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History > The Crises Of The Cold War 1960-1980 > Flashcards

The Crises Of The Cold War 1960-1980 Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the space race (1960-1980) mostly about?

A

Propaganda. Each side boasted that its science, technology and culture were better than that of the other side

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2
Q

When did the Soviets launch the first satellite (Sputnik) and what did the rocket engines that sent this also power?

A

1957

ICBMs

First US satellite was 1958

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3
Q

What year did the soviets send the first man into space? (Yuri Gagarin)

A

1959

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4
Q

What year did the soviets make the first space walk?

A

1965

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5
Q

When did the USA land the first man on the moon?

A

1969

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6
Q

Who “won” the space race?

A

The soviets led the way on everything except the most headline catching thing- the moon landings- so US seemed to “win”

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7
Q

Consequences of the space race?

A

Helped fuel the rivalry as it was about appearances- each side wanted to look like the most advanced country in the world

Space technology often led to improvements in weapons e.g. ICBMs

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8
Q

Consequences of nuclear arms race 1960-1980?

A

Nobody could “win” a nuclear war- virtually impossible to launch an attack that would destroy enemy missiles before they were launched. (MAD)

Both sides needed to have nuclear weapons for defence- made Cold War more dangerous as any war between US and USSR could destroy a lot of the world

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9
Q

What was the U2 crisis and what year was it?

A

A U2 plane flown by Gary Powers was shot down over Russia in May 1960

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10
Q

What had the U2 plane been doing before it was shot down?

A

It had been photographing ICBM sites- unknown to the US Powers was captured and parts of the wreckage + photos recovered by the Soviets

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11
Q

How did the Americans try to cover up/ what excuse did they come up with for the U2 flights?

A

Said the shot down plane was a weather research plane- Soviets then able to embarrass the Americans by showing evidence that the plane was spying. The Americans had been caught lying

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12
Q

Consequences of the U2 crisis?

A

-U2 shot down just when the Summit meeting was about to open- Soviets withdrew
World hoped this would bring a new thaw in the Cold War.

  • Propaganda victory for the soviets
  • Test ban treaty could not be agreed and signed
  • Deep mistrust created was still there when the Cuban Missile Crisis developed in 1962
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13
Q

What happened during the 1950s in West Germany? (Berlin wall)

A

It went through an “economic miracle”, a period of amazing growth in industry + wealth that allowed it to recover from the huge damage of WW2

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14
Q

How were the conditions of East Berlin compared to West+ why was this a propaganda “victory” for the West?

A

Living standards were much lower, economic growth and recovery was slow.

No political freedom, huge security police (Stasi)

Seemed like a great advert for the strength and power of capitalism

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15
Q

Where was the one place where an East German could easily cross from east to west?

A

Berlin

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16
Q

Between 1945 and 1961 how many East Germans defected to to west + what were a high proportion of these people?

A

Over 2 million

Well-educated or skilled people

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17
Q

The loss of population was very embarrassing to the East Germans + soviets.

What did Krushchev ask the USA, Britain and France to do + why?

A

Asked them to leave West Berlin because the communists wanted to control all of Berlin. All of these requests were refused.

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18
Q

When did the East German leader suddenly close the border in Berlin with barbed wire + what was his name?

A

August 1961

Ulbricht

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19
Q

In the first year of the wall how many people were killed trying to cross into West Berlin + who’s death was one of the most famous?

A

More than 40

1962 Peter Fechter- lay in the death strip in full view of cameras in West Berlin

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20
Q

Consequences of the building of the wall? (3)

A
  1. The East Germans succeeded in closing off the flood of people leaving for the west
  2. Thousand of German families were divided
  3. It made the communist system look bad- in the eyes of the world it was clear that the East Germans were walking in their own people . Made it easy for western propaganda to portray communism in a bad light
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21
Q

What did the Americans do about the wall?

A

Protested but took little other action.

  • Senior US politicians travelled to Berlin to condemn the wall
  • Increased US troop levels in West Berlin
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22
Q

What happened in October 1961 at checkpoint Charlie?

