Superpower Relations + The Cold War Flashcards

1
Q

When was the Tehran conference + what was agreed?

A

1943, USSR can keep land in Eastern Europe, An International Organisation set up, USA + Britain launch another attack on Germany so German army reduced troops in the East.

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2
Q

What were the consequences of the Tehran conference?

A

Very good+ beneficial for the USSR as they gained alot of land.

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3
Q

When was the Yalta conference + what was agreed?

A

February 1945, Germany + Berlin would be divided into 4 zones, 20 million in reparations with 1/2 going to the soviets

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4
Q

What were the consequences of the Yalta conference?

A

Showed a lack of agreement over the reparation process + that Stalin wanted a lot of land

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5
Q

When was the Potsdam conference + what was agreed?

A

July 1945, Germany would be demilitarised + become democracy, Soviets would gain 1/4 of good made in western Europe in trade for food + coal.

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6
Q

What were the consequences of the Potsdam conference?

A

Lots of disagreements, highlighted the difference between Communism + Capitalism.

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7
Q

When was the atomic bomb dropped, where and how many people died?

A

6th August 1945
Truman dropped it over Hiroshima and nagasaki
Over 120,000

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8
Q

What were the consequences of the atomic bomb dropping?

A

The USSR saw the USA as a great danger to the world
Stalin took more land between USSR and Germany as a ‘buffer zone’

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9
Q

Describe the first telegram sent out and when?

A

1946
Long telegram - Kennan sent a detailed telegram about the USSR’s attitude towards the USA (that Stalin wanted to destroy capitalism)

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10
Q

What were the consequences of the long telegram?

A

USA started ‘containment’ which meant to keep communism in the USSR only

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11
Q

Describe the second telegram and when was it?

A

1946
Novikov telegram sent by a soviet diplomat, shows USA didn’t trust USSR
Showed that America wasn’t afraid of war

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12
Q

What were the consequences of the Novikov telegram?

A

USSR felt the need to occupy more land for safety

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13
Q

What was the iron curtain speech?

A

Winston Churchill’s speech when he said that Europe was divided by an “Iron curtain” in 1946, behind it were the USSR controlled countries

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14
Q

What were the consequences of the iron curtain speech?

A

Increased tension
Both sides strengthened their forces

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15
Q

Why were satellite states made?

A

As a barrier between USSR and Germany
Showed power and strength
Increase of communist influence

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16
Q

Name 5 satellite states and how/when

A

East Germany
Poland- 1947 as a communist government
Czechoslovakia- 1948 a communist government
Hungary- 1949
Romania- voted communist after intimidation from the USSR

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17
Q

What was the Truman doctrine?

A

12th March
Truman announced he would provid economic help to countries being threatened by communism
Promised 400 million dollars, sent US soldiers to Turkey and Greece

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18
Q

What followed the Truman doctrine?

A

The marshall plan - gave 12.7 billion dollars between 1948-52
Economic aid to countries hit by war
Offered money to satellite states but Stalin refused it

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19
Q

What did Stalin call the Marshall plan?

A

Dollar imperialism
He thought it was the USA trying to be more powerful and create American Empire in Europe

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20
Q

What were the consequences of the Truman doctrine and Marshall plan?

A

Friendly grand alliance now gone
USA in direct opposition to USSR

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21
Q

What was cominform and when?

A

1947- every Eastern Europe country was to follow Stalin’s orders, every country would have a cominform office

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22
Q

What was Comecon and when?

A

1949, No Eastern Europe country could take money from the USA, there would be trade only between communist countries, communist party took over all industries

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23
Q

What were the consequences of comecon and cominform?

A

Increased tensions
Made divide greater

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24
Q

What was the Berlin crisis and when?

A

March 1948
USA, Britain and France united their zones in Trizonia
the created a currency called Deutshmark

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25
Q

What was the Berlin bockade?

A

USSR blocked off any land route in or out of Berlin
This stopped food and essentials reaching Trizonia

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26
Q

When was the Berlin airlift?

A

June 1948 to May 1949
America flew in food and resources instead
There was a risk the planes may have been shot but it didn’t happen
Over 1000 tonnes of food flown in
After a year, Stalin removed the blockade

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27
Q

What were the consequences of the Berlin airlift?

A

Made Stalin look weak
West proved they could succeed peacefully
3 days after, USA, Britain and France officially united (Trizonia)

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28
Q

When and what was NATO?

A

1949
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Western powers (US, Britain and France) and 9 other countries formed a millitary alliance

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29
Q

When and what was the Warsaw pact?

A

1955
All of Satellite States led by Soviet Union
Promised support

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30
Q

Describe the 6 stages of the arms race

A

Atomic bomb 1945
1949 Soviets made their own bomb
1950 American hydrogen bomb
1957 Soviet hydrgen bomb
USA ballistic missiles
2 months later, Soviets also had ballistic missiles

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31
Q

What occured under Khrushchev’s leadership?

