important consequence of the Berlin Blockade? (3)
The USA pledged to join NATO, the first time in the country’s history that it had committed itself in peacetime to a military alliance
and one which would not require an attack on the USA to involve it in possible military action.’
It was a defensive alliance for large parts of Europe and North America.
3c2 What other than NATO, were important consequences of th Berlin Blocade [6]
The West had successfully stood up to the Soviet Union
In May 1949, it was announced that the Federal German Republic, West Germany, had been formed by the merging of the zones of the Western allies
The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established
COMECON was created to direct the economies of the Soviet bloc
In 1955 the Warsaw Pact was formed.
The Berlin Airlift was successful
4a What was Eisenhower’s policy towards Vietnam? [5]
He saw Vietnam as a key battleground in the fight against communism.’
He saw Vietnam as a crucial part of his domino theory
He had sent American air force pilots to support the French military operations
He increased the number of military advisers to 900
He maintained a naval presence in the region
4b Why was the USA unhappy with the changes Castro introduced immediately following the Cuban Revolution? [7]
*The USA lost influence and control over Cuba.
US companies and many of its citizens lost land and industries as Castro put into effect his communist ideas
His friendship with the USSR was even more concerning as it led to trade deals, arms supplies and military advice.
This would give the USSR influence in America’s ‘own backyard’ at a time of the Cold War.’
*Castro took over many American agricultural businesses.
Castro distributed American owned land to the peasants.
Castro sold his sugar and tobacco to the USSR.
4c1 Why was American Policy of Containmet 1950 and 1973 unsuccessful? [5]
failed to contain Communism in North Vietnam
It spread to South Vietnam
Eventually united the two parts of Vietnam into a united communist country
spread to Laos and Cambodia.’
The USA would rather support capitalist military dictators than communist leaders that were preferred by the majority (Vietnam and Cuba)
4c2 Why was the American policy of containment between 1950 and 1973 successful? (4)
South Korea remained free from communism
Formosa and Japan did not fall to the communists.
Communism was contained in Cuba.’
Early attempts to spread communism into central and south America failed
5a What issues that affected Germany were addressed at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences? [5]
Was the surrender of Germany to be conditional or unconditional?
How and by whom was Germany to be controlled after its defeat?
Was Berlin to be ruled differently from the rest of Germany?
What was to happen to Nazi war criminals?
How would Germany be reconstructed?
5b Why was Poland a cause of tension between the Great Powers in 1945? [6]
At Yalta it was agreed that in Poland a provisional government was to be established comprising of pro-Soviet Lublin Poles and exiled London Poles who had fled in 1939
The Lublin government did not appreciate those who fled the country in 1939.
By Potsdam, the Allies could still not agree over the future government, but the Soviet-controlled government at Lublin continued to run the country
free elections had not taken place
Stalin wanted the border of the USSR to move westwards into Germany. Churchill did not approve
The Soviets wanted a sympathetic government in Poland
5c1 How as the Soviet Union responsible for the Cold War? [4]
Stalin did not abide by the agreements made at Yalta.
It had been agreed that, following the liberation of countries formerly occupied by Germany, there would be free elections to decide how they were to be governed
Stalin had not allowed this to happen, especially in Poland where he had installed a communist government
The Berlin Blockade was provocative.
5c2 How was the USA reponsible for the cold war? [5]
Truman lacked experience in international affairs in comparison with Roosevelt.
He believed Stalin should keep to the agreements made at Yalta.
Truman was aggressive in his dealings with officials from the Soviet Union and felt that as an atomic power he should be able to dictate terms at the Potsdam Conference.
The USA kept the atomic bomb testing secret.
Marshall Aid was promised to countries standing up to communism. This was provocative towards the USSR
6a In what ways did Saddam Hussein’s rule benefit some of the Iraqi people? [4]
The oil revenues were used to raise wages, cut taxes and subsidise foodstuffs.
Electrification was extended throughout the country
Remote villages were connected to the national grid
More employment was available.
6b Why did Saddam Hussein introduce purges? [7]
*To remove potential rivals from the Baath Party.
Saddam became president when Bakr stood down because of health problems and probably some threats and bullying.
Mashhadi, the RCC’s Secretary-General, demanded a vote on the validity of the process.
He was relieved of his duties and accused of being part of a plot to overthrow the Baathist regime.
Saddam did not want anyone questioning his authority
*To act as an example to those who thought of opposing him.
The purges were televised so everyone would see what happened to traitors of Saddam
6c1 How was Saddam’s uncle, Khairallah Tulfah, important to Saddam’s coming to power [4]
If it had not been for his uncle, Khairallah, Saddam could have spent his life as an unknown Iraqi peasant.
Saddam lived in his household and Khairallah instilled in Saddam an appreciation of Arab nationalism and a hatred of the monarchy that ruled Iraq supported by the British
Khairallah ensured Saddam went through primary school and attended high school.
He inspired Saddam to join the Baath Party
6c2 What, other than Khairallah Tulfa, was imortan to Saddam’s coming to power [5]
Saddam was fortunate that Prime Minister Bakr was from Tikrit
Saddam lost no time in joining his faction of the Baath Party and proving he was indispensable
In 1964 Bakr appointed him to the Regional Command. He was put in charge of security and the Party’s military organisation.
