The USA and the international relations 1960-75 Flashcards
1
Q
When and what the Berlin Wall Crisis?
A
- 1961
- Khrushchev remained determined to force West out of Berlin
- 1961: gave US ultimatum: something had to be done about Berlin by Dec 1961 or Khrushchev would hand over the Berlin access routes to East Germany
- Aug 1961: K ordered construction of wall to separate east and west Berlin
- 27 oct: US and Soviet tanks faced each other in intense stand-off, after 18 hours US tanks pulled back
2
Q
Why was the Berlin Wall Crisis significant?
A
- Brought some stability to Germany and Berlin, finally sealed off 2 Berlins
- increased cold war tensions; nuclear testing resumed
- Soviet propaganda claimed that the Wall was a success for Russia as USA unable to prevent construction
- West saw it as triumph: east wall its people in
- some historians believe it encouraged the Cuban Missile Crisis
3
Q
When was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A
1962
4
Q
What caused the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A
- Castro, cuban president, ejected all US businesses and investment
- in retaliation US refused to buy Cuban sugar
- soviet union offered to buy it; keen to extend influence in Caribbean
- Bay of Pigs invasion
5
Q
What was the Bay of Pigs?
A
- 1961: Kennedy sanctioned an invasion of Cuba by exiles who had left Cuba in 1959
- to land in the Bay of Pigs, create a national uprising and overthrow Castro
- disastrous failure due to poor planning and lack of Cuban support: Castro popular
- further strengthened his position and drew Cuba closer to SU
- end of 1961: Castro announced his conversion to communism
6
Q
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A
- Khrushchev concerned about US missile bases in Italy and Turkey
- thus wanted to establish soviet bases in Cuba
- Sep1962: began to install ballistic missiles in Cuba
- 14th Oct: American U2 spy plane took photographs of Cuba which revealed this
- posed threat to americae
7
Q
What were the key events of the crisis?
A
- 20th: Kennedy imposed naval blockade around Cuba
- 23rd: Khrushchev insisted soviet ships would force way through blockade
- 25: Kennedy asked K to withdraw missiles from Cuba
- 26: Said he would if USA promised not to invade Cuba and withdrew missiles from Turkey
- 27: Kennedy agreed as long as secret
8
Q
What were the results of the CMC?
A
- Americans felt they won some kind of victory
- this led to overconfidence esp in Vietnam
- almost gone to war
- relief and reduction of tension
- furthered with hotline telephone link established between countries
- Partial Test Ban Treaty signed 1963: both countries agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons in atmosphere
9
Q
Why had relations which china deteriorated? recap
A
- since Chinese Civil War 1945-49
- when USA provided aid to Mao’s opponent Chiang
- worsened during Korean war
- after this put trade embargo on china
- then establishes bases on Taiwan - infuriated Mao
- nevertheless, one of Nixon’s greatest achievements in china
10
Q
Why were there improved relations with China?
A
- 1971: USA lifted its 21-year old trade embargo with China
- relations between China and USSR had worsened in late 60s; esp after chinese denouncement of soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968; Nixon exploited this
- Nixon hoped closer relations with China might help end Vietnam war; China close allies with V
- Mao believed China needed detente, esp the potential stimulus to Chinese trade and industry; also convinces Nixon would withdraw from Asia, esp Vietnam
11
Q
What was ‘Ping-pong’ diplomacy?
A
- began at World Table Tennis Championship in 1971
- Chinese ping pong team formally invited US team to play in their country on an all-expenses paid trip
- When American player missed team bus after practice, offered ride by chinese player
- publicised and later that day American team formally invited into china
- among first group of US citizens permitted to visit china in 1949
12
Q
After US lifted trade embargo what happened?
A
- lifted in 1971
- talks began to facilitate meeting between leaders
13
Q
Why was ping pong diplomacy important?
A
- led to restoration of sino-us relations
- triggered series of other events
- inc restoration of China’s legitimate rights into United Nations + establishment of diplomatic relations between china and other countries
14
Q
Why did detente begin?
A
- threat of nuclear war during CMS sobering effect
- both USA and USSR keen on arms limitations to reduce their defence spending + fearful of growing military strength of USSR
- Vietnam War - not going well - by 1968 seeked to end; hoped Brezhnev might persuade V to negotiate end of war
- Soviet leader Brezhev keen on not seeing a Chinese-US alliance develop; keen to access US tech and further grain sales
15
Q
who was nixon’s FP advisor?
A
- henry kissinger
- important role
