The Cold War, 1945-c.1975 Flashcards
1
Q
why did the USA-USSR alliance begin to break down in 1945?
A
- ACTIONS OF THE USSR (pushing limits of sphere of influence, setting up communist parties in Poland, disagreements about Germany)
- ACTIONS OF USA (threatening Stalin with atomic bomb, Truman doctrine, Marshall plan)
- PERSONALITY CLASHES (Truman wanted to wipe out communism, Stalin very pro-communist)
- MISUNDERSTANDINGS (we don’t really know Truman’s intentions over atomic bomb/ Stalin’s sphere of influence)
- INEVITABLE (USA AND USSR wanted different things, common enemy Hitler had been defeated)
2
Q
what did Stalin want at the Yalta conference?
A
- security from German attack
- Eastern Europe to become a soviet ‘sphere of influence’
3
Q
what did Roosevelt want at the Yalta conference?
A
- the USSR to join the war against Japan
- the USSR to join the United Nations
4
Q
what did Churchill want at the Yalta conference?
A
- democratic elections in freed countries
- the USSR to join the UN
5
Q
what were the agreements from the Yalta conference?
A
- the USSR joined the Japanese war
- Nazi war criminals were tracked down and made to pay for their crimes
- Germany was divided into 4 zones (USSR, USA, British and French)
- freed countries were allowed to choose their government in free elections
- the USSR could have a sphere of influence to protect from German attacks.
6
Q
what were the disagreements from the Yalta conference?
A
- Stalin wanted Poland’s borders to be changed (USSR boarder westwards into Poland, and Poland westwards into Germany.
- Churchill and Roosevelt both disapproved but agreed as long as Stalin promised not to interfere in Greece, where the British were trying to prevent a communist takeover.
7
Q
overall was the Yalta conference a success or failure?
A
SUCCESS!!
8
Q
why was the situation at Potsdam different to Yalta? (July-august 1945)
A
- the war was almost over
- the USSR now controlled most of Eastern Europe, with a communist government in Poland (which Polish dislike)
- USA had a new president, Harry Truman, who was more suspicious of communism
- Britain had a new Prime Minister, Clement Attlee
- the USA had tested an atomic bomb (which Truman directly told Stalin about)
9
Q
who was in the best position at Potsdam?
A
Stalin, as he controlled most of eastern Europe.
10
Q
who was in the weakest position at Potsdam?
A
Attlee, as Britain gained nothing after Yalta, and were not a superpower like USA or USSR
11
Q
what were the agreements from the Potsdam conference?
A
- new boundaries for Poland
- prosecute Nazi war criminals
- German reparations paid “in kind” = whole factories were transported to USSR
12
Q
what were the disagreements from the Potsdam conference?
A
- Germany: USSR wanted to cripple Germany but Truman didn’t want to repeat the Treaty of Versailles
- Reparations: Stalin wanted compensation from Germany, Truman disagreed
- Eastern Europe: Truman was concerned by Stalin’s intentions and developed a “get-tough” attitude
- atomic bomb: Truman told Stalin about the atomic bomb which could be taken as a threat.
13
Q
overall was the Potsdam conference a success or failure?
A
FAILURE :( - there were more disagreements than agreements.
14
Q
How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948?
A
- Stalin pushed the limits of his “sphere of influence”
- he banned all other political parties and took power over Czechoslovakia
- he set up a communist government in Poland
- he arrested independently minded politictians
15
Q
which countries were behind the iron curtain?
A
- east Germany (red army controlled)
- Poland (outright leaders in 1947)
- Hungary
- romanina
- Bulgaria
- albania
- Czechoslovakia
- Yugoslavia (communist but not by Stalin)
16
Q
what is Cominform?
A
an organisation set up by Stalin in 1947 to control the communist governments he set up
17
Q
what was the iron curtain?
A
- in Churchill’s tour of America, he gave a speech about the USSR’s iron curtain
- he used the metaphor of an “iron curtain” to describe how the USSR had SEPARATED THE Eastern European COUNTRIES FROM THE WEST and how no one really knew what was going on behind this impenetrable “curtain”
- many say this speech marked the start of the Cold War
18
Q
what was the Truman doctrine?
A
- Truman was reluctant to get involved in European problems. However, he didn’t want Stalin taking over.
- in March 1947, Truman announced he would provide money, equipment and advice to ANY COUNTRY THREATENED BY COMMUNISM
- this was the beginning of the containment policy
19
Q
what was containment?
