The Cold War and Military Conflict

Question 1

CONTEXT

Answer 1

started in Eastern Europe where the USSR was discontent with American capitalist desires&raquo_space; Iron Curtain&raquo_space; NATO (1949) vs. Warsaw Pact (1955)

USA, France, GB set up spheres of influence in Berlin and Germany

Question 2

BERLIN

Answer 2

Yalta and Potsdam conferences to divide Germany&raquo_space; USSR blockading Berlin (Eastern) - closed highways “for repair” and set up the Berlin Wall&raquo_space; Berlin Airlift by the USA (Operation VITTLES) delivered food and supplies for almost a year

Question 3

PROXY WARS

Answer 3

extension of communism to Vietnam, Korea, China globalized the Cold War&raquo_space; Korean War (1950-1953), Vietnam War (1955 - 1975), Soviets in Afghanistan (1979-1989)

Question 4

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

Answer 4

Soviet leader Khrushchev secretly installed nuclear war heads in Cuba to deter US action against Cuba; discovered in October 1962&raquo_space; US blockading Cuba and ready to fight&raquo_space; resolved with an agreement between the USSR and USA (USSR remove war heads, USA not invade)

Question 5

ARMS WAR (EFFECT OF CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS)

Answer 5

arms race between USSR and USA in nuclear weapons; Russia first acquired nukes in 1949&raquo_space; USA and USSR the two superpowers

no shooting or bombing because both countries were aware of the consequences of nuclear warfare

Question 6

PROXY WAR SUPPORT

Answer 6

USSR supported anti-colonial movements in S Africa, Mozambique, Vietnam, and Cuba&raquo_space; USA intervention in Iran (secretly), the Philippines, Guatemala, Chile, El Salvador, Congo&raquo_space; no domination of either regime

Question 7

USA AFTER THE COLD WAR

Answer 7

US became a superpower after the Cold War: more than 1 million troops in 30 different countries, part of 4 regional defense alliances, mutual agreements with 42 countries, part of 53 international organizations, etc.

Question 8

COMMUNISM AFTER THE COLD WAR

Answer 8

communism lasted for a while after: USSR was devastated; many reforms in Hungary (1956-1957), Czechoslovakia (1968), and Poland (1980) against communism; China became rivals with the USSR