The distracted superpowers 1963 - 72 Flashcards
What 2 reasons were there for the US and USSR falling into détente in 1963?
- The Cuban Missile Crisis - neither side wanted an all-out nuclear war
-
Preoccupied with other foreign conflicts
- US = Vietnam War
- USSR = major threat from China
Who wanted détente after the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Both the two superpowers and the Western European staes
Because of the US’s involvement in the Vietnam War, what did the US want out of détente?
- To stabilise Europe
- To restrain the USSR
What does PRC stand for?
People’s Republic of China
Because of the PRC’s threat to the USSR, what did the USSR want out of détente?
- To lead Washington and its allies to permanently accept the post-war division of Europe
- ^ to agree to something approaching nuclear partity between the USA and USSR
What did the French want from détente?
To undermine the influence of both superpowers in Europe so that th individual European states could regain their freedom
Why did the West Germans (FRG) want détente?
They considered it an essential precondition for remaining in contact with and helping their fellow citizens in the GDR
Why did the British government welcome détente?
They faced mounting economic problems, and détente was a way of terminating the arms race and saving money
££££££££££££££
How did the Cold War continue during this time of détente in Europe?
- Both the USSR and PRC assisted the North Vietnamese
- The USSR constructed a large navy so it could project its power globally
How did the Soviets use their large navy in 1976?
In 1976:
Transported around 12,000 Cuban troops along with tanks and missiles to aid the Communist Popular Movement for the liberation of Angola
What caused the Sino-Soviet split?
(2 general)
- A mixure of both domestic and international factors
- Simmering resentment in China of the long history of Russian imperialism which had encroached on its nothern frontiers during the 1800 and early 1900s
What was the fundemental conflict between the PRC and the USSR?
Moa: perceived Khrushchev to be:
- An appeaser of NATO and the US
- A betrayer of the legacy of Stalin and Lenin
Soviet leadership: in return convinced that, under Mao:
- The PRC intended to displace the USSR as the leading Communist state
What happened after 1958 between the PRC and USSR?
The differences between them multiplied
Who did the USSR send over to China in 1956, and why?
Soviet economic advisors and technicians to help the PRC industrialise
What did the Soviet economic experts have to say about Mao’s ‘Great Leap Forward’?
Do you think this advice was appreciated?
That it was both impractical and harmful to the Chinese economy.
Probably rubbed Chinese up the wrong way >:( - in July 1960 these experts were recalled to the USSR
Why did Mao reject plans with the USSR for sharing military bases and operating joint naval units in the Pacific?
He believed that they were in reality ‘imperialist’ plans to subordinate the PRC’s armed forces to the USSR.
How did the PRC’s attempt to rally the Chinese people behind the ‘Great Leap Forward’ in August 1958 alarm Khrushchev?
What was his concern?
They began an intense bombardment of the Nationalist-controlled Quemoy Islands off Taiwan
Khrushchev: this might lead to war with the USA!
In June ____, Krushchev refused to assist the PRC and further with ____ ____ on the grounds that the ____ and the USSR were discussing a possible ban on ____ ____ at Geneva.
In June 1959, Krushchev refused to assist the PRC and further with nuclear technology on the grounds that the USA and the USSR were discussing a possible ban on nuclear weapons at Geneva.
Name 4 instances that show the increase in differences between the USSR and PRC after 1958
- Soviet economic advisors and technicians criticise Mao’s ‘Great Leap Forward’, and are recalled to USSR in 1960
- Mao rejects Soviet plans for joint military bases and naval untis in Pacific because thinks they subordinate the PRC’s forces to USSR
- 1958 Chinese bombard Quemoy Islands to rally Chinese around ‘GLF’, alarming Khrushchev that it might lead to war with US
- 1959 Khrushchev refuses to further help Chinese with nuclear technology because discussing possible ban with US at Geneva
What did Khrushchev’s death in Oct 1964 cause hope for?
The restoration of good Sino-Soviet relations
How did the Chinese try to restore good relations with the USSR in November 1964?
Explain its success
Mission led by Premier Zhou Enlai was sent to the USSR to improve relations.
Unsuccessful - allegedly Soviet Defense Minister MAlinowshi urged Zhou Enlai to overthrow Mao
When and why did Mao launch the Cultural Revolution?
August 1966
To inspire the Chinese to recapture the revolutionary enthusiasm of 1949 and to hunt down intellectuals and Chinese Communist Party officials allegedly guilty of ‘revisionist’ attitudes
How does Mao’s Cultural Revolution tie into the decline in Sino-Soviet relations?
Mao linked the fight against the revisionists within China with the propaganda campaign against the ‘revisinoist’ USSR
In 1966 what did the PRC regard the USSR as?
USSR = the PRC’s primary foe
What beef from the 1800s (and in 1917) negatively impacted Sino-Soviet relations later on?
In the 1800s the Russian Empire forced the Chinese Empire to negotiatie treaties which ceded several regions to Russia. After 1917 the USSR repudiated these treaties but never returned the land
What area was the 1969 Sino-Soviet territorial dispute centred on?
