superpowers 1

Question 1

Explain two consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979)

Answer 1

The Carter Doctrine - Jan 1980
USA - prepared to use force to stop any country from gaining control over Afghanistan. Carter implemented doctrine by boycotting Moscow Olympic Games - followed by 61 other countries (embarrassed USSR - < tension)

SALT 2 was not ratified by US senate. Although agreed in Vienna 1979, Carter changed his mind. < spending on arms. Important - ended detente

Question 2

Explain two consequences of the Truman Doctrine

Answer 2

Increased tension between east and west. March 1947 - Truman issued statement: communism = danger, other countries need to help defeat it, containment = key priority. communism: aggressive, anti-democratic, poisoning europe ; capitalism: superior

Marshall Plan - US promised to invest $17b into economy of eastern european countries at risk of succumbing to communism. Stalin dubbed ‘dollar imperialism’ - US using money to win allegiance. 1949 - Comecon established to level playing field

Question 3

Explain two consequences of Ronald Reagan’s policies as president from 1981

Answer 3

Reagan - developing new weapons that USSR could not match (new stealth bombers and nuclear Trident submarines, SDI). Soviets realised they could not compete with American advances in computer technology - contributed to Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’

Question 4

Explain two consequences of the Marshall Plan

Answer 4

1949 - Comecon established to level playing field - US promised to invest $17b into economy of eastern european countries at risk of succumbing to communism. Stalin dubbed ‘dollar imperialism’ - US using money to win allegiance.

division between the east and west as only western-aligned nations recieved aid, with none going to satellite states. expressing the economic separation of the east and west

Question 5

Explain two consequences of the ‘Prague Spring’ (1968)

Answer 5

26 September 1968 Soviet newspaper Pravda published Brezhnev Doctrine - any country that took actions against interests of communism would be stopped by all other communist countries - liberal reforms were banned.

USA and other Western countries - outraged, made formal protests through the UN - were vetoed by the USSR. Soviets saw that USA would not take direct action due to fighting war in Vietnam at same time and adopting policy of detente with USSR.

Question 6

Explain two consequences of the Helsinki Accords (1975)

Answer 6

1. acceptance of borders in europe, including east and west germany
2. improved international co-operation, as seen through a joint space mission

Question 7

Explain two consequences of the Long and Novikov telegrams (1946)

Answer 7

Increased tension - stated that USA and USSR could not co-exist peacefully (ideological differences) Long - believed Stalin wanted to destroy capitalism, expand communism but would back down if faced with strong resistance. USA responded - policy of containment in Truman Doctrine and helping countries (greece, turkey) resist communism - Marshall Plan and NATO

Stalin realising USA - aiming to gain domination through military power. Responded with Cominform 1947 and Comecon 1949. Created buffer zone in eastern europe to prevent attacks, described Marshall Plan as ‘dollar imperialism’ to establish American economic empire, divide europe.

Question 8

Explain two consequences of the Potsdam Conference (1945)

Answer 8

1. led to division between east and west, with the partition of germany and berlin into 4
2. created tension through differing attitudes towards recovery of germany

Question 9

Explain two consequences of the creation of Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe from 1944

Answer 9

1. The Long and Novikov telegrams, which increased tension even further 2.Truman decided to state the USA’s case for the containment of communism through the Truman Doctrine, which used Marshall Aid as a way to deter other countries adopting communism.

Question 10

Explain two consequences of the formation of NATO (1949)

Answer 10

intensified division - two opposing ideological blocs. NATO perceived as direct counter to Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. Foreign Minister Vyshinsky’s: “war alliance against Soviet Union.”

Security Assurance & Deterrence: provided members with security & collective defense against potential Soviet aggression. Article 5 of NATO treaty: attack on one considered attack on all - deterred potential Soviet military actions. Early 1950s NATO established integrated military command & appointed General Dwight D. Eisenhower as first Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Question 11

Explain two consequences of the summit meetings between the USA and USSR from 1985 to 1989

Answer 11

Reduction of Nuclear Arms & De-escalation of Tension: agreements on nuclear arms reduction: signing of INF Treaty 1987 - eliminated entire class of nuclear missiles. Personal rapport between Reagan and Gorbachev played a crucial role in breaking stalemate & advancing arms control measures.

