The Cold War Key Issue 2 Flashcards
What happened in April 1949 and how did this cause tension?
NATO signed, and west Germany was also a member
USA bought weapons into European NATO bases, invoking tension and fear in Russia
What was signed by Krushchev in 1955?
The Warsaw Pact
Which country became communist in Asia?
Mao Zedong takes control in 1949. China and USSR agree a friendship treaty.
This alliance changed power balance between 2 sides
Fear of communism spreading in the USA was Fever pitch
When was the Korean War?
1950 to 1953
Describe the events of the Korean War
North invaded South Korea
South Korea appealed to the UN.
But the USSR had boycotted meetings at the UN because the USA didn’t support communist China.
Their absence meant America could help South Korea unopposed
Jun 1953: war ends but north and south divided to this day
Describe the event of the Vietnam war
Parallel situation
North (communist) against south.
South supported by USA
USA withdrew 1973 and Vietnam still communist, very unpopular
Physical signs of tension appear in the development of weapons and allies
What happened March 1953?
Stalin died: he made Russia a nuclear superpower, created an empire. Russians were distraught
State Krushchev’s policies
Ended feuds with china and Yugoslavia
Peaceful coexistence
Reduce spending on arms
Agreed to pull troops from Austria
What was destalinisation?
Krushchev exposed the purges and released political prisoners
he closed down cominform to reconcile with Yugoslavia and invited Tito to Moscow
Dismissed Stalin’s foreign minister Molotov
Describe the communist regime in Hungary leading up to 1956
Led by Rakosi Hungarians had no freedom of speech They lived in fear of secret police Resented presence of 1000s of soviet troops they had to pay for Hated Russian cultural influence
What happened in Hungary in June 1956?
A group in the Hungarian communist party opposed Rakosi.
Although Rakosi wanted to arrest 400 opponents, Russia didn’t back him.
He was forced to retire for health reasons
Describe the situation in Oct 1956
Erno Gero replaced Rakosi.
A huge student protest pulled down a statue of Stalin.
Gero replaced by respected Imre Nagy, troops began to withdraw.
1000’s local councils made to replace soviet power.
1000s Hungarian soldiers defected to rebel cause.
List the government reforms of Nagy
Free elections
impartial court
total withdrawal of USSR.
Planned to leave the Warsaw Pact and be impartial in the Cold War
Hungarians thought America would support an independent Hungary
But Eisenhower didn’t because of the Sphere Of Influence, didn’t want an act of war
What was Khrushchev’s reaction to Nagy’s reforms?
He accepted most, but NOT the Warsaw Pact.
If Hungary withdrew it would set a precedent and trigger other countries to leave.
This would leave USSR defenceless
What did Khrushchev do to stop Nagy’s reforms?
November 1956- sent 1000s troops and tanks to Hungary. 2 weeks bitter street fighting. 800 Russians killed 3000 Hungarians and Nagy killed. Resistance crushed in 2 weeks 200K Hungarians fled to Austria
What was the aftermath of the Hungarian rising?
Janos Kadar in power Didn’t withdraw from WP 35,000 anti Communists arrested 300 executed Number of RA troops doubled in Hungary
What did the western allies do about the Hungarian rising?
They protested but sent no help
Sphere of influence
They were busy with the Suez canal crisis in Egypt
When did the arms race begin?
When America tested the atomic bomb before Potsdam in July 1945
State facts about the arms race
40% of US spending went to the bombing airforce
USSR developed bison jet and TU-95 bomber
Americans believed falsely that Russia was ahead in the space race: bomber gap
1961: USSR tested Tsar bomba, exceeding all explosive power from World War II
State facts about the space race and how it increased tension
In October 1957 Russia launched Sputnik into space shocking USA
November they sent Sputnik II with a dog
January 1958: USA launched Explorer I satellite July: formation of NASA
1961: Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space became a hero and celebrity when he returned
1969: Armstrong= 1st man on moon. A long hard, expensive process
What was the importance of the arms race?
Demonstrated simple rivalry
best ideology=best technology
Eisenhower concerned with the cost of US defence. He knew there was no bomber gap but he couldn’t admit spying
Nuclear weapons deterred the other side from attacking first
Created a climate of fear and mass hysteria
What was the importance of the space race?
Space captured the imagination of everyone so it was a powerful propaganda tool
the same space technology could build missiles for nuclear war
Eg: May 15, 1957 USSR tested ICBMs.
When did illegal flying spy missions begin and why was it banned
Began in 1950
banned by Truman because it violated Soviet airspace
Flights began again in 1956
What features did the new U-2 plane have?
It could read a newspaper from 23,000 m
What was khrushchev’s reaction to the spying planes?
Each flight “spat in the face of the Soviet people”
But he had no proof of the flights
He didn’t want to admit that the Soviets couldn’t shoot the planes down (embarrassing)
What was the U2 crisis
Gary powers shot down in May 1960
Eisenhower refused to apologise for spying
As a result Khrushchev didn’t attend power summit in France, worsening relations
Powers was a Soviet prisoner, but exchanged for Rudolf Abel in 1962
State one thing that happened as a result of the U2 crisis
Eisenhower was criticised for being too soft with the Soviets
Kennedy exploited this and won elections in 1961
