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The Cold War Flashcards

1
Q

After WW2 what problem was there?

A

USA and USSR’s common enemy gone
So they grew suspicious of each other causing many problems

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2
Q

What reasons were there for tensions between USA and USSR?

A

Fear of communism
Soviet expansion
Mistrust of Stalin
Disagreements in peace conferences

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3
Q

Why did western governments fear communism?

A

It promised working classes more power and take over production
Didn’t protect their wealth

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4
Q

Why did the west fear Soviet expansion?

A

After freeing east Europe from Nazis, the Soviet Union took them over
Made western countries scared it would have ripple effect and more would fall

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5
Q

Why did the west mistrust Stalin?

A

Because it was believed he wanted to expand to all of Europe

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6
Q

How did peace conferences cause tensions?

A

Disagreements on how to deal with Germany
USSR = punish them
West = not repeat Versailles
Agree to divide Germany

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7
Q

Yalta conference

A

Agree to divide Germany into 4 sections

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8
Q

Postdam conference

A

Each section would be controlled by one of the allies
USSR receive most reparations for having most casualties

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9
Q

Eventually agreement of Yalta and Postdam conference

A

Divide
Democratise
Demilitarise
De Nazify
Germany

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10
Q

The Truman doctrine

A

Giving money to other countries so they wouldn’t fall to communism as they had less incentive with a stringer economy

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11
Q

What did Truman say in his speeches before the doctrine?

A

Communism was dangerous and had to be contained
US would give money to European countries to stop fall to communism
Communism same as having slaves

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12
Q

Consequences of Truman doctrine for USA

A

Ended period of isolationism = involved with stopping communism spread in other countries
Provided money to Europe in Marshall plan

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13
Q

Consequences of Truman doctrine for USSR

A

Greek government could defeat them and didn’t fall to communism
Cominform set up to coordinate information across soviet union

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14
Q

Containment policy

A

Idea of containing communism to the Soviet Union and not letting it spread to other countries
Domino theory = if other countries fall the ones around it will

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15
Q

Marshall plan

A

After Truman doctrine
Designed to give weaker European countries financial aid so they would invest in US companies and not join USSR

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16
Q

Why adopt the Marshall plan?

A

Because many economies were weaker after the war
And Truman’s belief of domino effect that this will increase spread of communism
And he supported containing this

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17
Q

Division of all of Germany

A

North west = Britain
South west = France
North east = USSR
South east = USA

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18
Q

Division of just Berlin

A

East = occupied by USSR
West = occupied by USA, France and Britain

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19
Q

Why did West Berlin receive a lot of financial aid?

A

Because it was surrounded by USSR occupied north east Germany
Increased chance of falling to communism

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20
Q

What did allies decide to make the west of Germany into?

A

United all parts occupied by allies
Into German federal republic
With its own currency

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21
Q

How did USSR respond to the new unified west Germany?

A

Because Berlin was in ussr occupied east Berlin
Create a blockade so supplies couldn’t enter West Berlin by railway, canal or road

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22
Q

Why did USSR see allies creating a unified west Germany as a threat?

A

Because they were attempting to stop communist influence together
And more people in Berlin preferred the capitalist life in West Berlin

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23
Q

Why did Stalin create the blockade?

A

More people migrating to west over boarder
So made life worse there to stop that happening

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24
Q

How did the allies respond to Stalin’s blockade?