Saddam worked to eliminate anyone who might pose a threat
Saddam ‘encouraged’ an ailing Bakr to resign.
7a What was the Gulf of Tonkin incident? [5]
The Gulf of Tonkin incident took place in 1964.
American warships were attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin.
They were attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats.
The United States claimed they were in international waters.
After this incident, Operation Rolling Thunder was initiated.
7b Why did US public opinion turn against the Vietnam War? [7]
*The My Lai massacre shocked the American people.
In revenge for the Tet Offensive in 1968,
a small group of American soldiers killed unarmed Vietnamese civilians in a village called My Lai.
The public was horrified when they found out what had happened.
*The war was reported on TV which had not happened before.
people saw the effects of using napalm.
Walter Kronkite’s reports on CBS had tremendous influence
8a Describe events in Hungary in 1956. [5]
Rakosi was removed as Prime Minister
Gero replaced Rakosi.
There were student demonstrations/revolts.
A statue of Stalin was pulled down by protestors.
On 24 October, Soviet tanks entered Budapest.
8b Why was Czechoslovakia invaded in 1968? [6]
Dubcek’s reforms threatened to undermine Soviet control
He introduced freedoms such as abolishing censorship and gave people the right to criticise the government.
Workers were given more rights in controlling how industry was run and the trade unions were given more power.
The USSR saw this as a threat to their control as they were concerned these ideas would spread to other parts of the Soviet bloc.
Czechoslovakia was the most important central European state
Dubcek refused to allow Soviet troops into the country.
8c1 How was Gorbachev responisble for th Collapse of Soviet power in Eastern Europe? [4]
Gorbachev realised reforms were needed.
He made it clear he would not oppose attempts at democracy in Warsaw Pact countries
he would not send Red Army troops into these countries to support Communist regimes nor force countries to stay tied to the Soviet Union.
This made it easier for Eastern European countries to decide on their own future, with many deciding to break away from Soviet influence.
8c2 How was the Solidarity movement responsible for the collapse of Soviet power in Eastern Europe? [5]
The movement showed that if people united, they could resist a Communist government.
In the 1989 elections in Poland, anti-communist candidates won a striking victory.
This inspired people in other Eastern European countries,
-there were peaceful anti-communist revolutions in Hungary, East Germany and Czechoslovakia.
Soviet influence was declining
9a What was Marshall Aid? [5]
Marshall Aid was part of the Marshall Plan
It was financial aid.
introduced by Truman / General Marshall
announced in 1947
The aim was to stabilise the economies of Europe to prevent them from falling to Communism
9b Why did Stalin want control over the governments of the states in Eastern Europe? [6]
*Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone between the USSR and the West.
Russia had been invaded from the west in both the First and Second World Wars
He thought that if he controlled the governments in neighbouring states, he could prevent this happening in the future.
*He could expand the influence of the USSR / to spread communism.
These states were in a “sphere of Soviet influence”
He could use the resources of the Eastern European states to rebuild the Soviet economy
9c1How did Truman cause tension at Potsdam? [4]
Roosevelt had been replaced by Truman who was not experienced in foreign policy or in handling Stalin.
Being anti-communist, he was not willing to negotiate with Stalin.
He interpreted the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe as the start of spreading communism around the world.
USA had secretly developed the atomic bomb
9c2 How did Stalin cause tension at Potsdam? [4]
Stalin was the cause of tension because he had not carried out his promise, made at Yalta, to organise free elections in Poland
He also disagreed over the future of Germany and demanded access to the industrial heartland of the Ruhr.
The United States and Britain wouldn’t agree to his demands
Stalin had left his troops in liberated countries in Eastern Europe.
10a Describe the territorial disputes between Iran and Iraq. [5]
One disputed area was the Shatt al-Arab waterway
The waterway gave access to the Persian Gulf.
It was important to both countries for their oil exports
It was Iraq’s only outlet to the sea.
There was a dispute over Khuzestan which was rich in oil.
10b Why did the Islamic revolution cause Saddam Hussein to attack Iran? [6]
*Saddam Hussein thought it made Iran weaker.
When the Shah was overthrown, Iran’s alliance with the United States ended.
This meant Iran no longer had access to American supplies for tanks and armoured vehicles.
There was a purge of the Iranian army following the revolution.
*There was religious conflict: Khomeini was Shiite / Saddam was Sunni.
Saddam was the target of assassination plots
10c1 How were both countries negatively affected in the Iran-Iraq war? [5]
Both sides were severely damaged by the war
The death toll was high with around 2 percent of the populations of both states losing their lives in the fighting.
The war also had a devastating economic impact on both states and they faced bankruptcy as a result.
Living standards in Iran plummeted.
Income from Iraq’s oil industry was halved by the war
10c2 What did Iraq gain from the Iran-Iraq War? [4]
Iraq gained from the Iran-Iraq war because Western support of arms and money
ensured that by the end of the war Iraq was much stronger in terms of tanks and aircraft and Iran was glad to agree a ceasefire.
In 1988, Iraq launched a series of devastating attacks which seriously damaged Iranian morale and caused many casualties.
Iran had failed to topple Saddam from power and the Islamic revolution had not spread to Iraq.
