The Cold War And Hiroshima

Question 1

America didn’t get involved in any world affairs in the 1930s because they were isolationist. Define isolationism.

Answer 1

A policy or idea where they keep out of other countries’ affairs/problems and don’t gey involved in any international politics

Question 2

Which event forced America to join WW2 on the 11th December 1941?

Answer 2

Pearl Harbour

Question 3

What was Pearl Harbour

Answer 3

Sunday 7th December 1941
315 Japanese aircrafts bombed the American naval base in Hawaii
Effects:
20 naval vessels destroyed
2400 sailors killed
America declares war

Question 4

What was the Manhattan project?

Answer 4

The code name for the American led effort to create an atomic bomb during WW2. Franklin Roosevelt authorised this because of rumours of an atomic bomb in Germany

Question 5

Roles in the manhattan project

Answer 5

Einstein - co-signed a letter to Roosevelt explaining the potential benefits of nuclear weapons
Oppenheimer - responsible for the design and research
Women - nursing researched and tested the effects of the scientists’ bodies

Question 6

What was Hiroshima?

Answer 6

16th July 1945
The Japanese city that was the target of the first ever nuclear bomb
They originally wanted to test it on Germany

Question 7

What happened when the bomb detonated in Hiroshima?

Answer 7

It took 43 seconds to explode
A uranium bullet causes a nuclear chain reaction

Flattened land - ruined agriculture - loss in economy
Radiation
Deaths and injuries

Question 8

What was the cold War?

Answer 8

The state of tension after 1945 between the USSR (communist) and the USA (capitalist).

Question 9

What was the Berlin airlift?

Answer 9

1948
British, Americans and French split Berlin
Staying blockaded them to force them out
British and Americans flew goods in to feed the population for 15 months, before stalin ended the blockade

Question 10

What was the Berlin wall?

Answer 10

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Life in west Berlin (ruled by US, British and French) was much better than the west (SU) so people were fleeing. To stop this, Stalin built the wall. It fell because it was proven ineffective when Hungary opened its border with Austria and people began leaving through there

Question 11

What was the Vietnam war?

Answer 11

1965 - 1973
Communists in North Vietnam were supported by the Soviets and wanted to take over the South, backed by rhe USA. President Johnson sent troops to Vietnam but the communists dug tunnels and ambushed them. They conquered and Vietnam became communist in 1975.
This emphasises the divide and therefore cold war between the USA and USSR, and how they resented eachother because of their political stances.

Question 12

What was the invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 12

1979
The SU invaded Afghanistan to access natural resources and expand their empire. Afghan rebel fighters waged a ten year war with the Soviets. 1 mil civilians died with at least 125 000 soldiers on both sides. In 1989, the USSR pulled out

Question 13

Why did the Cold War end?

Answer 13

The fall of the Berlin Wall
9th November 1989 - German government allowed east German citizens to travel freely

Question 14

What are some countries included in the British Empire?

Answer 14

Jamaica, Kenya, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Barbados, sri Lanka, Cyprus, New Zealand

Question 15

What are the economic reasons the British empire came to aj end?

Answer 15

Countries wanted to develop their own economies instead of relying on Britain

Question 16

What are the social reasons the British Empire came to an end?

Answer 16

Men of different colonies who fought in WW2 believed they should be given the opportunity for independence
People of different ethnic groups wanted to be free of any white christian laws which iften discriminated against them
Campaigners such as mahatma ghandi campaigned in a non violent way

Question 17

What are the political reasons the British Empire came to an end?

Answer 17

British government were more willing to listen
Leaders such as Alexander Bustamante were elected to pressure for independence

Question 18

What was the Cuban Missile crisis?

Answer 18

1962
USSR planted missiles in Cuba pointing directly at America as a threat.
Fidel Castro - communist leader of Cuba
Nikita Krushchev- communist leader of the USSR, succeeded stalin in 1953
John F. Kennedy - president, wanted to avoid conflict with the USSR, so he blockaded Cuba to stop more missiles being placed. He spoke to Krushchev and he agreed to dismantle the weapons. This was the closest we have ever come to Nuclear war.