A

Airlifted supplies into Berlin instead
Which he began shooting down

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25
What stopped the blockade?
It could result in war which USSR was too weak for So called off
26
Consequences of the Berlin blockade?
Creation of NATO and Warsaw Pact Increased rivalries between them More refugees from east to west berlin
27
NATO
Between Western Europe and USA So if one country attacked they would all help To protect all against USSR
28
Warsaw Pact
8 USSR countries to rival NATO because Stalin said it was in self defence as NATO was set up against them
29
What did Kruschev do?
Build a wall between west and east Berlin To prevent those in the east fleeing away from soviet oppression
30
Consequences of the Berlin Wall construction
18 hour stand off beteeen USA and USSR USA eventually backed down
31
Cuba revolution
Fidel Castro overthrew Batista (whom USA supported) They removed all US businesses So USA stopped buying sugar Which USSR then bought instead
32
Bay of Pigs invasion
Cuban exiles backed by USA attempted to oppose Fidel Castro but failed
33
Consequences of Bay of pigs invasion and Cuba revolution
Cuba and USSR pushed closer together So USSR installed ballistic missiles on Cuba near USA
34
What did US spy planes see in Cuba military bases?
Ballistic missiles launch sites which had enough range to hit USA Major security risk
35
Solution to Cuban missile crisis: Hawks
Aggressive solution
36
Solution to Cuban missiles crisis: Doves
Peaceful solution
37
How did JFK respond to discovery of Cuban missiles?
Made a naval blockade to prevent missiles reaching Cuba on ships Had ships searched for weapons Broadcasted info to public
38
How did Kruschev respond to the naval blockade?
Said they would find a way through the blockade And use nuclear weapons if necessary
39
Eventual deal with Cuba, USA and USSR to stop the crisis
USSR would remove missiles from Cuba if USA didn’t invade it and withdrew missiles in Turkey JFK’s brother and Kruschev agreed but was secret in Turkey
40
Consequences of Cuban missile crisis
Perception USSR backed down Oneupmanship = pushing each other to brink of war USA retreat as realised aggressive approach = dangerous ‘Partial test ban’ stop testing nuclear weapons Hotline between USSR + USA for better communication
41
How important was the Cuban missile crisis?
It caused a lot of fear so people wanted peaceful solution As Marshall plan to stop communism was too dangerous
42
Events in Vietnam that caused the war
North Vietnam was communist lead by Ho Chi Minh South wasn’t and lead by unpopular leader that USA supported Takeover so USA employed to prevent south falling to communism
43
Reasons for USA involving itself with Vietnam
Contain communism Defend democracy Extend US influence/ imperialism
44
USA aim with Vietnam: contain communism
Domino theory = if all of Vietnam joins USSR South East Asia will too See it as necessary because increase of Vietcong increases chance of all of Vietnam falling
45
USA aim with Vietnam: defend democracy
Ho Chi Minh = dictator who caused terror campaigns But were hypocritical as they corrupted elections in Vietnam and trapped civilians in villages
46
USA aim with Vietnam: extend influence
Saw it important to keep capitalist countries with same values to trade
47
USA tactics
Operation rolling thunder Chemical warfare Search and destroy
48
Operation rolling thunder
US bombing campaign to destroy Vietcong supply routes Ineffective: north Vietnam got more support from China and didn’t stop supply routes
49
Chemical warfare
Agent orange weed killer destroyed jungle to find hiding Vietcong Napalm used on villagers that caused burns
50
Search and destroy
‘Zippo raids’ = burn down thatched villages to search for hiding Vietcong
51
Strategic hamlet policy
Moving villagers in the south and forgiving them to relocate to defended strategic hamlets To stop them helping Vietcong
52
Reasons for USA defeat in vietnam
Troops young + inexperienced Opposition at home Ineffective strategies for jungle fighting (more conventional and high tech) Guerrilla methods by Vietcong and opposition better suited North had USSR support
53
American troops cause for defeat in Vietnam
Too young + inexperienced Didn’t understand why or care to fight = low morale Fear of guerrilla traps Caused high brutality = masacres Many young men dying caused opposition at home
54
Opposition at home cause for defeat in Vietnam
Many young men dying People saw televised atrocities of chemical warfare + massacres President Johnson became unpopular, voted in Nixon who stopped it
55
Ineffective war strategies cause for defeat in vietnam
USA used high tech conventional tactics Not effective in jungle, unlike guerrilla methods used by Vietcong and the north USA with no effective response = stronger Vietcong
56
Effects of Vietnam war
Economic = inflation, using taxpayers money Popularity = new president Propaganda = ruined reputation Communism = more in SE Asia Detente Doctrine = less willing for future wars
57
Effects of Vietnam war: economy and treasury
War was expensive and a main contributor to rising inflation Taxpayer resentment who was funding it Treasury said it could not carry on
58
Effect of Vietnam war: popularity with presidents
Johnson = very unpopular Didn’t try re election Nixon = voted in who said would stop it
59
Effects of Vietnam war: USA’s propaganda
Lessened their influence in world’s affairs Damaged reputation due to war crimes Damaged their defence of capitalism
60
Effects of Vietnam war: Communism
The USA’s military couldn’t stop communism spread Had advanced the domino effect in south east Asia
61
Effects of Vietnam war: detente
Realisation that Cold War needed different diplomatic strategies Nixon visited China for closer relations
62
Effects of Vietnam war: doctrine
USA wanted allies to take care of their own defence Became less willing to involve itself with war

History (36 decks)

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