Paper 2: Cold War Flashcards
Why did Khruschev put missiles in Cuba?
- NATO had weapons based in Turkey (short distance from USSR) - threat to Khrushchev, believed that it was time for USSR to display their power.
- Possible that Khrushchev’s real aim was to have missiles in Turkey removed.
- The building of the Berlin Wall portrayed by many Soviet critics as failure for Khrushchev - if he could outwit Kennedy over Cuba, it would restore his prestige.
13 days of Cuban missile crisis
16th Oct: Kennedy called together ExComm to discuss how USA should react
22nd Oct: Kennedy decided not to launch attack - set up naval blockade around Cuba (prevent ships passing through w/o US permission)
24th Oct: Soviet ships turned around. Dean Rusk, US Secretary of State, told Kennedy, “I think the other guy just blinked!”
26th Oct: Khruschev sent Kennedy telegram offering to remove missiles if US did not invade
28th Oct: Kennedy ignored Khruschev’s 2nd telegram, sent agreement in response
Consequence of Cuban missile crisis
P: Hot line set up - June 1963
Ev: Direct communication link between Moscow & Washington - way for leaders of two major CW countries to negotiate directly to prevent future crises/misunderstandings
Ex: Significant as prevented further conflicts when 2 nations were dangerously close to resorting to NW
P: Test Ban Treaty - August 1963
Ev: Signed by USA, USSR & Britain - three agreed to prohibit testing of nuclear weapons in atmoshphere, outer space & under water
Ex: Important step towards the control of nuclear weapons, prevent other countries from potentially obtaining nucelar weapons, which would increase international tensions & pose threat to both USA & USSR.
Consequence of Berlin wall for USSR
- Showed USSR had to forcefully ‘lock’ people in East Germany
- Clear that they preferred capitalism over communism
- Stopped refugee crisis as prevented East Germans from escaping to West
Consequence of Berlin wall in USA
- Kennedy believed this was better than Khrushchev uniting Germany under Soviet control - ‘a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war.’
- Khruschev had closed borders w/o consulting Kennedy
When was Berlin wall set up?
1961 (lasted until 1989)
Reforms of Prague Spring
- Cencorship was relaxed
- Political criticism of gov allowed
What did Brezhnev do in response to Prague Spring?
20th Aug 1968 - 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops & Soviet tanks invaded Czechoslovakia, put end to PS
Consquences of Prague Spring
- USSR had greater power/control over members of Warsaw Pact (partly due to Brezhnev Doctrine)
- USA outraged & protested against USSR, increasing tensions
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
Sep 1968 - stated actions of any commmunist country affect all communist countries. All communist countries prevented from introducing reforms to make their country more liberal.
What was detente?
Period of peace, genuine attempt at forming co-operative/stable relationship (1970s)
Why did USA & USSR follow detente?
- Reduced spendings on weapons, increase money towards social problems (inequality)
- Pressure from Europe to improve relations - 1969, Willy Brandt, Chancellor of West Germany followed policy of Ostpolitik (building better relations between East & West)
- Avoid nuclear war
When was SALT 1 signed?
May 1972
3 main agreements of SALT 1
- Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
- The Intermis Agreement
- The Basic Principles Agreement
What was the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty?
Arms control treaty between USA & USSR on limitation of ABMs. Stated ABMs were only allowed at 2 sites (100 missiles each).
What was the Interim Agreement
Restrictions on no. of ICBMs (Inter-continental ballistic missiles) & SLBMs (Submarine-launched ballistic missiles).
Not all weapons limited: MIRVs, SS-20 missiles, pershing cruise missiles
What was the Basic Principles Agreement?
Established rules for conduct of nuclear warfare - steps for avoiding NW. Both countries agreed that if war looked likely they would “make every effort to avoid this risk”
What was Moscow Summit?
SALT 1, 1972 - code of conduct on how superpowers should act (cant interfere in other global affairs)
Weaknesses of SALT 1
- In reality, unrealistic to expect NW could be avoided simply bc countries had signed a piece of paper, especially as both countries still owned more than enough nuclear weapons to destroy the other many times over.
- Did not cover latest technological development - Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) which carried out multiple nuclear warheads on a single mission
Consequence of SALT 1
Improved international relations - both USA & USSR showed willingness to reach agreement & demonstrate better relations publicly
What was SALT 2?
Signed by US President Carter & Brezhnev - further restrictions on missile launchers & strategic bombers - banned testing/deploying of new types of ICBMs
Weakness of SALT 2?
was never ratified by US Senate due to USSR involvement in Afghanistan
What was Vienna Summit?
SALT 2, 1979 - Limited more arms ICBMs, SLBMs, MIRVs, cruise missiles
Causes of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, 1979
Although Amin was communist, USSR did not trust him as Soviet Secret Police reported he was an American spy.
Reasons for failure of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- ‘ambush, hit & run’ tactics hard to deal with
- rebels familiar w surroundings , Soviets were not
- mountainous terrain - Soviets couldnt bring tanks, rebels able to navigate easily
What was the Carter Doctrine?
Pres. Jimmy Carter response to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
- Stated USA would “use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region”
What were Helsinki Accords?
