the cold war Flashcards

1
Q

superpower definition

A

country that has great military and political power making it able to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world as to attain global hegemony

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2
Q

the cold war definition

A

the conflict of ideologies between western capitalist powers (especially USA) and the USSR and other communist countries

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3
Q

proxy war definition

A

battle between ideologies fought using other countries

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4
Q

origins of tension between ussr and usa

A

-division of Germany after WW2
- mistrust between soviet union and the West in Bolshevik Rev. of 1917
-west concern w USSR over Hitler
-west worried w USSR being totalitarian regime

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5
Q

tension-mistrust between soviet union and the West in Bolshevik Rev. of 1917

A

-Western powers anxious abt threat of worker’s revolution spreading to other countries- threat to capitalism
-western powers helped white armies in russian civil war —>communist distrust of west

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6
Q

USSR

A

communist power
gov. exerted iron control over the lives of the people
totalitarian regime

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7
Q

tension- west concerned w ussr rather than hitler

A

-stalin feared the west was more concerned w the ussr than w hitler
-nazi germany and soviet union signed secret pact before ww2
-ussr joined hitler in invasion of poland
-hitler invaded ussr- west became allies - common enemy -improved relations
-soviet armies and US supplies - defeat of hitler
-after defeat of Germany alliance put under strain
-stalin suspected america wanted ussr to be weakened by germany

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8
Q

yalta conference

A

february 1945
roosevelt (usa) , churchhill( britain) and stalin (ussr) met at yalta in the crimea to plan a post war settlement

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9
Q

roosevelt’s agenda at yalta conference

A

wanted soviet support in the US pacific war against japan (specifically for the planned invasion of japan) and soviet participation in the UN

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10
Q

churchill agenda at yalta conference

A

wanted free elections and democratic governments in eastern and central europe (specifically poland)

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11
Q

ussr agenda for yalta conference

A

wanted soviet sphere of political influence in eastern and central europe (ussr national security strategy)
would keep polish territory it annexed in 1939 but promised to compensate poland w land from germany

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12
Q

results of yalta conference

A

germany would be divided into 4 zones of occupation us,uk,ussr and last minute france (from us + uk zones)
no agreement on how zones would be controlled
allied control council representing all 4 occupying powers in berlin
berlin despite being in soviet zone would also be divided in 4
not agreed how much germany would pay in reparations

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13
Q

points of tension in yalta conference

A

berlin becomes symbol o& cold war
elections
territory
reperations

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14
Q

potsdam conference

A

july 1945
potsdam in south of berlin
differences between ussr and other powers become more clear
roosevelt died-replaced by harry truman
churchhill lost -replaced by clement atlee

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15
Q

results of potsdam

A

occupation zones of germany finalised- each power would take reparations from its own zone
soviet zone very rural- to receive industrial equipment from 3 western zones (has to depend on others)
stalin declared war on japan and soviet troops invaded manchuria+korea

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16
Q

areas of disagreement w potsdam conference

A

-stalin wanted to cripple germany w repayments but Truman did not want to see a repeat of the treaty of versailles and sow seeds of future resentment which would be dangerous if germany recovered
- truman+churchill see that no democratic election would take place in poland, believed stalin set on communist expansion
-stalins mistrust of capitalist west confirmed by secrecy of atomic bomb

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17
Q

creation of spheres of interest

A

-red army liberated large parts of Europe from nazis + promoted+worked w local communists while imprisoning other party leaders
-installed soviet-friendly governments in satellite states- securing interests
-buffer zone -ussr protected from invasion w protective curtain of soviet friendly states

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18
Q

iron curtain speech

A

-made by winston churchhill in Fulton,Missouri 1946.
-intended to warn of creation of satellite states + “buffer zone” by soviets
-mobilise western governments
-discussed worlwide
-outraged stalin- viewed it as declaration of war

