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GCSE Edexcel History The Cold War > Key topic 3: The end of the Cold War, 1970–91 > Flashcards

Key topic 3: The end of the Cold War, 1970–91 Flashcards

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1
Q

When does Gorbachev become leader of the Soviet Union?

A

1985

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2
Q

When is the INF treaty

A

1987

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3
Q

When is the Moscow summit?

A

1988

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4
Q

When does the Berlin wall fall?

A

1989

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5
Q

When is Gorbachev overthrown?

A

1991

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6
Q

What 2 things led to Gorbachevs new thinking?

A
  • no industrial growth in the soviet economy( sums spend on keeping up with the USA)
  • poor standard of living and and lack of civil rights led to unrest in satellite states
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7
Q

What four reforms did Gorbachev make?

A
  • Perestokia(economy should include some practises that made capitalism successful)
  • Glasnost:( more openness and less less corruption in government- it allows opposition to the government)
  • Dropping of the Brezhnev doctrine( would no longer get involved in domestic affairs)
  • Soviet Union would reduce spending on arms and withdraw from Afghanistan
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8
Q

What was the US response to Gorbachevs reforms?

A

-they saw Gorbachev as a leader who didn’t want to expand communism and work with the USA to decrease tensions

Reagan saw it as an opportunity to end the Cold War

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9
Q

What were the summits in the 1980s about (Gorbachev was very passionate about it)

A

Limitations on nuclear weapons

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10
Q

What was the outcome of the Geneva summit in 1985?

A

No formal outcome- good working relationship established

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11
Q

What was the outcome of the Reykjavik summit in 1986?

A

Both leaders know the USA won’t accept SDI- no formal agreement but improved relations

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12
Q

What was the outcome on the Washington summit in 1987?

A

The signing of the INF treaty( intermediate-range nuclear war treaty)

-both countries would abolish land based missiles from 500-55000 km

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13
Q

What was the outcome of the Moscow summit in 1988

A

Complex detail of the INF treaty resolved-

Gorbachev announces Soviet’s leaving the Afghanistan in a speech to the United Nations and a reduction in Warsaw Pact troops

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14
Q

What happened in the Malta summit on 1989?

A

No agreements made but meeting viewed as the end of the Cold War

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15
Q

What caused the communist satellite states to break away?

A
  • The dropping of the Brezhnev doctrine meant the nations were free to govern themselves without soviet intervention.
  • Gorbachev’s reforms encouraged the satellite states to introduce reforms that would improve their standard of living
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16
Q

How and when did the Poland overthrow communism?

A

June 1989

Landslide victory in communist elections

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17
Q

How and when did the East Germany overthrow communism?

A

September 1989

Gorbachev refuses to help the East German government put down demonstrations

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18
Q

How and when did the Hungary overthrow communism?

A

May 1989

Government takes down the fence with Austria and promises a New Democratic government

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19
Q

How and when did the Czech overthrow communism?

A

November 1989

The “Velvet Revolution“ overthrows the communist government

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20
Q

How and when did the Romania overthrow communism?

A

December 1989

Demonstrations against the government- Ceausescu is overthrown and executed

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21
Q

How and when did the Bulgaria overthrow communism?

A

December 1989

Communist leader mladenov resigns on national tv

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22
Q

How and when did the Yugoslavia overthrow communism?

A

1990

Voted in a referendum to be broken up into Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro

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23
Q

What do the East German government announce in November 1989

A

The border and crossing to West Berlin will be opened

24
Q

What was the significance of the fall of the Berlin wall?( 3 aspects)

A
  • Friends and family reunited
  • Scenes of great emotion when the wall fell
  • Very symbolic as the Soviets had never showed an intention of stopping the reforms (symbolic as the end of the Cold War)
25
Q

Why was the Warsaw Pact abandoned?

A

The events with communist governments in Easy Europe(1989) made it impossible for the Warsaw Pact to survive

  • co-operation between members ended in 1990
  • it was formally dissolved in 1990
26
Q

What happened after the Warsaw Pact was abolished?