A

Confrontation between US and Soviet tanks, but this did not result in any shots being fired

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23
Q

Privately how may Kennedy have felt about the wall?

A

Relieved- clear that the Soviets had given up pushing for Western troops to be removed from West Berlin. Said: “ a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war”

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24
Q

What did Kennedy do in 1963 when he visited West Berlin?

A

Made a famous speech declaring that all free people around the world felt the injustice of Berliners forced to live in a divided city

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25
Q

Until when did the Berlin Wall stand?

A

The collapse of communism in east Germany in 1989

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26
Q

Until 1959 who ruled Cuba + what was he like?

A

Batista- corrupt and harsh dictator but friendly with the US

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27
Q

Who was Batista’s government opposed by?

A

Armed rebels led by Fidel Castro who was a socialist

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28
Q

In what year did Fidel Castro succeed in taking over Cuba + what did he declare after?

A

1959

All Cuban businesses would be nationalised- wanted to stop Cuba’s wealth being exported to US

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29
Q

After Fidel succeeded in taking over what did the US declare?

A

That it wouldn’t import any Cuban goods- the main Cuban export was sugar

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30
Q

What started the close relationship between Castro and the Soviet Union?

A

1960 the USSR signed an agreement to buy 1 million tonnes of sugar a year

Castro became communist

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31
Q

When + where did anti-Castro Cubans rebels who fled to the USA try to overthrow Castro?

A

In April 1961 CIA funded, trained and armed Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs.

The invasion was a disaster and they were easily defeated

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32
Q

Consequences of the Bay of Pigs?

A
  1. President Kennedy was humiliated and the failure was a big embarrassment for USA
  2. Krushchev thought Kennedy must be weak and tried to take advantage- USSR supplied weapons to the Cubans and Krushchev said he would place nuclear weapons in Cuba

-these missiles would give the USSR missile sites close to the USA and match the USA’s missiles in Turkey

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33
Q

Why did the soviets attempt to place nuclear missiles on Cuba? (2)

A
  1. Krushchev wanted to negotiate with the USA from a position of strength- placing missiles would give them more bargaining power + would be a propaganda success
  2. May have been about protecting Cuba as an ally of the USSR
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34
Q

What happened on 14 October 1962 that was the first stage in the development of the Cuban missile crisis?

A

A US U2 spy-plane took pictures over Cuba that clearly showed nuclear missile sites in Cuba

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35
Q

What did Kennedy announce on the 22 October + what did it entail?

A

A naval blockade of Cuba. Called it “quarantine”

Any Soviet ships heading for Cuba would be stopped and US forces would go aboard to remove any military supplies

36
Q

What happened on the 24 October 1962?

A

Soviet ships carrying nuclear missiles reached the edge of the blockaded zone. Krushchev ordered them to stop and not enter however work on the missile bases continued

37
Q

What happened on the 26 October?

A

Krushchev sent a letter to Kennedy offering to remove the missile bases if the US ended the naval blockade and agreed never to invade Cuba

38
Q

What happened on the 27 October?

A

Krushchev sent a second letter which increased the demands- in addition to terms in the first letter USA must remove its missiles from Turkey.

On the same day a U2 plane was shot down over Cuba- it looked like there may be war

39
Q

How did Kennedy respond to the letters from Krushchev?

A

Chose to ignore 2nd letter and accept conditions of the 1st.

At the same time American negotiators secretly let the soviets know that if the missile crisis was solved peacefully then they would remove their missiles from Turkey shortly after.

40
Q

What happened on the 28 October?

A

An agreement was reached- Soviets agreed to remove their nuclear missiles from Cuba and stop construction of missile bases. US agreed to end naval blockade + promised not to invade Cuba in the future- Removing their missiles form Turkey was kept secret from the world

41
Q

What were the consequences of the Cuban missile crisis? (5)

A
  1. The two leaders had avoided nuclear war- closest the world had come. BRINKMANSHIP
  2. Kennedy was seen as strong as he had forced Krushchev to back down. Seen as a hero in the west - strong leader who had faced down communism without causing war
  3. 1963 a telephone hotline was set up between US and USSR to give instant contact between the two if there was another crisis
  4. Nuclear test ban treaty was signed + promised not to supply nuclear weapons to other countries
  5. Cuba remained an ally and base of the Soviet Union- US removed missiles from Turkey
42
Q

What year was the Prague spring?