Acceleration of End of Cold War: thaw in US-Soviet relations, agreements reached helped build trust for further cooperation. Gorbachev’s policies glasnost & perestroika partly influenced by positive engagements & economic / political pressures during summits. Improved relationship encouraged political reforms in USSR leading to eventual dissolution 1991

Question 12

Explain two consequences of the death of Stalin (1953)

Answer 12

Economic Reforms and Changes in Domestic Policy: Khrushchev initiated significant changes in domestic policy: introduced reforms (improving agricultural productivity / decentralising economic management e.g Virgin Lands Campaign - boost agricultural output by bringing previously uncultivated land into production). move away from highly centralised & oppressive economic policies. attempt to improve living standards by increasing production of consumer goods & investing in housing / social services.

De-Stalinisation and Liberalisation of Society: critical reassessment of Stalin’s legacy: Khrushchev’s “Secret Speech” at 20th Party Congress 1956 - denounced Stalin’s cult of personality & brutal purges. led to release of millions of political prisoners from gulags, reduction in censorship, liberalisation of cultural / intellectual life in USSR (limited but notable increase in freedom of expression)

Question 13

Explain two consequences of the US-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics

Answer 13

Strained US-Soviet relations. protest Soviet military intervention & pressure USSR to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. participation of 65 nations, including US allies Canada, West Germany, Israel; did not achieve primary political goal; USSR remained in Afghanistan until 1989. Instead, it worsened tensions, leading to Soviet-led boycott of 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as retaliatory measure​, deepening divide.

Economic repercussions for USSR: reduced participation & attendance = lower revenue from tourism (expected 300,000 foreign visitors : only 70,000), broadcasting rights, merchandise. Soviet gov. invested heavily ($9 billion) - anticipated substantial economic benefits & boost to international prestige. boycott led to financial losses.

Question 14

Explain two consequences of the Yalta Conference (1945)

Answer 14

1. laid the foundations for the division of Germany and the paying of reparations, possibly creating tension as USSR was set to receive the largest sums
2. created tension as nations could not agree upon the meaning of free elections in Poland

Question 15

Explain two consequences of the refugee problem in Berlin

Answer 15

1. Issuing of the Berlin ultimatum which saw Khrushchev making demands for the west to leave the city
2. four failed summits led to the creation of the berlin wall

Question 16

Explain two consequences of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident (1961)

Answer 16

President Kennedy - weak and inexperienced in front of the world. Planes were US air force hastily disguised to look normal but easily identified, linking plot to US gov.

Drove Castro into arms of Khrushchev, made it certain Castro would allow Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuban soil to deter another US attack. Castro requested substantial aid (he thought an American invasion was imminent). USSR sent 20,000 personnel,140 surface to air missiles.

Question 17

Explain two consequences of the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech (1946)

Answer 17

Shocked lots of ordinary civilians in west - still saw Stalin and USSR as allies from WWII. Started cold war in minds of western countries. In USSR, it led to intensification of anti-Western propaganda, led USSR to strengthen forces. Intensified growing hostility between East & West.

Question 18

Explain two consequences of the formation of West Germany (1949)

Answer 18

increased tension: formation of Warsaw Pact in 1955 by USSR & Eastern European allies, including GDR (response to integration of West Germany into NATO). clear East-West divide in Europe - two German states aligned with opposing military alliances.

widened economic disparities between East & West Germany. internal migration & brain drain from GDR to FRG. economic policies in West Germany (+ Marshall Plan) = rapid industrialisation & prosperity; GDR lagged behind. 2.7 million East Germans to West between 1949 & 1961 (better opportunities / personal freedoms).

Question 19

Explain two consequences of the Vienna Conference, 1961

Answer 19

Heightened tensions & escalated arms race. Both leaders left without pursuing further cooperation or ‘peaceful co-existence’. unresolved situation in Berlin forced both to take extreme measures.
Khrushchev’s aggressive stance & ultimatum on Berlin = Kennedy increased US armed forces budget to $2 billion (considering US military to confront USSR over Berlin).
both nations accelerated nuclear weapons programs / military spending to deter each other & maintain strategic dominance.

berlin wall construction. leaders couldn’t compromise; kennedy didn’t want to seem weak. growing refugee crisis (East Germans fled to West).
leaders could not come to agreement Khrushchev took unilateral action by constructing wall to stop migration & solidify separation of two Berlins. August 13 1961 construction started: barbed wire + guards.

