Question 3 - Explain importance of...

Question 1

the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) for the development of the Cold War

Answer 1

1. Important bc it led to improved communication between the USA and the USSR:
   - evidence: creation of the ‘hotline’ between the superpowers. This was set up in June 1963 as a direct communication line between Washington + Moscow
   - meant that with improved communication between USA + USSR they could avoid a repeat of what took place during the CMC
2. Important bc it led to decrease in tensions between USA and USSR.
   - evidence: in Aug 1963 a Test Ban Treaty was signed by the USA, USSR and Britain. The 3 states agreed to prohibit the testing of nuclear weapons
   - meant that there would be an improvement in the control and the spread of nuclear weapons which were at risk of being deployed during the CMC.

Question 2

the Reagan Doctrine (1982) for the development of the Cold War

Answer 2

1. made a Second World War clear
   - evidence: tougher than Truman Doctrine; included ‘rolling back’ communism by gunning anti-communist groups in Nicaragua and El-Salvador as well as a US-led invasion of Grenada in early 1980s
   - meant that there was a threat to communism which was controlled by the Soviet Union
2. increased tensions
   - evidence: Reagan’s speech to a Christian group where he described the Soviet Union as an ‘evil empire’ and said USA represented ‘forces of good.’ also increased spending on arms by 13% in 1982 + increased spending on developing the SDI
   - meant that the USA had an upper hand in a First strike bc the Soviet Union were economically exhausted, significant for development bc it made USSR appear weaker

Question 3

the construction of the Berlin Wall for relations between the Superpowers from 1961

Answer 3

1. increased tensions
   - evidence: the wall started off as a barbed wire fence but then turned into a 155km concrete wall, which created a divide between East and West; in reply Kennedy gave a speech showing his solidarity with West Berlin where he stated ‘ich bin ein berliner’
   - meant that there were increased tensions because speech demonstrated the US and NATO were prepared to defend W.Berlin from communist attack
2. made war over Berlin less likely
   - evidence: the number of military alerts in Berlin declined, P.Kennedy commented that a wall was at least better than a war
   - meant that war was less Riley because the wall suggested how Soviets were no longer interested in unifying Berlin under a communist rule, as Khrushchev had once demanded in Nov 1958

Question 4

The Yalta Conference for early Cold War tension between the USA and the Soviet Union

Answer 4

1. increased tensions
   - evidence: by the Yalta conference inn 1945, two of the big 3 changed: Truman instead of FDR and Atlee instead of Churchill; Truman was a hawk and adopted a ‘get tough’ policy with Stalin
   - meant that there was early tension between the USA and Soviet Union bc they disliked each other
2. cooled tensions
   - evidence: superpowers agreed on reducing, demilitarising and dividing Germany, they also agreed on setting up the UN
   - showed how the USA and Soviet Union could work together as allies toward a common aim

Question 5

the Long and Novikov telegrams for relations beteeen East and West

Answer 5

1. worsened relations
   - evidence: Kennan’s Long Telegram (Feb 22 1946) contributed to US policy of containment bc it stated that Stalin wanted to destroy capitalism
   - important bc it meant that Truman’s thinking was affected as his worst fears were confirmed of the spread of communism
2. divide between East and West
   - evidence: Novikov telegram (27 sep 1946) described how the USA no longer wanted to work together + wanted war so pushed Stalin to strengthen buffer zone out of fear of attacks and led to Comecon
   - important bc Comecon showed the 2 separate spheres of influence of East and West

Question 6

the formation of Cominform and Comecon for the development of the Cold War

Answer 6

1. politically effected the Cold war
   - evidence: Comecon meant east/west rivalry was heightened bc Stalin ensured there could be no economic trade with the west
   - cominform also ensured political control bc it organised all the communist parties in Europe and arranged their leadership so they would do what Moscow said
   - meant Europe was divided into 2 spheres of influence
2. economic effects
   - East weakened economically bc they couldn’t benefit from Marshall Plan of economic aid by USA
   - Soviet control and their need to specialise markets led to shortages and a much poorer living standard than the west

Question 7

the Cuban Revolution for the development of the Cold War from 1959

Answer 7

1. made relations between USA and Cuba worse
   - evidence: USA refused to deal with Castro after he nationalised US-owned businesses in Cuba. Castro responded by making closer ties with the USSR, who agreed to exchange Cuban sugar for oil
   - meant that there were worsened relations between USA and USSR
2. led to worsened communications
   - evidence: cuban revolution led to USA deciding to get rid of Castro in the bay of Pigs Fiasco, the failure of which led to the CMC crisis
   - demonstrated how bad communication almost led to nuclear war

Question 8

the division of Berlin into two zones following World War Two

Answer 8

1. worsened relations
   - evidence: refugee problem in Berlin where 2.7 million East Germans crossed into west Germany via West Berlin from 1949-69 -> meant economy of West Germany benefitted from influx of skilled workers
   - embarrassed the Soviets bc people clearly preferred West Germany
2. tension
   - evidence: Khrushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum in Nov 1958 stated that all Berlin belonged to east Germany and that occupying troops must leave in 6 months.
   - important bc it increased tensions between superpowers