A

Every single member state abolished communism

27
Q

Why was Gorbachev under pressure in 1990?

A

-hard line communists blamed him for losing control of East Europe

28
Q

What happened in August 1991?

A

Communist hardliners staged a coup against Gorbachev, the coup failed but it severely damaged Gorbachevs authority

29
Q

When and why does Gorbachev resign as the leader of the Soviet Union?

A

Christmas Day 1991

12 soviet republics joined together in a commonwealth of independence states.

Gorbachev couldn’t continue so he resigned and the Soviet Union disbanded soon afterwards

30
Q

Why were the soviets interested in Afghanistan?

A
  • A Muslim fundamentalist group replaced the shah in Iran through revolution.
  • The soviets had Muslims and they didn’t want them becoming fundamentalists (Afghanistan was a buffer zone between the soviet union and Iran)
31
Q

What happened to Afganistan in April 1978?

A
  • A pro-soviet government took control in Afghanistan (they received economic assistance from the soviets)
32
Q

What caused the soviets to invade Afghanistan?

A
  • Amin overthrows the pro soviet government in a popular coup(soviets support Amin but he became increasingly unpopular (pro-muslim fractions tried to overthrow him))
  • Brezhnev received rumours that Amin was talking to the USA about POSSIBLE AMERICAN SUPPORT
  • Brezhnev invades on 24th December 1979
33
Q

How do we know Amin’s goverment was unpopular

A

Pro-muslim fractions tried to overthrow him

34
Q

What did the Soviets claim when they invaded Afghanistan?

A

They were invited in

35
Q

When do the soviets invade

A

24th December 1979

36
Q

When do the soviets assassinate Amin?

A

27th December 1979

37
Q

Who do the soviets replace Amin with?

A

Barak Kamal (a pro soviet)

38
Q

What did the USA view the invasion of Afghanistan as?

A

The soviets attempting to spread communism

39
Q

What does President Carter claim about the invasion?

A

Biggest threat to peace since WW2

40
Q

What five things do the USA do in response to the invasion of Afghanistan?

A
  • Withdraw SALT 2 proposal
  • Increase arms spending
  • Carter doctrine
  • Impose economic sanctions on the soviets
  • USA send funds to the Mujahideen
41
Q

What does the Carter doctrine state?

A

The USA would repel by force, if necessary, any threat to American interests in the Persian gulf

42
Q

What was the impact of the invasion relations between the USA and Soviets?

A
  • Détente finished
  • Regan who believes Communism “is evil” wins the 1980 election by a landslide

-Reagan belives communism should be directly opposed

43
Q

What are 10 consequences of the invasion of Afghanistan?

A
  • SALT 2 abandoned
  • War costs soviets 10 Billion a year
  • end of Détente
  • 1.5 million civilians dead
  • Afghan government replaced
  • USA impose economic sanctions
  • Carter doctrine
  • Boycott Moscow and LA olympics (1980 and 1984)
  • USA supplies Mujahideen with money and weapons
44
Q

What do the soviets do in response to the boycott of the Moscow olypmics

A

They Boycott the LA olympics with 15 communist countries

45
Q

How many nations joined the USA boycott and what was their reaction?

A

60 nations

  • The events were made to look second-rate rate so the Soviets were furious
46
Q

what were the events leading up to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

A

April 1978

  • Taraki’s pro-soviet government took control of Afghanistan and receive economic support from the soviets.
  • Many ordinary Afghans rejected the new communist government because its atheism was at odds with their Muslim faith. The communists imprisoned, tortured and murdered many Muslim religious leaders.
  • This led to the formation of an anti-communist resistance movement known as the Mujahideen(which was also funded by the USA).

In September 1979

  • the Afghan politician, Amin, arranged for the murder of the communist Prime Minister, Taraki, and Amin seized control.
  • The soviets started sending troops to Afghanistan claiming they had been invited by Amin to support his government, but it was certain that they assassinated him days later on 27 December.

27 December 1978
Soviet replaced Amin with Barack Kamal who is pro-communist and let USSR stay to help him fight his opposition.