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19
Q

greek civil war

A

-german forces retreated from greece in 1944
-greek communists and monarchists fought each against each other for control of country
-britain tried to aid monarchists but exhausted from war
-greek communists had support from albania +yugoslavia
- Feb 1947 - britain informed US they could no longer afford to continue in greece- asked US to take over
- truman stepped in
-march 1947 - truman asks congress to approve aid for greece
-aid approved + communists where defeated in greece

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20
Q

what prompts the truman doctrine

A

greek civil war
communist threat in turkey
independence issues in iran
threat of domino theory

21
Q

communist threat in turkey

A

-soviets had made territorial claims on turkey in respect of land lost to russian empire at end of WW1
-turkey appealing for western help
-truman asked for congress for aid in mar 1947- approved
-ussr eventually abandoned its claims on turkey

22
Q

independence issues in iran

A

-ussr +britain jointly occupied iran to prevent it falling into german hands in WW2
-britain forces withdrew after war (as agreed) but soviet forces did not
-took pressure from britain and US to make soviets withdraw

23
Q

truman doctrine

A

-political move of policy of containment
-US presented as defensive-will “support free ppl who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities/outside pressure”
- would not seek to overthrow communist rule where it was established but instead to prevent the expansion of communism
-increased tensions between US + USSR

24
Q

reaction to truman doctrine

A

-communist information bureau (cominform)
-stalin unhappy- ** set up to coordinate actions of communist parties worldwide ** (politically aligned)
-september 1947
-published propaganda to encourage international communist solidarity
-members-all satellite states
-aim-tighten grip on satellites and make sure followed russian-style communism:
-eastern europe to be industrialised, collectivised + centralised
-trade primarily w cominform members (contact w non-communists discouraged)

25
Q

marshall plan

A

economic move of policy of containment
-aka European Recovery Program (ERP)
-aims: lessen attractiveness of communism ,rebuild war-devastated regions,remove trade barriers,modernise industry,make europe prosperous again,prevent spread of communism
-announced in June 1947 by US secretary of state general george marshall
-offered money,equipment and goods
-required states receiving aid to lessen interstate trading barriers + drop many regulations
-encouraged increase in productivity,labour union membership +adoption of modern business procedures
-offered to germany (would reduce soviet influence there)
-implemented in 1948

26
Q

reaction to marshall plan

A

-ussr saw marshall plan as bribery aimed at containing communism
-denounced it as US attempt to enslave weakened countries
- satellite states ordered not accept marshall aid
-molotov plan- COMECON - Council of Mutual Economic Assistance
-institutionalised in January 1949
-involved soviet subsidies trade w central and eastern europe
-aimed to create an economic alliance of socialist countries
-aid allowed countries not to rely on marshall aid +reorganise trade to ussr
-plan contradictory - gave aid to but also demanded reparations from countries who were members of axis powers that fought w the nazis

27
Q

result of marshall plan

A

-ended in 1953
-malnutrition disappeared from western europe +economies were recovering
-popularity of communist parties lessened
-recovering european countries provided market for US goods-increased national trade
-tension between ussr + US increased

28
Q

fate of germany + berlin crisis

A

-crisis in 1948 due to issue of german economy + status of berlin
-early US plans to dismantle german industry +abolish uni edu. to return country to agrarian stage- abandoned (would require death of many)
-1947- US decided that strong german economy was important for germans not to starve + for european economy-vital to marshall plan
-UK agreed, French reluctant , USSR opposed
-Britain + US united occupation zones under single economic system Bizonia -1947 - provided marshall aid to germany-planning on re-establishing gov
- german communists put in power in soviet zones+ given instructions by cominfirm to expand their influence in the west
-june 1948- French zone joined- became Trizone

29
Q

german economy

A

-June 1948 US implemented plan to restore economy of western zones by introducing new currency to replace worthless Reichmark
-opposed by USSR
-soviets opposed plans to distribute new Deutschmark in west
-useless Reichmarks flood into east -force soviets to accept deutschmark or introduce their own new currency
-cause of berlin blockade