A

1968

43
Q

From 1948-1968 who ruled Czechoslovakia?

A

Novotny, a communist leader who was highly loyal to Moscow

44
Q

By 1968 would had happened in Czechoslovakia?

A

Czech communist party had a new leader- Alexander Dubceck

45
Q

Alexander Dunceck wanted “communism with a _____________”?

A

Human face

46
Q

What kind of changes did Dubceck make to the country?

A
  • less censorship
  • more freedom of speech
  • lowering of the power and activities of the secret police
47
Q

What did Dubceck realise that the soviets may do + how did he try to stop this?

A

That they might interfere to stop him as they had done in Hungary 1956

Tried to reassure Moscow of his loyalty to communism, told Brezhnev Czechoslovakia wouldn’t leave Warsaw Pact or Comecon

48
Q

The soviet leadership remembered the events of 1956 in Hungary very clearly, what were they highly nervous about?

A

Hat the mood of freedom would spread to other Warsaw Pact countries

49
Q

What did the communist leaders of other European communist countries begin to demand?

A

That the soviets do something to stop the Prague spring

50
Q

The soviets tried to negotiate with Dubceck to stop the reforms, what did Dubceck continue to do?

A

Try to reassure the soviets

51
Q

What happened suddenly and without warning in 1968?

A

Soviet troops sent over into Czechoslovakia, assisted by Polish, East German, Hungarian and Bulgarian troops

52
Q

Did the Czechs resist when troops were sent in? (Prague spring 1968)

A

No but there were protests and demonstrations on the streets in Prague

Less than 100 people were killed in the invasion

53
Q

Who was the Czech student who publicly set himself on fire to protest against the invasion?

A

Jan Palach

But eventually the Czech opposition died out

54
Q

What happened after the invasion? (Czechoslovakia, Prague spring 1968)

A

A new Czech communist leader, Husak, was put in place by the Soviets and the Prague spring reforms were removed.

Dubceck demoted then expelled from the communist party

55
Q

How did the US respond to the invasion of Czechoslovakia? + why (Prague spring, 1968)

A

Condemned Soviet actions but nothing more- relations between US and Soviets had been improving since 1962 and nothing was done to risk this + did not see it as practical to interfere with Soviet running of Eastern Europe.

56
Q

Consequences of the Prague spring?

A

Led to the Brezhnev Doctrine in September 1968

57
Q

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

A

Brezhnev, the soviet leader made a speech saying that any country which tried to break away from soviet domination or reform communism would be seen as a threat to the security of all the other Warsaw Pact countries - made clear that Soviets wouldn’t allow another Prague spring

58
Q

What was détente and when was it?

A

A period in the 1970s when things started to get better in the Cold War- tensions eased

59
Q

How was the end of the Vietnam war part of détente?

A
  • In Vietnam US had been fighting against communists who had been trying to make Vietnam communist- China + USSR also supplying them with weapons
  • Vietnam war area of tension between the countries- therefore end of war 1975 improved relations
60
Q

Why was the cost of the arms race a factor of détente?

A

It was very costly- both countries saw this as money that could be spent more wisely on improving conditions in their own countries

61
Q

What was SALT 1 and when was it signed?

A

Strategic arms limitation treaty- both sides agreed to limit the number of nuclear weapons they each had

Signed in 1972

62
Q

What happened in space that was part of détente?

A

American and soviet astronauts met up in space and shook hands in space 1975

63
Q

What happened at the Helsinki conference + when was it?

A

35 countries including the US and USSR signed an agreement

- August 1975

64
Q

What was the agreement signed at Helsinki supposed to do + how?

A
  • Designed to make conflict in Europe less likely
  • Western countries recognised the frontiers of eastern and agreed USSR had right to have a say in what happened in the communist Eastern European countries- soviet “sphere of influence”
65
Q

Consequence of détente?

