Late 1940s onwards Flashcards
describe the Berlin blockade ? (3)
- Germany was divided into BRITISH, FRENCH, US AND SOVIET ZONES (1946, us combined ZONE with brit/france - WEST GERMANY)
- by 1948, distrusts between USA/USSR presidents was os great that they thought there was a threat of war
- in JUNE 1948, Stalin blockades Berlin, stopping western powers reaching their zones in Berlin
what was the Berlin airlift?
- Truman ordered aircrafts must fly supplies into into BERLIN - airlift cost $350 mil
- 10 mnths, west Berlin received all supplies
- MAY 1949, Stalin lifted blockade
what was NATO , describe 2 articles in the pact?
during berlin blockade, APRIL 1949, USA had meeting in Wshington DC
- asked Western nations who accepted MARSHALL AID to sign a pact called North Atlantic TREATY ORGANISATION
article 3: - parties keep up their individual/collective capacity to resist armed attack
article 5: the parties agree that armed attack against one or more of them is an attack to all of them!
Describe the Korean War and when was it?
1950-53
Korea divided into 2 - NORTH (supported by USSR/CHINA - COMMUNIST)
SOUTH (supported by USA/NATO - capitalist)
- communist North , KIM IL SUNG, invaded south
- USA/NATO worried abt spread of communism and wanted to ‘CONTAIN’ it
- USSR sent weapons/support for Chinese soldiers, USA sent soldiers for South Korea
- neither felt they could win so ARMISTICE MADE - no peace treaty
What was the Nuclear arms race?
- after death of Stalin - KHRUSHCHEV introduced DÉSTALINISATION in USSR
- he mentions this in his ‘secret speech’ broadcast on radio
- Race between USA AND USSR for nuclear supremacy
What meeting in Vienna ,Austria in 1961 that could’ve caused the Berlin Wall?
Khrushchev told JFK to withdraw US troops from east Germany
- jfk refused
- Khrushchev repeats demand/jfk refused again but ordered 150000 soldiers to go to Germany
- accused JFK for provoking conflict /says he used W.BERLIN to spy on east
Describe Bay of Pigs invasion?
In JAN 1961, JFK broke relations with Cuba
- Kennedy sent 1400 anti Castro exilés armed/trained to overthrow him
- In April 1961, exhales landed in Bay Of Pigs but were met by 20,000 Cuban troops
- all 1400 were captured and killed
Describe order of events of the Vietnam War?
- VIETNAM divided into COMMUNIST NORTH/capitalist SOUTH
- USA support south
- north used GUÉRILLA WAREFARE/conventional warfare against south
- USA sent troops to fight for south
- USA withdrew forces in 1972
Why did USA get involved in Vietnam war?
MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
- usa have lots of money to defence
- war is ‘good for business’ - creates factory jobs for weapon manufacturers
DOMINO THEORY/CONTAINMENT
- didn’t want communism to spread more after RUSSIA,CHINA ,NORTH KOREA became communist
USA GOT ‘DRAWN IN’ - Aug 1964 an American naval vessel was attacked off the coast of Vietnam by North Vietnamese boats
- provoked Johnson into retaliating
How did NORTH VIETNAM fight in war?
- Viet- Cong (Ho Chi Minh - leader) used GUERILLA WARFARE tunnels
- hid villages /tunnels to avoid US soldiers
- soldiers wore no uniform so hard to tell apart form peasants
- worked in small groups with limited weapons
why did USA lose Vietnam war ?
VIET CONG STRENGTHS -
GUERILLA WARFARE - no uniform , hid in villages, no known headquarters, worked in small groups
CIVILIAN SUPPPORT - Viet cong were courteous/respectful to peasants
COMMITMENT - no, of Viet long killed was 1 military more than US
- REPLACEMENT TROOPS AVAILABLE
- viet cong refused to give in
SUPPLIES - North Vietnam relied on themselves for supplies
- US BOMBED THEM CONSTANTLY THO- more bombs on north Vietnam the Germany in WW2
When was fall of Berlin Wall ?
nOV 1989
WHO ENDS Cold War ?
Gobachev - russia loses/borders open
Outline the actions of USA in Vietnam (5)
- 1968 - MY LAI MASSACRE
killed 300-400 ppl - Jan 1968- TET OFFENSIVE - viet cong attacked 100 cities in TET HOLIDAY
- usa tried to recapture the cities
- 500,000 troops
- BOMBING - more bombs on Vietnam than in Germany is WW2
- AGENT ORANGE/NAPALM - poisonous weed killer defioliate JUNGLES where Viet Cong hid
NAPALM created a fireball burning jungle
describe the Berlin Crisis of 1961. (5)
- USA often sent troops into east through checkpoint Charlie after Berlin Wall was made
- USSR reacted on 27th Oct 1961 by stopping American Diplomat crossing
- 30 USA tanks and 32 USSR then brought tanks