30
Q

the berlin blockade

A
  • 1948 -1949
    -Deutschmark introduced in western berlin despite soviet objections
    -soviet occupation forces causing difficulties for western forces travelling to and from berlin
    -Potsdam agreement made no provisions for access from german+british zones to berlin- west relied on soviet goodwill
    -stalin argued that allied countril council was useless( no one had his back +other3 had abandoned occupation agreement) so therefore - other3 no longer had reason to remain in berlin
    -stalin demanded that western forces leave berlin
    -new currency introduced,road+rail access to berlin blocked for 11 more months
    -US general in Germany wanted to force convoy through to berlin+ fight soviet forces that tried to stop them BUT gov realised it would be an attack by US in soviet zone-did not want to be aggressors or start nuclear war
    -plan supply berlin by air as could only be stopped by attacking western aircraft- soviets the aggressors
    -soviets realsed airlift could supply berlin
    -blockade lifted may 1949
31
Q

results of berlin blockade

A

-unification of western zones- Federal Republic of Germany (FRG/West Germany) as a mostly sovereign state in may 1949
-soviet zone made independent as German Democratic Republic (GDR/East Germany) in October 1949
-success of airlift victory- for US + propaganda coup
-improved relations 2 Germans + other3-seen as protectors rather than occupiers
-NATO

32
Q

NATO

A

-north atlantic treaty organisation
military move of policy of containment
-US led defensive designed to protect western europe from soviet invasion
-“attack on one NATO country considered an attack on all”
-created in attempt to balance power - soviet forces in east larger than combined armies of western european + US support
-1955 - FRG established military forces- NATO needed manpower of West Germany
-soviets worried

33
Q

“reaction” to NATO

A

-initially soviets did not respond to NATO
-6 years later-created own military alliance in response to rearming of west germany
-Warsaw Pact
-alliance of communist satellite states of eastern europe including GDR
-led by USSR -had right to base troops in any member nation

34
Q

berlin as symbol of the war

A

-highlighted tensions between east +west
-soldiers came in contact daily
-showed diff between 2 economies -western economy recovered, east economy stagnated

35
Q

when did stalin die

A

1953

36
Q

Krushchev Ultimatum

A

-demanded west leave berlin
-workers in east on strike after gov. increased working hours for no increase in pay
-strikes for better conditions became protests for more political freedom+ end of communism
-demonstrators killed
-east berliners fled to west
-economy of GDR losing its youngest,best educated ppl (12% fled since 1949)
-embarrassing + threatened to destabilise GDR
-1958- Nikita Krushchev gave west powers 6 months to leave Berlin (ultimatum)
-tensions rose but west ignored deadline and nothing happened

37
Q

Berlin wall

A

-13 aug 1961
-east german police sealed off border between east+ west w roadblocks + barbed wire (too many fleeing, GDR could not sustain losses)
-next few months-wall w guard towers built
-buildings close to wall demolished
-minefields laid-if attempting to cross into west -shot
-symbol of communist oppression
-kept east berliners from leaving- stabilising GDR
- propaganda opportunity for capitalism
-stabilises cold war as no risk of physical war
-physically+ ideologically divided berlin
-symbol of oppression
-Kennedy accepted action + only verbally condemned it

38
Q

brinkmanship definition

A

the tactic of seeming to approach the verge of war in order to persuade one’s opposition to retreat

39
Q

cuba background

A

-small island 150km of USA

-spanish colony until defeated by USA - made nominally independent in 1898
-agricultural economy (tobacco,sugar,fruit)
-most land owned by small group of wealthy landowners
-most population- poor peasants
- half of economy dependent on US -big companies and much industry american owned (freed but not free-don’t like americans)
-US controlled naval base at Guantanamo Bay
-US dependency

