USA Topic 6 Flashcards
Why did the US get involved in the Cold War
Fear of spread of communism
Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe
Truman’s distrust of Stalin(thought he wanted to take over all of Europe)
What happened at the Potsdam Conference
Truman had tested an atomic bomb and he told Stalin this at the conference. Stalin was angry he hadn’t been informed beforehand
What was agreed at the Yalta conference
Germany and Berlin would be divided into 4 zones
What was disagreed at the Potsdam conference
Reparations that Germany should pay. Stalin wanted them to pay more as the USSR had lost a lot, Truman disagreed. He wanted free elections in the Eastern European countries that the USSR was occupying. Stalin refused.
What was agreed at the Potsdam Conference
,Germany would be demilitarised, democracy would be re-established and the Nazi party would be banned
What was the Truman Doctrine
Truman’s policy of containment - he would save other countries from invasion or enslavement
What were the consequences of the Truman Doctrine
The Greek government could defeat the communists, the rivalry with the USSR increased
The Marshall Plan was introduced
What was the Marshall Plan
Truman offering economic aid across Europe to try to stop spread of communism
What were the ‘corridors’ that Stalin provided
As Berlin was in the middle of the Soviet zone, Stalin gave the Allies corridors in through canal, road, rail and air.
Why did Stalin close down most of the corridors
Because the Allies announced a new currency, established democracy and planned to make West Germany a new state
Why couldn’t Stalin close down the air corridor
Because this would mean shooting a plane out of the sky which was an act of war
What were the events of the Berlin Crisis
Truman wanted to stand up to Stalin. The allies airlifted supplies from their bases - 13000 tonnes of supplies were delivered in 24 hours at the peak of the Berlin Airlift. Stalin called off the blockade.
When was the North Atlantic Treaty signed and what did it establish
April 1949 - established NATO which was meant to prevent soviet expansion
What was the USSRs rival group to NATO
The Warsaw Pact - designed to counter the threat of NATO
What did Krushchev do in 1961 and why
He built the Berlin Wall to stop all the refugees coming in and to try and bully the inexperienced new USA president
What was the second flashpoint of Berlin
USA and USSR tanks were at a standoff for 18 hours until the USA eventually backed down
What was the USAs relationship with Cuba
They bought Cubas sugar and propped up the military dictatorship there. In return it was ‘Americas playground’- businessmen used it for holidays.
What caused the Cuban Missile Crisis
A new leader, Fidel Castro , a communist, came to power. He rejected all US investments and businesses and so the US refused to buy their sugar. The USSR offered to buy their sugar instead.
How did the USAs invasion of the Bay of Pigs go
It failed, it was an embarrassment and drew Castro and the USSR closer
What did Krushchev do in Cuba which concerned the US
He built missile bases in Cuba which could hit almost all US cities
What did Kennedy do as a result of Krushchevs bases
Imposed a naval blockade. Krushchev sent a letter telling him that he would force through the blockade. Kennedy asked him to withdraw the missiles and he agreed if Kennedy would remove his missiles from Turkey and not invade Cuba. Both agreed to keep it secret
When was the Partial Test Ban Treaty signed and what was it
1963 - stopped testing of new nuclear bombs
Why did the US get involved in the Vietnam war
Fear of communism and the Domino theory that if one country became communist others around it would follow
Who was North Vietnam led by
Ho Chi Min (communist) and the Vietcong