1973, 33 nations from NATO & Warsaw Pact met to build on spirit of co-operation previously established in SALT 1
3 baskets of Helsinki Accords
- EUROPEAN BORDERS: all international country boundaries agreed & accepted - would settle disputes peacefully (not by threats/force)
- CO-OPERATION: economic co-op through trade, industrial co-op through running joint industrial projects
- HUMAN RIGHTS: countries should respect all human rights - freedom of speech, movement, religion
Consequence of Helsinki Accords
Stabilised situation in Europe by agreeing greater co-operation between superpowers. Limited possibility of superpower conflict by creating balanced relationship between USSR & USA
When was fall of Berlin Wall?
1989
Personal impact of fall of Berlin Wall
Families/friends reunited after 30 yrs of separation. By November 1989, East Germans could travel to the west through Austria.
National impact of fall of Berlin Wall
Physical divide between East & West Germany ceased to exist, the countries would now have to work together in peace, finally becoming one united country.
International impact of fall of Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall had been symbol of CW and divison & conflict between communism & capitalism, the destruction marked its conclusion.
When was end of Warsaw Pact?
Military co-operation between member states ended early 1990, Pact formally dissolved in July 1991.
Impact of the end of Warsaw Pact
- Warsaw Pact had formally divided Europe in two - dissolvement indicated division between democratic West & Communist East was gone. No longer two armed alliances confronting each other across Europe.
- Symbol of Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe ended
USA
West
USSR
East
Impact of Satellite states regaining independence
End of pact led to many countries becoming truly independent of USSR & finally governing themselves for first time in decades. Once Warsaw Pact dissolved, every single one of its members abandonded communism.
Cause of Gorbachev’s fall from power
Losing control of Soviet satellite states
When did Gorbachev fall from power?
Announed resignation on 25th Dec 1991. His resignation was immediately followed by the break up of USSR
Impact of end of USSR
Dissolution of USSR ended superpower conflict as USA became the world’s only superpower. Fall of the USSR in 1991 finally ended ideological battle between capitalist west & communism east.
What was Tehran Conference?
Nov 1943: Grand Alliance met to plan winning strategy to end war
Agreements of Tehran Conference
- USA & Britain would open a ‘second front’ by launching an attack on Germany in Western Europe, easing pressure on Eastern front, where Soviets were surffering
- Agreed that aim was to bring about unconditional surrender of Germany, should remain weak after war
Consequences of Tehran Conference
- Stalin concerned that USA & Britain were deliberately delaying a ‘second front’ against Germany so that the USSR could be further weakened by having to fight a defensive war in the East - so was pleased by outcome
- Tension between USA & Britain - Roosevelt seemed at times to view British colonialism as more of a threat to world peace than the Soviet Union
What was Yalta Conference?
Feb 1945: Big Three discuss winning the war/government of post-war Europe.
Agreements of Yalta Conference
- Germany would be split into 4 zones, each controlled by a different power (USA, Britain, France and USSR)
- Germany would pay $20 billion in reparations, Nazi Party banned and war criminals prosecuted
- A United Nations would be set up
Consequences of Yalta Conference
- USA & France did not agree w Stalin’s suggestion that all 16 Soviet republics should be given individual membership
- Tensions rose as Stalin’s attempt to further spread communism to Poland failed.
What was Potsdam Conference?
July 1945: Truman & Attlee new to diplomatic discussion - hard to negotiate with Stalin
Agreements made at Potsdam Conference
- Changes to Yalta - agreed that Germany would remain divided into 4 zones, but the German economy would be run as a whole
- Berlin to be divided into 4 zones, controlled by different countries even though clearly based inside Soviet-controlled Germany
Consequences of Potsdam Conference
- Truman growing increasingly worried of Soviet’s red army
- Truman objected to control of USSR over the countries it had liberated from Nazi rule
What was Iron Curtain Speech?
March 1946, Churchill made it plain he thought USSR was threat to freedom & world peace.
When was the Truman Doctrine?
12th March 1947
What was Truman Doctrine?
- Pledged to support any nation threatened by communist takeover ($400m in aid to Greece & Turkey, US civilian/military personel sent to region
- Pointed out dangers of USSR & differences between democracy & communism, warning Europe what would happen if they allowed Stalin to expand his Empire - offered world simple choice between communist tyranny and capitalist freedom (good & evil).
- Change in US policy: abandoned previous policy of isolationism (not getting involved in affairs/conflicts of other countries to protect their nation) –> containment
When was Marshall Plan?
3rd April 1948
What was Marshall Plan?
- Peactical outcome of Truman Doctrine: providing economic aid to war-torn countries to prevent spread of communism in Western Europe ($12.7 billion given in total over 4 years)
- Gave hope to struggling countries who’s only choice was to accept communism.
- Debated on whether to offer aid to USSR & satellite states. In the end, East did not benefit from MP
When was Cominform?
The Communist Information Bureau, 22nd Sep 1947
What was Cominform?
Political organisation set up by Stalin, consisting of 9 Eastern countries & communist parties of satellite states.
Importance of Cominform
- Gave Stalin way of directing/controlling governments of satellite states - wanted to ensure their loyalty to communism
- Encouraged to concentrate on only trading/communicated with other Cominform members. All contanct with non-cominform countries was discouraged
- Increased tensions between USA and USSR as was essentially Stalin’s method of revenge for the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan.
When was Comecon?
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, 25th Jan 1949
What was Comecon?
Set up by Stalin to keep satellite states under complete communist control/independent from capitalist governments.
Importance of Comecon
- Ensured USA dont become influential in Eastern Europe.
- Indirect competition w Marshall Plan (satellite states did not recieve aid) - trade with west banned, trade with east encouraged
- Aimed to support economic development in member states, organising industrial planning across all satellite states (each state had 5yr plan)