40
Q

Colonel Fulgencio Batista

A

-reforming president from 1933
-lost elections in 1944
-seized power by force in 1953 + ruled as dictator
-no regard for the poor (majority of pop.)
-had links to organised crime in the US
- pro capitalism- used by US

41
Q

Fidel Castro

A

-young lawyer
-led movement to overthrow Batista in early 1950s- failed
-jailed for 2 years
-after leaving prison-went to mexico to form new army
- met Ernesto “Che” Guevara who joined him
- returned to Cuba in 1956 on boat “Granma” w 82 men w intention of starting a guerilla war
-gov forces attacked but castro’s movement supported by peasants (majority) and grew
-by 1959 castro’s movement able to seize power in cuba
- began reforms : literacy campaign, agrarian reform to seize land + redistribute to peasants(nationalised land owned by US corporations, attempts to improve education +healthcare
-declared himself not a communist- did things that bred mistrust: executed batista supporters after public trials,censored press
- led to US sanctions (oil) - “punishing cuba”
-feb 1960 cuba +ussr begin trading
-cuba supplied by

42
Q

ernesto “che” guevara

A
  • young argentinian doctor
    -opposed to capitalism
    joined Castro’s movement
43
Q

cuba + ussr+us relationship

A

-feb 1960 cuba +ussr begin trading
-cuba supplied cheap crude oil by ussr
-us refineries refused to process it- castro nationalised them
- US refused to purchase cuban sugar or sell anything (except meds) to cuba
-castro seized all US property in cuba
-cuba turned to ussr for help+ ussr bought cubas entire sugar harvest + supplied cuba w arms
-cuba swapped dependency on usa for reliance on ussr
-US began planning overthrow of castro

44
Q

agrarian reform act

A

-may 1959
-seizes foreign owned land
-if owned over 1k acres- was seized + distributed
-problem- most land in cuba owned by americans or linked to US

45
Q

bay of pigs invasion

A

-CIA recruited+ trained cuban exiles (fled/chased by castros reforms) for an invasion to be launched from Nicaragua
-force supplied by america w aircrafts +ships
-US pretended to have no involvement in plan
- intelligence services from cuba, ussr +other countries aware of plan and US involvement (coup not a suprise)
invasion launched april 1961
- cubans did not rise to support it (as invaders had hoped)
- defeated in 4 days

46
Q

result of bay of pigs invasion

A
  • evidence that US imperialism in Latin America could be defeated
    -castro sought military+economic assistance from ussr (feared full US invasion)
  • castro declared himself communist end of 1961
  • castro felt cuba would be safer if soviet troops were based in country, Krushchev agreed ( soviets now have control over cuba)
  • ussr worried US had more + longer range nuclear weapons + in Europe right by USSR border
    -cuba gave krushchev solution-offset gap in nuclear capabilities + put weapons w/in easy reach of targets in US (cuba only 150km south of US)
    -krushchev convinced castro (scared of making cuba target for US weapons)
    -USSR deployed missiles + military aid in cuba
    -for plan to work-crucial that USA didnt find out until weapons installed +operational
47
Q

missile crisis- 14 days in october

A
  • september 1962 soviet engineers building launch sites
    -ussr denied placement of weapons in cuba - US suspected otherwise + publicly warned ussr

brinkmanship

48
Q

aftermath of missile crisis

A

-kennedy appeared as victor (deal to remove missiles was secret from public)
-kruschev seen as weak- he “backed down” , lost favour- forced into retirement
- hotline set up which allowed direct communication between washington + moscow (help defuse similar situations)

-1963- nuclear test ban treaty ended testing of nuclear weapons except underground

—**soured relations between ussr+cuba-
cuba continued to be protected from invasion, castro felt betrayed by krushchev- was not consulted abt removal of missiles

-brinkmanship brought world close to nuclear war - both sides took risks that might have resulted in war- but clear that neither side wanted it
-crisis moves US + USSR to thaw in relations by 1970s