Section C: Cold war Flashcards
What was the Marshall plan 1947
This was where Truman and America aided war torn European countries with financial support to help rebuild their strength and economy, whilst creating sustainable trade links and ruining the Soviet image
Factors of the Marshall plan
13 billion supplied by the US to rebuild europe Helped Western Europe recover Made Communism less attractive Helped US countries create trade links Huge media success
USSR reaction to the Marshall plan
Furious
Huge propaganda fail
Stalin made European countries refuse it
Reasons why the Marshall plan was selfish
The main reason was to stop the spread of communism
Partly to allow the Us trade links
It could be viewed as a dig at the USSR
Stalin claimed it was a US plan to dominate Europe and boost the US econmy
Reasons why the Marshall Plan was not selfish
They gave a huge amount ($13bn) It protected Europe, not America The US met countries to discuss it The Europeans loved it and supported it The US had wounds to heal of its own.
Reasons why Khrushchev built the Berlin wall
To prevent the West “spying” on the east
He felt it would give the East the “upper-hand”
To stop East Berliners spending money in the west
To stop East Berliners working and earning more in the West
To prevent Well educated Easterners from leaving
To stop East Berliners viewing Western Propaganda
Perfect time - believed he could take advantage of the Young JFK
???? Maybe to stop trade and the East getting too powerful or close to the west????
In response to the Berlin crisis
4 summits failed
Impacts of the Berlin Wall
Lowered Eastern Morale Closed the border Stopped trade Stopped viewing of western propaganda Families split up USSR propaganda flop MADE THEM LOOK WEAK
Factors of the Berlin wall
165 Kilometres long
130 died trying to cross - 50 in first year
12,000 escaped
40,000 left in one day before the wall was made
Example of Peter F- an 18 year old bricklayer who was shot and left for dead for 45 minutes
When was the Berlin wall made
1961, 12th August
Khrushchev’s views on the success of the wall
Good:
Stopped the refugee crisis
Allowed Khrushchev to avoid war whilst appearing stronger
Bad:
Khrushchev couldn’t beat the west or make them leave the West Berlin
Humiliating that they had to build a wall to keep East Berliners in
Propaganda flop
Kennedys views on the Berlin wall
Good:
Avoided war (especially a nuclear one)
Khrushchev had admitted he could not get rid of West Berlin
Propaganda victory
Bad:
West Berlin was now encircled - limiting freedom
America had not been able to do anything
Background of The Prague Spring/The invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968
Country wise
Czech had been a rich democracy before the war
*Allies did not intervene when they got invaded
Had a huge fall of standard of living All parts of media controlled Strictly followed Communism - but people hated the lack of freedom Workers wanted more say in factories They were refused a referendum Wanted a free vote Terrified of secret police
Background of The Prague Spring/The invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968 Leader wise
Was Antonin Novotny Hard line communist Unpopular Slow to release political prisoners He was slow to De - Stalinise
Reasons for the invasion of Czechoslovakia
Dubcek replaced Novotny
Novotny resigned in 1968, replaced by Svobada
Czech could leave the Warsaw pact and join Nato
Other countries could follow Czech
5 leading opponents of the the Prague spring wrote letters to Brezhnev to use “all means at your disposal”
Czech was getting an increasing amount of trade links to the West
East German and Polish leader put pressure on Brezhnev to stop reform
Dubcek’s “socialism with a human face” reform
Relaxation of press censorship Elements of capitalism allowed More power to reigned governments Criticism of government allowed More political opposition More power to the Czech parliament
These were abused by the people, who tried to force more reform
E.g the book called “two thousand words” persuaded people to force more reform
