Key People (Cold War)

Question 1

Joseph Stalin

Answer 1

• leader of the USSR after Lenin died in 1924
• expansionist intention caused post war tensions
• 1945-50: secured most of Eastern Europe, area behind the Iron Curtain
• died in 1953

Question 2

Harry S Truman

Answer 2

• become U.S president after FDR died
• had a power struggle with Stalin
• anti-communist (very religious)

Question 3

Winston Churchill

Answer 3

• british PM during WW2
• took part in negotiations at Yalta and Potsdam
• suspicious about Stalin and USSR

Question 4

Nikita Khrushchev

Answer 4

• leader of USSR from 1958
• speech in 1956 criticised Stalin’s leadership
• led to ‘de-stalinsation process’

Question 5

John F. Kennedy

Answer 5

• elected into office as president in Jan 1961
• continued Eisenhower’s plan to bring in a replacement group to Castro in power
• assassinated in 1963

Question 6

Fuglienco Batista

Answer 6

• 3 months before election, batista organised a bloodless coup. there was little resistance
• nepotism (put friends/relatives in power/gave them jobs)
• supported by USA

Question 7

Fidel Castro

Answer 7

• started studying Marx and become more communist
• led Cuban revolution
• supported by USSR