A
trying to stop the spread of communism
20
Q
why was Marshall aid introduced?
A
- Truman sent an army general, George Marshall to assess the situation in Europe
- he concluded that an aid program of $17 billion was needed to rebuild Europe
- at first, congress was reluctant, but when JAn Masaryk was killed and communists banned all other political parties in Czechoslovakia, US congressmen changed their minds and approved $13 billion of the plan in 1948
21
Q
when was Marshall Aid introduced and how much?
A
1948, $13 billion
22
Q
how was Marshall Aid seen as generous?
A
- offered money even to the USA’s enemies, like the USSR
- a lot of money to give away!
23
Q
how was Marshall Aid seen as selfish?
A
- it developed allies for war
- it prevented the spread of communism
- it prevented another depression which would harm US economy
- it opened new trade markets
24
Q
overall was Marshall Aid a success or failure?
A
SUCCESS!! Europe more than recovery and no countries became communist.
25
what was the Berlin blockade?
road and rail blocked by USSR in June 1948. When stein blocked supply lines, the western powers couldn't reach their zones out of Berlin for resources like food, fuel, oil.
26
why did the USSR blockade Berlin?
- Stalin felt he had to show western leaders that he would fight back if they encroached on Soviet Sphere of Influence
- Stalin expected Truman to withdraw from Berlin, which would give the USSR control and a propaganda victory.
27
what happened with the Berlin airlift?
- the USA did not give in to Stalin as they were worried the western zones of Berlin may also fall to him
- Truman ordered that aircraft should fly supplies into Berlin
- everyone feared that the USSR may shoot the planes down but no shots were fired as this would have been an undeniable act of war.
- for the next 10 months western Berlin received all its supplies in this way until Stalin eventually lifted the blockade on May 5th 1949
28
what was the background to the Berlin Wall crisis?
- people began to resent the last of freedom of the communist regime of east Berlin/germany. they saw the freedom of the west Berliners and thousands travelled easily to West Berlin, and never came back.
29
why did the USA become involved (Berlin Wall crisis)?
- young, new president JFK, who recognised the significance of Berlin to the USA
- his presidency did not begin well with the failure of the Bay of pig invasion to try and remove cuban communist president.
- Khrushchev called on the US to remove troops from Berlin, thinking Kennedy would give in, but he stood firm
30
why did the USSR become involved (Berlin Wall crisis)?
- Khrushchev called on the US to remove troops from Berlin, thinking Kennedy would give in, but he stood firm
- he also accused Kennedy of provoking conflict, claiming that the USA and allies were using Berlin as a spy base.
- east Germany soldiers spent night and day of 13th August 1961 building a barbed wire fence (followed by concrete) along the east-west border
- Khrushchev claimed the wall was being built to protect Eastern Berlin from US spies, when really is was to stop the flow of people out of east Germany.
31
why did the Berlin Wall crisis escalate?
- Kennedy not only didn't withdraw his troops, he sent 150,000 more
- the soviets and East Germans continues to strengthen the wall
- through September and October, US diplomats and troops cross regularly into east Berlin to see how the Soviets would react
- soviet tanks pulled up to Checkpoint Charlie and refused to allow any further access to the East. all day, the US and Soviet tanks, fully armed, faced each other in a tense stand-off. after 18 hours the tanks pulled back 1 by 1
32
what was the impact of the Berlin Wall crisis?
- followed the pattern - another crisis, another retreat
- Khrushchev ordered to avoid any actions that would increase tension
- the wall stayed and became the symbol of division.
- Kennedy had made good propaganda by standing up to Khrushchev
- Khrushchev had showed he was tough by demonstrating that Kennedy could not stop him building the wall, and he stopped the brain drain.
- the superpowers had not gone to war, but there seems little inclination for compromise beyond that
33
what was the background to the cuban missile crisis?
- in 1959, the anti communist General Batista was overthrown in a revolution led by communist Fidel Castro. he killed/imprisoned many of Batista's followers. thousands more fled to USA.
- president Eisenhower ordered the CIA to investigate ways to overthrow Castro, and refused to trade with Cuba, and began a propaganda campaign against Castro and his regime
34
why didn't the US government like Castro?
1. he was a communist who killed many people in his overthrowing of Cuba.
2. he turned to the USSR, the USA's "enemy" for financial help and signed a trade deal
3. he overthrew Batista who was anti-communist
4. he nationalised US businesses and sugar plantation
5. soviet weapons, agricultural/industrial machinery and specialists arrived
6. he didn't hold free elections in Cuba as promised.
