Peaceful Coexistence (1953-1962)

Question 1

What does the term peaceful coexistence actually mean?

Answer 1

The recognition of the USA and USSR of each others needs and borders so they could exist without conflict

Question 2

List in your order of importance the factors that lead to eased tensions between the Eastern and Western blocs between 1953-62

Answer 2

Stalins Death, Military and Economic context, Khrushchev’s policies closely linked with Malenkov’s and Beria’s, Eisenhower and Dulles, Stable sphere of influence.

Question 3

When did Stalin die?

Answer 3

1953

Question 4

Why was Stalins death so important?

Answer 4

Because he had previously been involved in all of the previous conflict with the West. All of it. With his death, all the problems and bad personal relations he had with western leaders and members followed the same direction. Therefore a new opportunity for a fresh start or a clean slate opened up. Any leader that followed, worse or better, the west would have to build up a bad relationship and that would take a long time therefore a peaceful period could begin

Question 5

What problems had Stalin been involved with when he was alive and leader?

Answer 5

Arms race, post war conferences, instrumental in soviet expansionism, his infamous internal crimes with the gulags which conveyed his paranoia for opposition and threats.

Question 6

What were the military and economic strains upon USSR and USA?

Answer 6

With the constant development and construction of new types of nuclear weapons there was an ever growing threat to the safety of US & Soviet citizens, something invaluable to them for many reasons. The development was only possible if enough money form the economy was injected into the military sector. By focusing the economy towards military as a result the standard of living declined. Both sides recognised the strain of nuclear tension upon them and so decided to pull out and opt for a peaceful time period without conflict

Question 7

How much of the USSR was devoted to its military sector annuals to try and keep up with the USA?

Answer 7

1/3

Question 8

How much of the US GNP was spent upon arms in 1954?

Answer 8

12%

Question 9

When did Khrushchev become soviet leader?

Answer 9

1955

Question 10

What was the name of the policy he adopted for international relations?

Answer 10

Peaceful coexistence

Question 11

What was the main belief behind Khrushchev’s peaceful coexistence policy?

Answer 11

A softer tone towards the West, accepting their existence hoping that they would follow their lead and recognise the Soviets existence.

Question 12

What did Khrushchev give in 1956 that undermined and showed how he was promoting destalinisation?

Answer 12

Secret Speech in 1956

Question 13

Who first used the term peaceful coexistence?

Answer 13

Soviet Leader, Malenkov

Question 14

Who was Beria?

Answer 14

The unofficial leader of the USSR for 3 months after Stalins death

Question 15

What was the importance of Beria?

Answer 15

He was the first of leader after Stalin that had an approach no where near his policies and attitude towards the West. He effectively set the foundations and acted as an introduction to the two soviet leaders that would replace him and their similar approach.

Question 16

What was a sign of Beria’s new approach to the West, even if it failed?

Answer 16

He proposed a “reunified Germany”. The place of tension for many of the previous points of conflict between the East and West. This suggested a new friendlier relationship.

Question 17

Who was Malenkov?

Answer 17

The official leader after Stalin between 1953-55 that continued Beria’s approach towards the West

Question 18

What was the name of the policy that Malenkov created that was more friendly toward the West?

Answer 18

“New Course”

Question 19

What was the philosophy of the “New Course”?

Answer 19

Resources could and should be directed away from arms and heavy industry towards raising living standards and ensuring the USSR didn’t financially collapse, because he believed that the confrontation with capitalism would end with the fall of that ideology.

Question 20

How and why could you incorporate Beria, Malenkov and Khrushchev into one factor labelled “new Russian leaders”?

Answer 20

Because they all adopted a policy which had a softer tone towards the West. The name of Khrushchev’s policy was first coined by Malenkov.

Question 21

When was Eisenhower president of the US?

Answer 21

1953-1961

Question 22

Who was Eisenhowers Secretary of State during his administration?

Answer 22

John Foster Dulles

Question 23

What was the name of the Eisenhower administrations policy towards international affairs?

Answer 23

“New Look”

Question 24

What were the features of the New Look Policy that didn’t help to ease tensions between 1953-1962?

Answer 24

Using military to contain communism, increased espionage, “massive retaliation” (nuclear arms) against communist threats, brinkmanship.

Question 25

What was brinkmanship? What was its significance?

Answer 25

Th idea that the USA would use the threat of nuclear weapons to scare the enemy out of what it was doing.
It was risky because it may not have worked and then a nuclear war may have broken out.

Question 26

Where was Brinkmanship used by Dulles?

Answer 26

The scaring of the Chinese so they would stop invading and spreading communism to the Quemay and Matsu islands

Question 27

What were the features of the New look policy that contributed to peaceful coexistence?

Answer 27

Keen to avoid N. Arms, more cautious approach to scenarios, Eisenhower was a confident leader therefore wouldn’t act I rationally in heated points, he knew he had military superiority after a u2 spy plane, keen to avoid an expansion of the MI complex and instead to improve living standards.

Question 28

What were 4 espionage operations/proposals under Eisenhower?

Answer 28

Operation Aquatone, Operation Genetrix, Bay of Pigs/Operation 40, Open Skies policy

Question 29

How much did spending reduce by between 1953-1962?

Answer 29

1953= $20bn
1961= $10bn

Question 30

How did Eisenhower describe his intentions for nuclear weapons?

Answer 30

More bang for the buck

Question 31

Why is the factor of a stable sphere of influence not that significant?

Answer 31

Because both sides continued to worry about their spher of influence for many years after in Vietnam for example

Question 32

What is their that undermines evidence of a peaceful period?

Answer 32

Berlin crisis, increased espionage (U2 incident), Hungarian uprising, constants points of tension at Berlin checkpoints (Charlie in 1961)