The Development Of The USA (1929-2000) - The Cold War Rivalry

Question 1

What 5 things were agreed at Yalta?

Answer 1

Germany to be split into four zones
Germany will pay reparations
A government of ‘national unity’ set up in Poland of communists and non-communists
Free elections in Eastern European countries - Declaration of Liberated Europe
Russia would help against Japan when Germany was defeated

Question 2

What 5 things happened at Potsdam?

Answer 2

Arguments about boundary details
Disagreements over how much reparations Russia could take - whatever it wanted from Soviet zone + 10% of the industrial equipment in Western Zones - thought to be too much
Truman was angry at Stalin for arresting the non-communist leaders of Poland
America and Britain were alarmed at Communists coming to power in Europe
Stalin was furious at Truman for not telling him about atomic bomb

Question 3

What was the war of words?

Answer 3

Secret telegrams - hostility

Question 4

What was the long telegram?

Answer 4

George Kennan (US Deputy Chief Mission at US embassy in Moscow) saw USSR as aggressive and suspicious in 1946. Wanted to stop Soviet expansion in Europe
Telegram influenced Truman’s policies on the Cold War
Sees USSR as rival
“Firm approach”

Question 5

What was the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 5

In 1947, US step in to give financial aid to Turkey and Greece to stop communism
Policy of containment
Allows Greek government to defeat communists
USA become more involved in European affairs, increasing tension with USSR
Marshall Plan (economic aid to Europe)
Forms US Foreign Policy

Question 6

What was the Domino Theory?

Answer 6

If one country falls to communism, other countries will fall too

Question 7

Why did USA become involved in a Cold War?

Answer 7

Fear of Soviet Expansion in Eastern Europe
Tension at Yalta and Potsdam
Attitude of Truman
Long Telegram
Fear of communism

Question 8

Wheat was de died about Germany and Berlin at Yalta and Potsdam?

Answer 8

Divided into 4 zones, Berlin was at the heart of the Soviet zone

Question 9

How would Berlin work?

Answer 9

Access to sectors by road, rail, canal and air

Question 10

What was Bizonia?

Answer 10

By 1947, the British and American zones had joined

Question 11

What was Trizonia?

Answer 11

France joined and West Germany was operated as one

Question 12

What was decided by the Western Allies in 1948?

Answer 12

Policy developed for West Germany, different to plans by USSR
Agreed to set up a new Parliament and constitution. Introduce Deutschmark currency

Question 13

What was Stalin’s reaction in 1948?

Answer 13

First steps to a permanent divide
Wanted to unite Germany and opposed permanent division
Paranoid western resources will be used to wage war against him

Question 14

What was the Berlin blockade?

Answer 14

On 24 June 1948, Stalin cut off road, rail and canal traffic to Berlin from the Western Zone. The USA saw this as aggressive act to starve West Berlin into submission. Truman wanted to show he was serious about containment.

Question 15

What was the Berlin airlift in 1949?

Answer 15

Templehof airport
On 28 June 1948 Allies began to airlift supplies into West Berlin
Lasted 10 months
Average 4,000 tonnes a day
16-17 April 1398 flights, 13,000 tonnes in 24 hours

Question 16

When were GDR and FRG?

Answer 16

September/ October 1949

Question 17

What was GDR?

Answer 17

German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established as an independent state

Question 18

What was FRG?

Answer 18

Federal Republic of Germany was established as an independent state in the West

Question 19

What is NATO?

Answer 19

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation formed in April 1949 agreed to defend each other as a military alliance against communism.

Question 20

What was the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 20

1955 Military alliance between Eastern European Nations including Poland, Hungary, USSR, Bulgaria…

Question 21

What happened in April 1961?

Answer 21

Failed invasion by US President Kennedy

Question 22

What was the US relationship with Cuba like in the 1950s?

Answer 22

Long term allies
USA had a huge naval base in Cuba
US supports Cuban government run by an unkind man named Batista

Question 23

How did Castro come to power and what effect did he have?

Answer 23

In 1959 he overthrew the Cuban government and set up a communist government. He took over American-owned businesses in Cuba. USA refuse to buy Cuba’s sugar in retaliation

Question 24

What was the USSR’s involvement in Cuba in the early 1960s?

