✏️IDEA transformations Flashcards
Bay of Pigs
When and what was it?
Why did the USA launch the invasion?
Why would the invasion cause tension for the SU?
What did the SU do in Cuba that proved it felt tension?
I+D: April 1961 failed American attempt to assist Cuban exiles in invasion of Cuba.
E: USA launched invasion because- when Cuba was ruled by Batista, USA and Cuba had good relations. Communist Castro overthrew Batista and took control of American owned businesses. Eisenhower refused to work with Castro so Castro turned to SU for help. Eisenhower planned the invasion but it took place while Kennedy was in power.
A: The new communist leader wouldn’t be allowed to flourish. Causes tension for America because now there’s a stronger relationship between Cuba and the SU.
The SU then put nuclear warheads on Cuba which proved that the SU felt tension.
Cuban Missile Crisis
When was it and what happened?
Why did the soviets want to put missiles in Cuba?
How did the existence of missiles in Cuba cause tension for the USA. Why was the situation dangerous?
How did the resolution of the crisis lesson tension? What did each side get out of the resolution?
October 1962 USA spy planes photographed installations on Cuba and boats carrying warheads on their way to Cuba.
Cuba was only 90km away from American coast which meant soviet missiles were in good firing range.
Cuba’s so close to USA so if both sides released warheads SU ones would get there first, SU have first strike capability. Causes mutually assured destruction.
Khrushchev sent 2 letters saying he’d back down. Kennedy responds and backs down too. USA remove warheads from Turkey and SU removes warheads from Cuba. Both get good propaganda responses to this. Khrushchev loses his position as it’s not public that he made USA remove warheads from Turkey. Both sides recognise this can’t happen again so they install phones.
Czechoslovakia and the Prague spring
When and what was the Prague spring?
Why were people so unhappy?
How did the SU respond and how did this damage east west relations?
What policy did Brezhnev now introduce and what was its significance?
1968
The corrupt leader Novotny was replaced by Dubček who was more liberal. Dubček introduced reforms: freedom of speech, reduced censorship, free trade unions, free enterprise for business.
People were unhappy about the economic problems caused by Czechoslovakia’s involvement in command based economy before Dubček got into power.
Brezhnev accepted these reforms until Dubček wanted to open greater movement across the border of Czechoslovakia. The soviet response was sending troops to carry out military exercises on the border and then sent troops into Prague.
The west couldn’t risk war in Eastern Europe so just condemned the soviet actions.
Brezhnev introduced the Brezhnev Doctrine which says they will use force if they want to maintain security in the soviet bloc. This makes it look like communism doesn’t work.
Detente and Salt
When and what was it?
What issues had both sides been experiencing that made détente and Salt necessary?
How was détente a sign that the two sides had accepted each others place in the world?
Why was Salt significant? What did it mean there was less chance of in the future?
Late 1960s- early 1970s
Easing of tension/ improving relationships. More economic cooperation + joint space mission.
Salt- allowed both sides to use spy satellites and strategic arms limitations talks took place.
Neither side could continue spending millions of dollars on the arms race. They frightened each other during the Cuban Missile Crisis and nuclear arms race. The Vietnam war had been going on for 10 years without nuclear weapons so there’s no point in using them.
Both sides are prepared to give up nuclear weapons showing they have accepted each other. Brezhnev and Nixon were considered to be peacemakers.
Salt was significant because it meant there was less chance of mutually assured destruction in the future.
