Paper 3 flashcards
What was the cold war?
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
What was the cold war characterised by?
Periods of heightened nuclear threats.
Proxy wars.
What was the Monroe Doctrine and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The Monroe Doctrine established the U.S. policy of opposing European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere, asserting that any such interference would be viewed as a threat to U.S. security.
What was the atlantic charter and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The Atlantic Charter was a pivotal statement issued during World War II by the U.S. and the UK, outlining mutual goals for post-war recovery, including economic cooperation and self-determination for nations.
What was the Yalta conference and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The Yalta Conference was a World War II meeting between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin where they agreed on the post-war reorganization of Europe and the division of Germany, setting the stage for the Cold War.
What was LATAM’s shift to communism and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
Economic and political challenges in Latin America, exacerbated by perceived U.S. neglect, led several countries to seek support from the Soviet Union, with notable examples including Cuba and Chile.
What was the Potsdam conference and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
Held after Germany’s surrender, the Potsdam Conference involved Truman, Stalin, and Churchill discussing post-war Europe, where disagreements over reparations set the stage for the Cold War tensions.
What was the dropping of the atomic bombs and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, which not marked the start of the nuclear age and a subsequent global arms race.
What was the creation of the UN and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The United Nations was established in 1945, significantly influencing U.S. containment policy by providing a platform to counter Soviet influence and promote global collective security.
What was Keenen’s long telegram and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
Sent by U.S. diplomat George Kennan in 1946, the Long Telegram advised the U.S. to contain Soviet expansionist policies, which significantly shaped the Cold War’s containment strategy.
What was the Truman doctrine and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
In response to threats in Greece and Turkey, the Truman Doctrine of 1947 committed the U.S. to support nations threatened by communism or authoritarianism, marking a formal start of U.S. Cold War strategy.
What was the marshall plan and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
Initiated in 1948, the Marshall Plan provided extensive American economic assistance to rebuild Western European economies to prevent the spread of communism and strengthen democratic institutions.
What was the creation of the CIA and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The CIA was established in 1947 to conduct intelligence activities, including surveillance and actions against Soviet influence and communist governments in Latin America.
What was the Rio Treaty and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The CIA was established in 1947 to conduct intelligence activities, including surveillance and actions against Soviet influence and communist governments in Latin America.
What was the coup in Czechoslovakia and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The 1948 communist coup in Czechoslovakia, turning it into a Soviet satellite, escalated Cold War tensions by demonstrating Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe.
What was the Berlin Blockade and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The 1948-1949 Berlin Blockade by the Soviet Union led to the Berlin Airlift, where the U.S. and its allies successfully supplied West Berlin, thus thwarting Soviet efforts to take full control.
What was the OAS/Bogota conference and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The Organization of American States, founded in the bogota conference, enhanced regional cooperation among American states and was instrumental in U.S. efforts to prevent the spread of communism in Latin America.
What was the point four programme and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
President Truman’s 1949 Point Four Program aimed to provide technical assistance to developing countries to prevent communism by fostering economic development.
What is NATO and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
NATO is a military alliance that was crucial to U.S. Cold War strategy, aimed at deterring Soviet aggression and ensuring collective security in Europe.
What was the Chinese revolution and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
The Chinese Revolution led to the establishment of a communist regime under Mao Zedong, heightening U.S. concerns about the spread of communism
What was NSC-68 and how did it set the stage for the cold war?
NSC-68 was a key U.S. policy document that recommended a massive buildup of the U.S. military to counter the Soviet threat, influencing the strategic direction of the Cold War.
What impact did Truman have on subsequent president’s policies.
His administration focused on containing communism and preventing its spread beyond the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Truman’s containment strategies were the basis of all subsequent presidents, as he was the first cold war president.
What methods of containing communism did Truman use?
Military assistance.
Economic support.
Promoting stability over democracy.
What was McCarthyism?
McCarthyism refers to a period of intense anti-communism in the US during the early 1950’s.
How did McCarthyism rise?
The rise of McCarthyism began with Senator Joseph McCarthy’s speech at the Wheeling Conference, where he claimed to have a list of communists actively working within the U.S. State Department, sparking widespread paranoia and fear of communist infiltration in the US.
What was the red scare?
The Red Scare refers to the widespread fear of communism in the United States during the early and mid-20th century.
Name 3 ways that the red scare impacted religion.
The Red Scare encouraged going to church as part of resisting communism, mixing religion with American patriotism.
There was a rise in American church membership from 1940-1970.
Communism was advertised as a satanic force.
Name 3 ways that the red scare impacted education.
Schools during the Red Scare cut out any ideas or books that seemed too left-wing, essentially further ingraining anti-communist ideals into even younger generations.
Any policies/educational initiatives that were suspected of spreading communism were banned.
Books with perceived Un-American themes were burned.
Books by soviet authors were banned.
Name 3 ways that the red scare impacted civil rights.
Civil rights activists faced accusations of communism, stalling progress in the movement.
Conservative leaders exploited these accusations to resist civil rights advancements.
The movement was significantly hindered by the pervasive fear of communist influence among activists.
Name 3 ways that the red scare impacted culture in the US.
American culture was infused with anti-communist messages, fostering a nationalistic and fearful perspective.
Media such as comics and informational films were pivotal in disseminating anti-communist propaganda.