The 52,000 square kilometres of Soviet-controlled land between the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region and the Soviet controlled region of Tajikistan
What happened on the Soviet-occupied Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River on March 1969?
Two bloody conflicts
1-2 March a PRC force overwhelmed the Soviet garrison but was evetually driven off the island after a massive Soviet counter-attack
What Sino-Soviet conflict happened on 13 August 1969 in Xinjiang Province?
A PRC brigade of over 1000 was annihilated by Soviet troops
The PRC relatiated by declaring a general mobilisation along the border with the USSR and Mongolia
Why were the USA determined to avoid elections (to be heldin 1956) for a united Vietnamese parliament?
In case they resulted in the creation of a Communist Vietnam
What did the USA hope to do instead of creating a united Vietnamese parliament?
Strengthen an independent south Vietnam
What did the US do in an attempt to stop the spread of communism to South-East Asia?
Established the Southeastern Asian Treaty Organisation
SEATO
Who were the mebers of SEATO?
- US
- Britain
- France
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Thailand
- The Phillipines
- Pakistan
Explain the effectiveness of SEATO
Ineffective:
Members were not legally obliged to assist each other militarily to prevent the spread of communism
How did the US meddle with South Vietnamese leadership for their anti-communist agenda in June 1954?
With US support, head of state Bao Dai appointed Ngo Dinh Diem as PM of South Vietnam
- Largely because he was VERY anti-communist
Describe Diem’s brief success at the start of his PMship
Diem quickly removed Bao Dai and temporarily managed to consolidate his position
How did Diem then cock things up and rapidly lose support?
(2 main)
- He alienated key groups e.g the majority Buddhists, by favouring the 10% of pop Roman Catholics
* Catholics favoured in the allocation of posts in the army and public services - He did not carry out the promised programme of land reform
* Would have taken land away from the large landowners and redistributed it to the peasantry
In spring 1959-1960, how did the US’s meddling in South Vietnamese leadership backfire?
North Vietnam exploited Diem’s unpopularity:
- North Vietnam announced the resumption of armed struggle against the South Vietnamese government
- Smuggled arms southwards across Ho Chi Minh Trail
- 1960 - Viet Cong founded the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam (NFL) to rally Diem’s opposition by promising reform and the creation of a united, independent Vietnam
By the autumn of 1961, Diem’s government was ____ ____ ____ ____
By the autumn of 1961, Diem’s government was in danger of collapse
What had the Viet Cong done by 1961 which put Diem’s government on the verge of collapse?
The Viet Cong had seized control of a large number of villages
How did Kennedy respond to Diem’s demand for immediate assistance in 1961?
Did this help?
Kennedy sent a small force of 8,000 US troops to help conduct military opertions against the Viet Cong
This was not enough to stabilise Diem’s regime
What tipped Diem’s unstable regime over the edge?
Date?
May 1963
Diem’s troops fired into a crowd of people celebrating the sacred occasion of Buddha’s birthday - they had violated the law banning the flying of non-governmental flags
What did Diem’s troops shooting into teh crowd celebrating Buddha’s birthday provoke?
A wave of anger across the country which resulted in:
- Protest marches
- Self-immolations by Buddhist monks
What was Kennedy’s response to Diem’s unpopularity and rumours that he was considering negotiations with North Vietnam?
Date?
Result?
Kennedy backed a coup mounted by the South Vietnamese army in November 1963
- Diem and his brother were murdered
Who was installed after Diem’s death?
General Khanh
Did Khanh succeed in defeating the Viet Cong?
Result?
No - by 1964 the war in South Vietnam was rapidly escalating
What (possibly set-up) event made the US Congress give the president the authority to ‘take all necessary measures’ to defend US forces in South-East Asia?
The shooting of the US destroyer, the Maddox, by two North Vietnamese patrol boats in the Gulf of Tonkin
How did the Maddox retaliate to being shot-at?
Damaged two boats and sank a third
When did the US Congress give the president the authority to ‘take all necessary measures’ to defend US forces in South-East Asia?
7th August 1964
How did the president go about asserting his authority to protect the US in Vietnam?
January 1965:
- Operation Rolling Thunder
- (sustained bombing campaign of North Vietnam)
1966:
- Over 500,000 US soldiers in South Vietnam
Name 2 of the reasons the US were unsuccessful in Vietnam?
Specific stat please.
- The Viet Cong were supplied with weapons and provisions transported down the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Eventually, supplies able to support around 17,000 Viet Cong guerillas
- The paddy fields and dense jungle ideal terrain for guerilla warfare, terrible for traditional warfare
How many PRC troops helped out in North Vietnam? How did they aid North Vietnam?
Over 320,000 PRC troops in North Vietnam
- Engaged in construction, maintenance, and defense of transport links and important strategic targets
- Freed North Vietnamese troops for deployment in South
- Deterred a US invasion of the North
What was agreed about the involvement of PRC troops in North Vietnam?
Unless US invaded the North, PRC would not become directly involved in the conflict
How much money (in worth of time) did the USSR deliver in goods and aid between 1965-67?
Around $670 million (in $ at time) worth of goods and aid
What was the USSR’s delivery of goods and aid to North Vietnam 1965-67 mostly used for?
Defense