35
how did Khrushchev support Castro?
- castro feared a US invasion of Cuba
- Khrushchev and castro agreed on a $100 million package of economic aid (also bought sugar)
- Khrushchev also began sending military equipment and technical advisers to Cuba.
36
what happened at the Bay of Pigs invasion?
- April 1961, JFK decided to act
- he authorised a CIA backed invasion to help 1400 cuban exiles to land in Bay of Pigs in Cuba and overthrow castro.
- the plan was a disaster and a humiliating defeat for Kennedy
- it also strengthened Castro's grip of Cuba and justified Khrushchev's actions as it seemed Cuba did need protection from the US.
37
why had the USSR placed missiles on Cuba?
1) THE ARMS RACE AND MISSILE GAP- USA had many more long range missiles than USSR, Khrushchev was concerned. USA had also had missiles based in Western Europe and turkey since 1959. missiles in Cuba would help close the missile gap.
2) TO DEFEND CUBA- Cuba was the only communist state in the west, and was willingly communist not taken over by red army. excellent propaganda for USSR. ideal base to support communism in South America.
3) TO STRENGTHEN KHRUSHCHEV'S POSITION- missile gap undermined Khrushchev's credibility. if Kennedy was forced to remove missiles from turkey it would win Khrushchev support.
4) TO TEST THE USA- Khrushchev wanted to see how strong Kennedy was. the two had already clashed and Khrushchev thought he could make Kennedy back down.
38
what were the 3 most dangerous days of the Cuban Missile Crisis and why?
1) MONDAY 22ND OCTOBER- the first time the blockade of Cuba was publicly announced, meaning Kennedy was serious about it. Khrushchev also prepared his troops.
2) FRIDAY 26TH OCTOBER- as Khrushchev finally admitted to the nuclear weapons and suggested they would be withdrawn is Kennedy promised to not invade Cuba. however 120,000 troops were already assembled in Florida.
3) SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER- tensions were beginning to rise between Khrushchev and Kennedy. Kennedy said that if soviet missiles weren't removed an attack would follow. no one knew how soviets would react or whether they would remove the missiles. a US U2 plane was shot down causing huge tensions.
39
what were the successes of the USA in the cuban missile crisis?
- forming Ex Comm
- deciding and threatening to blockade Cuba
- exerting power over Khrushchev and having the upper hand in decisions
- getting ussr to remove missiles
- stood up to Hawks in his government
40
what were the failures of the USA in the cuban missile crisis?
- Ex Comm wanting to test Soviet Union
- no missiles in Turkey anymore
- JFK had to accept Castro's Cuba would remain communist
41
what were the successes of the USSR in the cuban missile crisis?
- prevented a US invasion on Cuba
- prevented nuclear war (peacemaker)
- managed to cause tension between USA and allies (British criticism)
- Cuba turned communist (and safe from USA)
- removed missiles from turkey
42
what were the failures of the USSR in the cuban missile crisis?
- removed missiles from Cuba
- being on the defensive side of negotiations (US had to count missiles)
- shot down a US plane which caused tensions to rise
- didn't close missile gap
- Khrushchev removed from power in 1964
43
what was the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis for the Cold War?
- overall, superpower relations were improved
- Khrushchev kept Cuba safely communist and caused tensions between USA and allies. however missiles gap never closed
- Castro upset by USA/USSR deal but stayed communist, highly armed, an important base and kept American companies.
- Kennedy came out of crisis well having made Khrushchev back down and standing up to Hawks in his govt. however didn't manage to out Castro and had to remove missiles from turkey
44
why did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam 1960-65? CONTAINMENT AND THE DOMINO THEORY
CONTAINMENT AND THE DOMINO THEORY
- The US supported the French in Vietnam because they thought the Vietnamese were allied to communist china.
- the USA also supported the French as they wanted to keep the support of France against communism in Europe
- Eisenhower, JFK and Johnson were convinced that China and the USSR were trying to spread communism throughout Asia. if Vietnam fell to communism then Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand and possibly India might fall too, like a domino effect.
45
why did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam 1960-65? THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
- powerful groups in the USA wanted a war
- the government gave huge budgets to the military commanders which were spent on weapons contracts which went to huge corporations
- therefore both military and big business benefitted from the war.
46
why did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam 1960-65? AMERICAN POLITICS
- during American elections, every four years, it was a vote winner to talk tough about communism and a sure vote loser to look weak about communism.