Non-anti-communist propaganda was perceived as a threat to American values and societal norms.
Name 3 ways that the red scare impacted cinema television and threatre.
Hollywood was pressured to produce anti-communist films and to dissociate from those seen as communist sympathizers.
Television content was curated to avoid communist themes and emphasize traditional American values, with suspected communists often losing their jobs.
The theatre industry faced intense scrutiny; plays critiquing the Red Scare were written but quickly banned, and many involved in the industry were blacklisted.
How did McCarthyism fall?
McCarthyism fell after Senator McCarthy was publicly discredited during the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings, leading to his censure by the Senate.
What was the Korean war?
The Korean war was a proxy war fought from 1950 to 1953.
It began when North Korea invaded South Korea.
The United States and Soviet Union were poised on opposite sides of the conflict, with the US supporting the South and the USSR supporting the North.
What motivated North Korea to participate in the Korean War?
North Korea aimed to quickly unify Korea under communism, believing the US would not intervene.
What were South Korea’s goals in the Korean War?
South Korea aimed to defend its territory from North Korea and unify Korea under a democratic government.
Why did the United States participate in the Korean War?
The US aimed to contain communism, support the United Nations, and prevent Soviet expansion in Asia.
What role did the Soviet Union play in the Korean War?
The Soviet Union supported North Korea with military equipment and strategic advice to expand communism and counter US influence.
Why did China enter the Korean War?
China entered the war to prevent a US-dominated Korea on its border and to support North Korea as a communist ally.
What was the political impact of the Korean War in the US?
Truman lost public support and the failure to win impacted Democratic credibility, exploited by Eisenhower with “Corruption, Communism, and Korea.”
What military strategy was adopted by the US following the Korean War?
Post-war, the US implemented defense cuts but increased reliance on nuclear weapons as a deterrence strategy (brinkmanship).
How did the Korean War affect US alliances?
The US strengthened NATO by adding West Germany and established SEATO to counter communist influence in Southeast Asia.
What were some direct US military and diplomatic responses to the Korean War?
NSC 68 was implemented, tripling the defense budget, and a treaty with Japan allowed US bases there to maintain strategic presence.
How did the Korean War influence US policy towards Taiwan?
The US committed to defending Taiwan, providing military and economic aid, and recognized Taiwan as the official Chinese state.
How did the Korean War impact the civil rights movement in the US?
The war led to the first desegregated US military units, which gave a significant boost to the civil rights movement.
What were key components of Einsehower’s containment strategy?
Covert actions.
New look policy.
What was the New Look policy?
This was done by emphasising nuclear weapons and air power.
It would therefore allow the United States to project its containment policy without the costs associated with large armies.
What was John Foster Dulles’s role and strategy as Eisenhower’s Secretary of State?
John Foster Dulles organized the New Look policy and advocated for “brinkmanship,” using the threat of nuclear war to deter Soviet expansion.
What was Allen Dulles’s role as Director of the CIA under Eisenhower?
Allen Dulles directed the CIA’s covert operations, including coups and attempts to destabilize communist or pro-Soviet governments.
What role did the CIA play during Eisenhower’s presidency?
The CIA engaged in espionage, propaganda, and covert actions to support pro-Western regimes and counter Soviet influence.
What was the outcome of Eisenhower’s covert action in Guatemala?
The CIA, under Eisenhower, orchestrated a coup that removed President Árbenz and installed a pro-American dictatorship in Guatemala to protect U.S. economic interests.
What actions did Eisenhower take against Fidel Castro’s regime in Cuba?
Eisenhower imposed economic sanctions on Cuba and initiated covert operations to overthrow Castro, leading to the Bay of Pigs invasion plans.
How many assassination attempts against Fidel Castro were linked to Eisenhower?
There were 38 assassination attempts against Castro under Eisenhower’s presidency.
What was Operation Ajax and its impact under Eisenhower’s administration?
Operation Ajax, directed by the CIA and MI6, overthrew Iran’s Prime Minister Mosaddegh to secure oil interests and prevent Soviet influence, leading to long-term U.S.-Iran tensions.
Why did the US get involved in overthrowing Iran’s Prime Minister Mosaddegh?
The U.S. aimed to prevent a power gap filled by Soviet influence and secure oil interests after Mosaddegh nationalized the Iranian oil industry, challenging British control.
How did Kennedy’s presidency unfold?
Kennedy was a democrat who was assassinated in 1963.
Lydon B Johnson was Kennedy’s vice president, and assumed the presidency once Kennedy had been assassinated.
From 1963 until 1964, Johnson served the rest of Kennedy’s term, and won the 1964 election to serve until 1968.
What characterised Kennedy’s/Johnson’s presidency?
The alliance for progress.
His relations with Cuba.
The Vietnam War.
What context influenced Kennedy’s policies when he became president in 1960?
Kennedy capitalized on criticisms of the Eisenhower administration for allegedly letting the U.S. fall behind in the space race and missile production.
What was the Alliance for Progress?
The Alliance for Progress was a ten-year plan aimed at improving economic and political stability in Latin America, partly in response to the Cuban Revolution.
What were the main goals of the Alliance for Progress?
The program aimed to provide economic aid and encourage political reform, similar to a Marshall Plan for Latin America, to prevent communism’s spread.