A

Did seem to make Cold War better but it had some positives and negatives- didn’t make the Cold War go away

66
Q

Positives of détente? (2)

A
  1. SALT 1- showed US and USSR could make agreements with each other + lead to more talks throughout the 1970s leading towards SALT 2
  2. Meetings + visits between USA and USSR did make relations better and showed both sides could have friendlier relations
67
Q

Negatives of détente? (4)

A
  1. Still areas of the world where USA and USSR were trying to increase their influence e.g. Africa and the Middle East- still trying to one up each other- Angola war USSR have lots of weapons + military advice to communist rebels which angered the US
  2. SALT 1 didn’t make significant difference, when Soviets put new advanced nuclear weapons in Europe so did US
  3. USSR and EE countries didn’t stick to Helsinki agreement- did not give their people more human rights
  4. Some people say détente was all propaganda with little real progress- handshake in space called a publicity stunt
68
Q

What year did all the stuff in Afghanistan go down?

A

1978

69
Q

In what year was Afghanistan taken over by a communist government?

A

1978

70
Q

What did the new communist government that was closely supported by the Soviets begin to do in Afghanistan?

A

Modernise the country and bring in communist teachings

71
Q

Who hated the changes made in Afghanistan and why?

A

Traditional religious-minded Afghans who were strongly Muslim + traditional tribal leaders and land landowners

  • land was shared out
  • Muslims felt their religion was being attacked- communism officially atheist
72
Q

What were the Afghan rebels called + what did they say they were fighting against the communists?

A

The mujahidin

A holy Islamic war (jihad)

73
Q

What did the USA secretly start to do + why? (Afghanistan)

A

Fund the mujahidin- wanted to try and get rid of the communist government

74
Q

What reasons did the Soviets have for invading?

A
  1. To protect the communist government in Afghanistan from being defeated by the mujahidin- soldiers were deserting in large numbers
  2. Control of Afghanistan would get the USSR closer to the important oil routes of the Middle East e.g. Persian Gulf- USA had built up a lot of support and USSR did not like this. If the USSR had full control of Afghanistan they could try and increase their influence and weaken the USA’s
  3. Claimed USA was helping the mujahidin- US denied although it was true
75
Q

What happened on the 25 December 1979?

A

80,000 troops entered Afghanistan to try to defeat the mujahidin. USSR brought modern tanks, weapons and aircraft with them

76
Q

Why did USSR fail in Afghanistan?

A

Couldn’t fight the guerilla tactics + Russian soldiers didn’t speak the language/ understand local way of life.

Seen as foreign invaders and their presence just stirred up more rebellion

77
Q

How did Afghanistan affect relations between the USA and USSR?

A

Made them really bad- Carter and Brezhnev restarted the tension of the Cold War

78
Q

What did the US president Jimmy Carter say the USSR invasion of Afghanistan did?

A

Threatened world peace

79
Q

What did the UN do in response to the invasion + how did Soviets respond? (Afghanistan)

A

Passed a resolution criticising USSR actions and telling them to withdraw their troops

USSR ignored this

80
Q

What did the USA do in protest of the invasion?

A

Stop trading with the USSR

81
Q

Brezhnev was furious with the USA and UN, what did he accuse the US of? (Afghanistan)

A

Ruining détente- USA said it was the USSR, tension of Cold War was back

82
Q

What was the USA afraid that the soviet invasion was + what happened as a result? (Afghanistan)

A

That it was part of a plan by the USSR to get closer to the oilfields of the Middle East

Jimmy Carter announced that US would do anything it could to stop USSR from gaining influence over the oil producing countries of the Middle East- Carter Doctrine

83
Q

After the invasion of Afghanistan which treaty did Jimmy Carter say that he would not complete?

A

SALT 2

84
Q

What did the US do in 1980 (Olympic games)

A

Boycott the Olympic Games held in Moscow- so did many other countries

85
Q

When did Reagan become the US president + what did he do in the early 1980s?

A

1981- much more anti-soviet than Carter had been

Greatly increased US arms spending

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