Answer 24

Kruschev was keen to extend USSR influence in Caribbean
Castro becomes an ally of USSR
USSR start to supply weapons to Cuba

Question 25

What were the main events of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 25

14 October 1962 - US U2 spy plane takes photos of nuclear missile sites being built by USSR in Cuba
Sites could be ready to launch missiles within 7 days
Soviet ships on way to Cuba carrying missiles
Kennedy informs US people of threat and puts a naval blockade around Cuba
Kruschev says he would use nuclear weapons in war
Secret deal between USSR and US to withdraw missiles from Turkey and Cuba after Kruschev asks
U2 plane shot down

Question 26

What are the results of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 26

1963: hotline set up between two leaders for instant communication in crisis
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
1968: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - no supplying nuclear technology to other countries
No nuclear missiles in Cuba, missiles kept in Turkey as long as USA do not invade Cuba

Question 27

What was the Berlin Crisis 1961?

Answer 27

Kruschev orders construction of Berlin Wall
Stops refugees leaving East
18 hour tank face down between two nations but US tanks pull back first
January - 20,000 flee East Berlin
1,500 a day
Tanks ring city and Berlin Wall built

Question 28

How was the Berlin Wall justified?

Answer 28

Spies and agents were trying to destabilise communist states

Question 29

Why did the USA get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 29

To contain Communism - policy of containment/ domino theory
To defend democracy
Extend US influence in Asia

Question 30

Who was Vietnam a colony of until 1954?

Answer 30

France

Question 31

What was the Geneva agreement in 1954?

Answer 31

Temporary division of Vietnam inti North and South along the 17th Parallel

Question 32

What did the USA prevent in early 1956?

Answer 32

Early election

Question 33

Who was the North led by?

Answer 33

Ho Chi Minh (communist)

Question 34

Who was the South led by?

Answer 34

Ngo Dinh Diem (non-communist)

Question 35

Who patrolled the coast in 1964?

Answer 35

US Maddox - catalyst

Question 36

What were the strategies of Eisenhower?

Answer 36

Strategic helmet policy - fortification of villages and peasants which was very unpopular
Sent money

Question 37

What was chemical warfare?

Answer 37

Defoliants used to destroy jungle cover for the Vietcong
Agent Orange - 82 million litres of highly toxic weed killer used
Napalm was a bomb used by US which sprayed burning petroleum jelly - burns skin at 800C

Question 38

What was Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 38

US bombing campaign of North Vietnam
Lasted from 1965-68
Hoped to destroy Vietcong supply routes to South
Greater support for war from North Vietnam and failed

Question 39

What was Search and Destroy?

Answer 39

Westmoreland, the US commander in Vietnam, established heavily heavily defended bases near the south coast.
US and South Vietnamese launched Search and Destroy using helicopters
Destroy villages suspected of assisting Vietcong
Lit houses with zippos and killed a handful of Vietcong guerrilla fighters but US troops often walked into traps
Civilians also killed and innocent villages destroyed

Question 40

Why was the Vietnam War a failure (Strengths of Communists)?

Answer 40

Guerrilla tactics were effective
USSR and Chinese support
Support from South Vietnamese
Tunnels
Fighting for a cause and refusal to surrender
Success of Tet offensive in 1968

Question 41

Why was the Vietnam War a failure (US weaknesses)?

Answer 41

Young, inexperienced, low morale soldiers
Opposition at home in US
Unpopular tactics

Question 42

What were the effects of the Vietnam War?

Answer 42

Taxes increased
Inflation
Treasury tells President that war must end
Communism
Change in foreign policy
Detente
Easing of tension
Propaganda disaster
Made Johnson very unpopular

Question 43

Who was the Shah of Iran?

Answer 43

Close ally of America
Tried to modernise Iran by rapid industrialisation and emancipation of women

Question 44

Why was the Shah forced to abdicate?

Answer 44

It was felt too many children were being influenced by Western rule
Described as a tyrant and many were unhappy with his modernisation

Question 45

Who took control of Iran?

Answer 45

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini denounced the US as the Great Satan and announced an Islamic Republic
Brutal and wanted to destroy western influence
Fundamentalist

Question 46

What happened on 4 November 1979?

Answer 46

US embassy in Tehran taken over by militant Iranian students. 66 Americans including diplomats and guards were taken hostage - not legally allowed to be arrested

Question 47

How did Carter respond to Ayatollah’s first demand?

Answer 47

The extradition of the former Shah was requested but Carter refused, suspended oil imports from Iran and threatened military action

Question 48

What went wrong in April 1980?

Answer 48

A rescue mission by US forces ended with collision between a helicopter and refuelling aircraft and eight servicemen were killed

Question 49

How did Iran affect Carter’s reputation?

Answer 49

He lost more popularity
Shah dies in 1980
Negotiation lead to 52 American hostages released by Iran after 444 days in captivity

Question 50

What were the negative effects of the Vietnam War on the USA?

Answer 50

Increased tensions between USA and USSR
Affects USA reputation
Economic difficulty = defence spending which becomes too much