Question 20

Explain two consequences of the Hungarian Uprising (1956)

Answer 20

Strict soviet control reestablished - USSR killed 20,000 Hungarians and 150,00 others fled. Nagy replaced by Janos Kadar - set example for other states.

America looked weaker than Khrushchev. Did not offer direct help to Hungarians (except food/medical aid) - seemed less strong than communist gov. so Khurshchev gained power and confidence.

Question 21

Explain two consequences of the 1948 Berlin Crisis

Answer 21

Grand Alliance had completely broken down. Stalin called off blockade 12th May 1949 when he realised allies would not give in. Blockade demonstrated a complete breakdown of war time alliance and west realised Stalin would not keep promises made at Potsdam.

1949 - western powers formed NATO (defensive military alliance) against attack from the East. September 1949 West Germany became independent state: Federal Republic of Germany. October 1949 East Germany became German Democratic Republic. Any hope of united Germany ended.

Question 22

Explain two consequences of the formation of Cominform and Comecon

Answer 22

Politically this meant east/west rivalry was heightened – Stalin ensured no economic trade with west; Cominform ensured political control. This spilled over in 1948/9 in Berlin Crisis.

Economically, east were weakened – did not benefit from injection of aid from USA; were weakened by Soviet control and their need to specialise markets - led to shortages and poorer standard of living west and lack of political freedom.

Question 23

Explain two consequences of the building of the Berlin Wall from 1961

Answer 23

Wall made USSR look weak. Krushchev abandoned plans to unite Germany under Soviet control and wall showed that Soviet Union had to ‘lock’ people into East Germany to stop them leaving (seemed to prefer capitalism) - 1958, 3m East Germans crossed to West

Wall became symbol of freedom/ defiance against communism. JFK = positive rep when he visited Berlin 1963. Made famous speech “Ich bin ein Berliner” to show solidarity with West Berlin. Positive effect on international relations: made ‘hot’ conflict over Berlin less likely. JFK: wall better than war.

Question 24

Explain two consequences of SALT 1 (1972)

Answer 24

reducing tensions of nuclear arms race: agreement (Nixon & Brezhnev) included Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (limited each country to two ABM sites, later one - slowed development of missile defense systems)
& Interim Agreement (froze no. of ICBMs & SLBMs at existing levels for five years - capped no. of nuclear weapons each side could deploy).
slowed arms race & reduced immediate threat of nuclear confrontation.

domestic political impact in US: improved Nixon’s foreign policy image - successful negotiation of the agreement enhanced political standing.
perception of reduced nuclear tensions & successful diplomacy increased public confidence in gov’s ability to manage international relations.
positive reception of SALT I bolstered Nixon’s political capital & influenced future administrations to prioritise arms control efforts.

Question 25

Explain two consequences of the summit meetings over Berlin from 1959-61

Answer 25

Improved Relations & Failed Resolutions: four separate summits to discuss governance of Berlin, supporting peaceful coexistence.
Geneva Summit May 1959: Eisenhower & Khrushchev’s relationship improved; couldn’t agree on a resolution to Khrushchev’s ultimatum (West recognise GDR as independent country of USSR). Camp David Summit September 1959: further improved relations, both agreed to further talks in Paris.

Worsening Relations & Increased Tensions:
Paris Summit 1960: 1st May (before meeting), USSR shot down American U-2 spy-plane over Russia. Khrushchev demanded apology for espionage; Eisenhower refused. Khrushchev walked out of meeting (believed USA didn’t respect USSR), no resolution on Berlin reached. worsened relations- USSR = less willing to negotiate.
Vienna Summit June 1961: Khrushchev restated ultimatum; Kennedy refused, tensions escalated. In response to summit’s failure, Kennedy increased US military spending ($2 billion) & Khrushchev constructed wall.