- for example, in his 1960 election campaign, Kennedy promised to continue the tough policies of Eisenhower.
47
why did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam 1960-65? THE SVA WAS WEAK
- it was obvious that the South Vietnamese could not resist communist infiltration by the Vietcong without help.
- US advisers believed that good government and an efficient, large scale war would defeat the Vietcong.
48
why did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam 1960-65? THE US WAS ATTACKED
- the North Vietnamese had attacked the USS Maddox in august 1964, and then killed US soldiers in February 1965.
- Johnson became convinced that action inSouth Vietnam alone would never win the war- "we are swatting flies when we should be going after the manure pile"
49
what happened at the beginning of the Vietnam War?
- south Vietnamese losing control of countryside to vietcong
- Kennedy's response was to send more money and military advisers to help
- Lyndon Johnson continued to increase US involvement
- In feb 1965 he launched Operation Rolling Thunder, a huge bombing campaign against North Vietnam's cities, factories, army bases and the Ho Chi Min trail
- in march 1965 he sent ground troops in. over the next 8.5 yrs 1000s would die in the war
50
who were the Vietcong?
communist led rebel group fighting to overthrow the hated South Vietnam regime. it was supported by N Vietnam, China and USSR
51
what was the Ho Chi Min trail?
a route in Cambodia used by North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces to supply those fighting the south Vietnamese and us forces.
52
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? WEAKNESSES OF THE USA- AIMS
AIMS
- to do anything to stop south Vietnam turning communist (obsessed with reputation).
- propping up an unpopular regime
- military jobs for people
- to keep the confidence/votes of American people
53
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? WEAKNESSES OF THE USA- TACTICS
ineffective and counterproductive - killed many!
- > BOMBING:
- dropped more bombs in Vietnam than Germany in WW2 (targeting the Ho Chi Min trail)
- killed thousands of civilians and turned the Vietnamese against USA
- > SEARCH AND DESTROY:
- seek out Vietcong in villages (chaotic system)
- 1 vietcong weapon = 6 Vietnamese killed
- > CHEMICAL WEAPONS:
- agent orange poisonous weed killer to defoliate jungles were Vietcong hid
- Napalm, which created huge fireball that burned jungle, buildings and humans :)
54
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? WEAKNESSES OF THE USA- QUALITY OF TROOPS
- USA had increasingly inexperienced troops
- as war intensified they had to conscript soldiers
- US troops increasingly young, only served for 1 year
- many not committed to the war and were inexperienced
55
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? WEAKNESSES OF THE USA- QUALITY OF WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
- US + SV forces had superior firepower but found it difficult to have a target to use them against
- couldn't defend themselves short range- had the wrong weapons
- cost $400,000 to kill 1 Vietcong
56
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? WEAKNESSES OF THE USA- SUPPLY LINES
the USA could not send its forces into north Vietnamese or neighbouring Cambodia or Laos which were sympathetic of the Vietcong
57
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? WEAKNESSES OF THE USA- SUPPORT FROM LOCAL POPULATION
- the USA became the supporters of a brutal and corrupt south Vietnamese government which many hated
58
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? WEAKNESSES OF THE USA- COMMITMENT
- US troops were young and inexperienced
- many not committed to the war they were fighting
- men conscripted- didn't want to fight
- drug use was rife and 500,000 deserted
59
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? STRENGTH OF THE VIETCONG- AIMS
- independence and freedom for Vietnam
- united in aims
- popular aim
60
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? STRENGTH OF THE VIETCONG- TACTICS
- > used GUERILLA WARFARE TACTICS:
- fought small scale battles, never large scale
- wore normal clothes/no uniform to blend in
- had no known base/HQ
- fought quickly and in small groups
- only attacked when alone and disappeared into jungle
- used booby traps (made US live in fear)
- >have local knowledge, know the jungle and villages
- > used 240km of tunnels
- > "bouncy Betty" mines
- > booby traps caused 11% of US casualties
61
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? STRENGTH OF THE VIETCONG- QUALITY OF TROOPS
- formidable and committed
- used to fighting enemies with more resources (defeated the Japanese and French despite US support)
- outnumbered and outgunned but knew tactically how to win
- knew the surrounding villages and jungle
62
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? STRENGTH OF THE VIETCONG- QUALITY OF WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
- had a good supply from NV, China and USSR
| - weapons cheap and easy to make
63
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? STRENGTH OF THE VIETCONG- SUPPLY LINES
- gave NVA and Vietcong a huge advantage. they were able to retreat to the other countries, where they could reinforce their troops and replenish equipment/ammunition
- 40,000 Vietnamese kept the Ho Chi Min supply trails open
64
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? STRENGTH OF THE VIETCONG- SUPPORT FROM LOCAL POPULATION
- The Vietcong were expected to be courteous and respectful to Vietnamese peasants as Ho knew how important it was to keep the ordinary people on his side
- however they could also be ruthless- 27,000 civilians killed by Vietcong
65
why could the USA not defeat the Vietcong? STRENGTH OF THE VIETCONG- COMMITMENT
- the number of vietcong killed was estimated at 1 million, far higher than US losses. but this was a price Ho was prepared to pay. whatever the casualties were there were replacement troops available
- the greatest strength of vietcong was that they refused to give in.