A

He openly critisised Stalin (wanted peace)
War ended in Korea
Both countries broke from arms race
Austria 1955 meeting had calmed tensions

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32
Q

How did the Hungarian uprising start?

A

Hungary didn’t like soviet control
They couldn’t vote, food shortages

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33
Q

What were the consequences of these attitudes?

A

Protested in Budapest
Tore down statue of Stalin
Soviets had lack of control

34
Q

How did Khrushchev respond to the Hungarian Uprising?

A

Sent the red army to stop the riots
Tried to please them with new leader Imre Nagy

35
Q

What did Imre Nagy follow?

A

Wanted voting and dictatorship
Asked for political prisoners to be freed
Asked Khrushchev to remove political troops

36
Q

What happened in Novemer 1956 and the consequences?

A

Nagy said that Hungary would leave the Warsaw pact
Khrushchev felt that other countries would follow and copy

37
Q

When and what was the soviet invasion of Hungary?

A

4th November 1956
Khrushchev sent the red army, Hungarians fought back and America didn’t help Hungary because of the containment policy and risks

38
Q

What were the short term consequences?

A

Uprising failed
20,000 Soviet troops in Hungary
20,000 Hungarians killed
Nagy and his supporters executed

39
Q

what were the long term consequences?

A

Khrushchev seemed more powerful
New leader in Hungary
showed Eastern Europe that America won’t help them, made the USA look weak

40
Q

What occurred in 1958?

A

3 million East Germans moved to West Germany
Refugee problem

41
Q

What were the consequences of the refugee problem?

A

An embarrassment for Soviet Union
People openly choosing capitalism over communism

42
Q

How did Khrushchev respond to the refugee problem?

A

November 1958
Khrushchev demanded that Western troops removed from East Berlin
Berlin should become a free city- he gave them 6 months and threatened to take over all transport routes
This was the Berlin ultimatum

43
Q

What happened despite the Berlin ultimatum that caused the Berlin wall?

A

August 1961
On one day 40,000 refugees
The relationship between USSR and USA was weak

44
Q

Describe the event of the Berlin wall

A

12th August 1961
Khrushchev ordered for the building of the Berlin wall
First it was a barbed wire fence as they built the concrete
It was 165km around the city
Finished by October 1961

45
Q

What were the consequences of the Berlin wall?

A

130 people killed trying to cross the wall
Friends and families divided
West Berlin fire service helped East Germans escape

46
Q

Name and date the 4 summit meetings between 1959-61?

A

1)Geneva summit May 1959 spoke about Berlin, nothing was agreed
2)Camp David September 1959 Eisenhower and Khrushchev agreed for no more Berlin ultimatum terms and displayed they had a better relationship
3)Paris May 1960 Soviets just shot down the US spy plane, Eisenhower refused to apologise, Khrushchev walked out of the summit
4)Vienna June 1961, JFK was president and Khrushchev did not trust him, Berlin ultimatum terms back on, weakened relationship

47
Q

Describe JFK’s visit to Berlin in June 1963

A

He was treated like a rockstar
“Ich Bin Erin Berliner”
Gained a good reputation, said a wall was better than war

48
Q

What caused the Cuban revolution?

A

1959- A group in Cuba brought down a government who supported America

49
Q

What was the Cuban revolutions impact on the cold war?

A

Any land owned by the US in Cuba was put back under Cuban control
Castro puts communists in government
1960 Khrushchev and Castro agreed to trade Cuban sugar for economic aid
Secret agreement that Cuban would recieve USSR weapons

50
Q

What were the consequences of the Cuban revolution?

A

A communist government now in control only 145 miles from USA
Eisenhower banned all trade and political relationships with Cuba in 1961

51
Q

Describe the Bay of Pigs invasion

A

April 1961
1400 ex Cuban exiles invaded the Bay of Pigs
Aimed to remove Catro and communist government
Failed as they had little military knowledge
USA withdrew support
Castro prepared 20,000 Cuban soldiers prior to the attack

52
Q

What were the consequences of the bay of Pigs?

A

USA humiliated
Looked like the US wanted to invade
Increased popularity of communism
Khrushchev gave Cuba more weapons

53
Q

What caused the Cuban missle crisis?

A

1961 US spy planes photogragh launch pads in Cuba
CIA told Kennedy that Soviet ships were sailing to Cuba with missiles

54
Q

What were the consequences of what was found at the Cuba launch sites?

A

Missiles would be active in 2 weeks, US putting a lot of pressure on Kennedy

55
Q

Narrate the 13 days

A

16-18th Oct 1962
1)meeting on the 16th Oct, believed nuclear war would start
2)22nd Oct, Kennedy decided not to attack
3)Set up a naval blockade around Cuba called it a ‘quarantine’
4)Announced the plans on the TV
5)USA worried
6)Kennedy prepared 54 bombs incase
7)24th Oct, Soviet ships retreated
8)Telegram from Khrushchev, Soviets agreed to remove missiles from Cuba, if USA promised not to invade Cuba and remove missiles from Turkey

56
Q

What were the consequences of the Cuban misslile crisis?

