Importance questions

Question 1

Explain how the development of the atomic bomb was important for the development of the Cold
War.

Answer 1

Alienated USSR, sparked arms race, actually decreased risk of conflict as USSR was too scared to
invade

Question 2

Explain why the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe was important for the development of the Cold
War.

Answer 2

Increased USSR’s economic output, provided a buffer zone, Increased tensions

Question 3

Explain why the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan were important for the development of the Cold
War.

Answer 3

Increased risk of conflict, gained US lots of allies, Resulted in the Comincon

Question 4

Explain why the Berlin Crisis of 1948-49 was important for the development of the Cold War.

Answer 4

Increased risk of conflict, showed permanent split between superpowers,

Question 5

Explain why the formation of NATO was important for superpower relations.

Answer 5

May have been a provocation, formed Warsaw Pact, reduced risk of conflict

Question 6

Explain why the arms race was important for superpower relations.

Answer 6

Increased tensions, made both superpowers have competition.

Question 7

Explain why the Soviet invasion of Hungary was important for the development of the Cold War.

Answer 7

US didn’t react, emboldening USSR, strengthened USSR’s satellite state control

Question 8

Explain why the Cuban Missile Crisis was important for the development of the Cold War.

Answer 8

Led to Detente, closest world had come to nuclear war,

Question 9

Explain why the Prague Spring was important for superpower relations

Answer 9

Didn’t end détente, warned the US that Brezhnev was more hard-line than Khrushchev, made the warsaw pact closer

Question 10

Explain how the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was important for superpower relations.

Answer 10

Led to second cold war, ended détente, brought them into a proxy war

Question 10

Explain how the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was important for superpower relations.

Answer 10

Led to second cold war, ended détente, brought them into a proxy war

Question 11

Explain why the Strategic Defence Initiative was important for the development of the Cold War.

Answer 11

Started arms race again, ultimately led to USSR’s collapse as they couldn’t afford it

Question 12

Explain how Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’ was important for the end of the Cold War.

Answer 12

Collapse of communism, dissolution of the USSSR, perestroika, Glasnost`

Question 13

Explain why the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe was important for the end of the Cold
War.

Answer 13

Led to a lack of economic output, reduced USSR’s protections, forced USSR to be dissolved