Origins And Defintion Of The Cold War Flashcards
What happened after WW2?
The Second World War ended in Europe in May 1945, after the allies invaded Germany. Hitler had committed suicide and Germany surrendered unconditionally. It was another four months before Japan surrendered after the USA had dropped the first atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Give a pre-overview of the Cold War?
After the war, deep-suspicion between the wartime Allies began to surface. The term Cold War refers to not an actual war, but the state of tension,mistrust and rivalry which developed between USA and USSR. Conflict between communism and capitalism.
How long did the war last for?
40 years
When were the peak of the Cold War?
1940s and 1950s
When and how did the Cold War end?
1980’s, when the communist governments of Russia and Eastern European countries collapsed.
What is the definition of the Cold War?
The conflict that existed between the USA and the USSR after WW2. It was a conflict that involved economic measures, non-cooperation and propaganda but no direct armed fighting between the two sides, with both sides making extensive use of propaganda and spies.
What was avoided, and why?
Hot war was avoided with the invention of nuclear weapons.
What is brinkmanship?
Each side tried to see just how much it could get away with before the opposing side would react, pushing the opponent to the edge (the brink).
The USSR and USA did, however, ________and _____ opposing sides in the conventional warfare on many occasions. This support helped to prolong these conflicts, for example in the _______,_______,________ and ________. _______ style of war.
Support Arm Middle East Korea Vietnam Angola Proxy
What is communism?(5)
- Usually a one party state
- Industry and Agriculture
- Classless society with no individual profit-making
- The government controlled most aspects of people’s lives
- Strong censorship with restrictions on what could be said or written
What is Capitalism?(5)
- Free elections and more than one political party
- Most industry and agriculture owned by private individuals
- They employ workers and keep all profits
- Limits on government interference in people’s lives
- Freedom of Speech and movement
The _________ Allies supported ________ and wanted to hold ______ elections in all states in Central and Eastern Europe. They wanted to keep _______ western boundary where it was. They also wanted to help _______ to produce its own goods and food again and to take part in world trade.
Western Democracy Free Poland Germany
What did the USSR want to do?
Create a buffer zone of friendly states between the USSR and Germany. These states would set up Soviet-style governments which was unlikely through free elections.
Stalin wanted to keep Germany ______ and wanted to ______ Poland’s boundary.
Weak
Redraw
By keeping Germany weak and redrawing Poland’s boundary, what it prevent?
This would prevent a future German or Western invasion of Russia.