A

War was avoided, Kennedy was loved in the US
A hotline was set up between Washington and Moscow
1953 Test ban treaty (stop testing nuclear weapons)
1967 Outer space treaty (not use nuclear weapons in space)
Khrushchev sacked 1964

57
Q

What was the state of Czechoslovakia?

A

Few goods, fuel, poor economy, no freedom of speech, poor standard of living, opposed Soviet control

58
Q

What was introduced to Czechoslovakia during this?

A

New leader called Dubcek who was aid to be, ‘socialism with a human face’
Wanted to stay in Warsaw pact but still improve living conditions

59
Q

What reforms did Dubcek make(Prague spring)?

A

1968 April
Less censorship
Trade unions allowed
Travel freedom
Government control of land and industry relaxed

60
Q

How did Brezhnev respond to Prague Spring?

A

Ordered his western troops to carry out military practice outside Czechoslovakia

61
Q

When did Warsaw troops invade Prague and what happened?

A

20th Aug 1968
500,000 troops invaded and stopped Prague spring
Dubcek arrested and replaced

62
Q

What were the consequences of the Prague spring?

A

Brezhnev doctrine 1968
If any communist country attempted freedom Warsaw troops would be sent in
USA made public protest, showed that the US wouldn’t actually act against USSR
Communist parties in France and Italy cut links with USSR

63
Q

Why did Detente happen?

A

American public against Vietnam war
Over 6000 soldier deaths
Inequality problems (Martin Luther King)
USSR poor living standards, nuclear weapons too expansive

64
Q

What and when was SALT 1?

A

May 1972
Anti ballistic missile treaty
Only allowed in 2 sides and of a max 100 missiles each
Restricted number of long range missiles allowed

65
Q

What were the consequences of SALT 1?

A

If there was war it is unlikely that either side would stick to SALT (still had nuclear weapons)
Showed peace
Reduced likelihood of war
Symbolic importance

66
Q

What and when was SALT 2?

A

June 1979
Further restriction limits on missiles and bombs

67
Q

What was the relationship between US and USSR like late 1970s and why?

A

Weak, lack of trust, increased communist support, political pressure

68
Q

What happened in Dec 1979 and what were the consequences?

A

Soviets invaded Afghanistan
Symbolised the end of detente
Carter refused to sign SALT 2

69
Q

Narrate the invasion of Afghanistan

A

1)Soviet Union worried that muslim fundamentalists (mujahedeed) in Afghanistan might attack USSR
2)Despite a government which support Soviets taking over Afghanistan in April 1978, in Sep 1979 muslim fundamentalists took over by force
3)24th Dec 1979 Soviets invaded, and assassinated the leader on the 27th
4)Soviet troops stayed in Afghanistan for nearly 10 years
1.5 billion Afghan casulties

70
Q

How did the US react to invasion of Afghanistan?

A

Carter claimed it was the biggest threat to world peace since WW2
Carter withdrew from SALT 2

71
Q

What were the consequences of the Afghanistan invasion?

A

Detente officially and definitely over
Reagan new president 1980
Boycotted 1980 olympics (in USSR)

72
Q

What did Ronald Reagan do and why?

A

Said the Soviets were an evil empire
Strategic defence initiative 1983:
US would place satellites in space, shoot down soviet missiles
Reagan told the world it was ready (a lie)

73
Q

What were the consequences of Reagan’s SDI?

A

Soviets now believed their nuclear missiles were pointless and realised how weak their economy was
US believed they’d win the arms race
Reagan increased spending on armed forces and weapons by 13%
US looked powerful

74
Q

Who was the new soviet leader in 1985 what problems did he face?

A

Gorbachev
Left with a huge debt
Standard of living was very poor
Lack of freedom of speech

75
Q

Why was the Soviet union weak 1985-6?

A

Brezhnev died in 1982
2 leaders after him died shortly after power
1986, nuclear explosion (embarrasising)

76
Q

Describe Gorbachev’s economic reform

A

1)Allowed business to make profit- people felt happier
2)Allowed opposition parties to run against communist government allowed media to be truthful
3)Withdrew troops from Afghanistan, Soviet/communism look weak
4)Spend less money on nuclear weapons- Soviets looked weak

77
Q

What were the consequences of Gorbachev reforms overall?

A

Tension and regression reduced

78
Q

When did the Berlin wall fall?

A

9th November 1989

79
Q

What were the consequences of the Berlin wall falling?

A

People reunited after 30 years
Huge symbolic event
Other Soviet states now felt confident to gain freedom

80
Q

How did the Soviet union collapse and the consequences?

A

Brezhnev doctrine was stopped
Warsaw pact ended 1990
Europe no longer divided, didn’t have to follow rules
No arms race, iron curtain ends
Gorbachev falls in 1991 due to hard strict communism