47
Q

So why did

soviet invade Afghanistan in 1979

A
  • Afghanistan is a neighbouring country
  • Shah(King) gets replaced by Muslim fundamentalist government which Moscow determined to stop the spread as inside USSR they have many Muslim citizens
  • Persian Gulf is rich in oil
48
Q

What were the impacts of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

A
  • USA imposed economic sanctions ( trade bans) on USSR
  • President Carter withdrew SALT2
  • Carter Doctrine states that the USA would respond with force to any threat to American interests in the Persian Gulf, which is also directly modelled on the Truman doctrine to show its significance
  • marked the official end of detente
  • mujahideen gets funded by the USA and were given supplies such as weapon
  • Ronald Reagan ridiculed president carter for being weak and wanted to reclaim their position on the world stage. He won a landslide victory.
  • In 1980 the USA boycotted the Moscow Olympics in protest at the invasion of Afghanistan. The USSR would return the favour by boycotting the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles!
49
Q

Challenges faced by the Soviet Army in Afghanistan

A
  • The Soviet Red Army was ill-prepared for the desert and mountain landscapes of Afghanistan.
  • The Mujahideen had expert local knowledge and used the deserts and mountainous terrain to their advantage.

-The Mujahideen were extremely motivated as they were fighting for their homeland and their religion against a foreign invader.

Afghanistan became the Soviet Union’s Vietnam: an expensive, embarrassing war with little hope of victory, where they were beaten by local guerrilla forces.

It dragged on until 1988 when the Soviet leader, who by then was Mikhail Gorbachev, signed a deal to end the war and the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989.

50
Q

Break-up of the Warsaw Pact up to 1991 (all events)

A

After 1985,
Gorbachev refused to use Soviet or Warsaw Pact forces to control E. Europe:
Gorbachev encouraged Glasnost and Perestroika in other Eastern European countries. To save money, Gorbachev withdrew Soviet troops from other countries in Eastern Europe.

1989 ‘year of miracles:
communist rules collapsed across Eastern Europe

In September,
Hungary opened its borders with Austria and East Germany opened its
borders with Austria

In November,
Berliners tore down the Berlin Wall with hammers and chisels and the Communist governments of East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria all resigned.

In December,
Ceausescu, the Romanian dictator, was overthrown and shot.

The events of 1989 and the collapse of communist governments across Eastern Europe made it impossible for the Warsaw Pact to survive - a military co-operation between the member states ended in early 1990 and the Pact was formally dissolved in July 1991

51
Q

How did Gorbachev’s new thinking affect US soviet relations?

A

Gorbachev’s reform is summarised in 2 main terms:

  • Glasnost: Russian term for ‘openness. Used to describe his more open attitude to government and foreign relations
  • Perestroika: word for reconstruction. It was used to describe his reorganizing and structuring of the USSR

changes in policy:

  • removal of Brezhnev doctrine
  • reduce spending in ARMs and defence and withdraw from Afghanistan
52
Q

Fall of the Belin Wall

A

Fall of the Berlin Wall, November 1989

After the collapse of the Hungarian communist government, people started leaving E Germany through Hungary.

This forced the E German government to open the Berlin Border and when this was announced people flooded to the wall and began dismantling it.

This was broadcast around the world and was a hugely significant event.

53
Q

What was Reagan’s evil empire speech?

A

Evil Empire Speech In a speech in March 1983, Reagan called the Soviet Union ‘The Evil Empire’. Felt he could ‘win’ the Cold War by putting pressure on the Soviets

54
Q

What was the Strategic Defence Initiative

A

Strategic Defence Initiative

Announced ability to shoot down Soviet missiles using lasers in space, giving the USA a huge advantage in the Arms race

55
Q

Helsinki conference

A

Agreed greater co-operation in terms;
economy and trade,
Security and country boundaries
Human Rights – freedoms of speech, religion etc.

Stabilised their relationship in Europe so limited the possibility of conflict there.

56
Q

3 main doctrines

A

Truman
Breznev
Carter
Reagan

GCSE Edexcel History The Cold War (3 decks)

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