Superpower Flashcards
1
Q
What overall factors made the USSR into a superpower?
A
- Geographical influence
- Economy
- Military might
2
Q
How did the USSR’s Geographical influence make them a superpower?
A
- sphere of influence in Eastern Europe - acted as buffer zone - Russia controlled half of Europe
- Satellite states not fully independent - controlled their economy and foreign policy
- Russia entered informal military alliance with these states
3
Q
How did the USSR’s economy make them a superpower?
A
- end of WW2 4th5YP
- 4th5YP made Russia fastest growing economy in world
- 1952 industrial production double 1940
- focus of 4th5YP & 5th5YP heavy industry, rearmament - Russia prepared for any future war
4
Q
How did the USSR’s military strength make them a superpower?
A
- 1946 Russian army 3m - biggest in world
- 4th5YP devoted 7.4bn to defence spending
- 1949 Russia developed own atomic bomb
- 1953 Russia developed own hydrogen bomb
5
Q
When did Stalin die?
A
1953
6
Q
How had Stalin changed Russia?
A
- from backward agricultural economy into industrial superpower
- price - millions of lives: dekulakisation, Great Terror, WW2