66
why did attitudes to the Vietnam war change in the USA? THE TET OFFENSIVE
- jan 1968
- during the Tet holiday the Vietcong attacked over 100 cities and other military bases
- us forces quickly took back the town captured and caused the vietcong 10,000 loses, but in the process they used enormous amounts of artillery and air power
- people back home started asking questions. there were 500,000 troops in Vietnam and it was costing $20 billion/year.
- how were the US taken by surprise and how was it going to be won?
67
why did attitudes to the Vietnam war change in the USA? THE MY LAI MASSACRE
- march 1968
- US troops killed 300-400 civilians- some gunned down in the fields and others piled into a ditch and shot
- originally, the troops and commanding officers were praised for their actions
- one junior officer, Lieutenant James Calley, was eventually held responsible but many believed he was used as a scapegoat and more senior officers were to blame
- people in the USA wanted to know that they were fighting and supporting a just cause. the massacre challenged that view.
68
why did attitudes to the Vietnam war change in the USA? THE MEDIA
- media coverage of the war became negative after the Tet offensive.
- people thought that the war was costing a lot more money, time and effort than it was worth.
69
why did attitudes to the Vietnam war change in the USA? COST
- the war was draining money better used at home
- Martin Luther King said that government were spending $500,000 to kill 1 enemy soldier while spending jus $53 a year to help the poor in the USA.
70
why did attitudes to the Vietnam war change in the USA? SOCIAL INEQUALITY
- the draft exposed social and racial inequalities
- young men could avoid the draft if they were going to college (mostly middle class white Americans)
- 30% black people conscripted compared to 19% white
- moderate and racial civil right campaigners criticised the war. why should African Americans fight for a country that discriminated against them?
71
why did attitudes to the Vietnam war change in the USA? ROLE OF THE TV
- showed shocking pictures of fighting and chemical weapons the us used
- showed prisoners being tortured/executed or women+ children watching as their houses were set on fire
- such casual violence was shocking to the average American
- Vietnam became a symbol of defeat, confusion and moral corruption
72
why did attitudes to the Vietnam war change in the USA? ANTI-WAR PROTESTS
- led by students and civil rights campaigners
- frequently involved burning the US flag
- "hey hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?"
- in one incident troops fired on student protesters, killing 4 and injuring others.
- in nov 1969 almost 700,000 anti-war protestors demonstrated in Washington DC. largest political protest in US history.
73
what strategies did USA use to get themselves out of Vietnam? VIETNAMISATION
- handed responsibility to South vietnameseforces and began to withdraw us troops
- by the end of 1971 almost 400,000 troops left Vietnam
- by the end of 1973 the last of the troops had left
74
what strategies did USA use to get themselves out of Vietnam? PRESSURE ON THE USSR AND CHINA
- SALT (strategic arms limitation treaty) with the USSR, 1970
- china visit in feb 1972
- using their rivalry to get them to remove support for N Vietnamese
- peace talks with N.Vietnam from 1969 (Kissinger and Le Duc Tho)
- bombing of N.Vietnam and Viet Cong bases in Cambodia (Ho chi min trail)
75
what were the reasons for US withdrawal from Vietnam?
1) MILITARY REASONS:
- successes of Vietcong guerrilla tactics
- weaknesses and problems experiences by US military, including poor tactics
- Tet offensive (public withdrew support)
2) US PUBLIC OPINION:
- My Lai massacre
- civil rights campaigners and student protests
- cost
3) THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
- TV (my lai and tet offensive)
- influenced public opinion
4) UNPOPULARITY OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE REGIME:
- USA was backing a corrupt, anti democratic and repressive regime.
