the cold war

Question 1

What event in 1959 led to the rise of Fidel Castro in Cuba?

Answer 1

Fidel Castro and Che Guevara toppled the pro-American government in Cuba.

Question 2

What was the consequence of the US boycotting Cuban sugar?

Answer 2

Castro sold sugar to Khrushchev and received arms from the USSR.

Question 3

What was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 3

A CIA-trained attempt by Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro that failed.

Question 4

What was a major reason for the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 4

The USA backed out of air support and the Cuban army was superior to the exiles.

Question 5

What action did Khrushchev take in response to the US threat?

Answer 5

Sent nuclear missiles to Cuba.

Question 6

How did the USA discover the Soviet missiles in Cuba?

Answer 6

Through reconnaissance and intelligence efforts in 1962.

Question 7

What was President Kennedy’s response to the discovery of missiles in Cuba?

Answer 7

Decided to blockade Cuba to stop missiles from arriving.

Question 8

What did Khrushchev propose in his first telegram to Kennedy?

Answer 8

He would remove missiles from Cuba if the USA would not invade.

Question 9

What additional demand did Khrushchev make in his second telegram?

Answer 9

He wanted US missiles removed from Turkey.

Question 10

How did Kennedy respond to Khrushchev’s first telegram?

Answer 10

Publicly.

Question 11

How did Kennedy respond to Khrushchev’s second telegram?

Answer 11

Secretly.

Question 12

What effect did Kennedy’s handling of the crisis have on his reputation?

Answer 12

Increased his reputation as a strong leader.

Question 13

What was a possible consequence for Khrushchev after the crisis?

Answer 13

He was dismissed as leader of the USSR in 1954.

Question 14

What was the Grand Alliance in WW2?

Answer 14

Alliance of USA, USSR, Britain, and France to defeat Nazi Germany

Met at Tehran (1943) and Yalta (1945) to strategize post-war Europe.

Question 15

What was agreed upon at the Potsdam Conference in 1945?

Answer 15

De-nazification of Germany and division into 4 zones

Each zone was shared between the USA, USSR, Britain, and France.

Question 16

What did the Long and Novikov Telegrams report in 1946?

Answer 16

Fears of military build-up by the opposing country

Both telegrams reflected increasing tensions between the USA and USSR.

Question 17

What was the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 17

A declaration that communism was a threat to freedom, justifying military and economic intervention by the USA

Announced in 1947 by President Truman.

Question 18

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

Answer 18

To provide $13 billion in aid to Europe to prevent poverty leading to communism

It upset the USSR, which viewed it as a bribe for satellite states.

Question 19

What did Churchill mean by the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in 1947?

Answer 19

Europe was divided into two spheres: East (communist) and West (democratic)

Highlighted the ideological divide in post-war Europe.

Question 20

What was Cominform?

Answer 20

A Soviet initiative to unite all communist parties from satellite states

Established in response to the Marshall Plan.

Question 21

What triggered the Berlin Blockade (1947-1948)?

Answer 21

USSR’s concerns over the Western allies’ plans to unite West Germany

Resulted in blocked access to West Berlin, leading to a US airlift.

Question 22

What was the outcome of the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 22

The USSR backed down after the US airlifted supplies for 11 months

Shooting down planes would have been an act of war.

Question 23

What were the two German states established after the blockade?

Answer 23

FRG (Federal Republic of Germany) in the West and GDR (German Democratic Republic) in the East

Berlin also became officially split.

Question 24

What was NATO?

Answer 24

A military alliance of the USA and Western European countries against the USSR

Established in response to the perceived threat of communism.

Question 25

What was the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 25

A military alliance created by the USSR and its satellite states in Eastern Europe

Formed in response to NATO.

Question 26

What sparked the Hungarian Uprising in 1956?

Answer 26

Khrushchev’s Secret Speech criticizing Stalin’s policies

Imre Nagy sought to withdraw Hungary from the Warsaw Pact.

Question 27

What was the result of the Hungarian Uprising?

Answer 27

Soviet troops intervened, executing Nagy and undoing reforms

The West did not provide assistance despite earlier promises.

Question 28

What was the Berlin Ultimatum issued by Khrushchev in 1958?

Answer 28

Demand for the West to recognize East Berlin as independent and demilitarize Berlin

Aimed to stop the exodus of East Germans to the West.

Question 29

What was the outcome of the Camp David Summit in 1959?

Answer 29

Eisenhower and Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the Berlin Ultimatum

A rare moment of diplomacy during Cold War tensions.

Question 30

What incident occurred at the Paris Summit in 1960?

Answer 30

The USSR shot down a US U2 spy plane

This led to Khrushchev walking out of the meeting.

Question 31

What occurred at the Vienna Summit in 1961?

Answer 31

Khrushchev reissued the Berlin Ultimatum, which Kennedy refused

This resulted in no agreements being reached.

Question 32

What led to the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961?

Answer 32

East German leader Ulbricht ordered a barbed wire fence to stop refugees

The wall eventually grew to 165 km with heavy fortifications.

Question 33

What was the significance of the Berlin Wall?

Answer 33

Symbolized the division of East and West and control of communism in the East

It also became a symbol of freedom and defiance against communism.

Question 34

What was the outcome of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989?

Answer 34

East Germany opened its border, leading to mass crossings and reunification of Germany

Officially reunited in 1990.