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Cold War Flashcards

(54 cards)

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1
Q

Yalta

A

Feb 1945
20b reparations, 1/2 to Soviets
UN set up
USSR would declare war on Japan when Germany defeated

Poland would be a Soviet sphere of influence

Roosevelt Stalin Churchill

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2
Q

Potsdam

A

July-Aug 1945
Nazi party banned
War criminals would be prosecuted
Germany divided into 4
Berlin to be divided
Truman Atlee Stalin

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3
Q

Iron Curtain

A

1946 Churchill

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4
Q

Early tension in Poland

A

British backed non communist ‘London Poles’
USSR ended up fixing elecions, US saw this as a betrayal of Yalta

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5
Q

Truman Doctrine

A

1947
Containment, US should provide money and troops to help free governments

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6
Q

Marshall Plan

A

1947
13b aid from US
Communism appealed to people with nothing, so Marshall Plan strengthened economies
Countries must trade with US to get money, strengthening their economy
USSR criticised it as an attack on them

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7
Q

Cominform

A

1947
Got rid of opposition to USSR control in satellite states
Encouraged communist countries to block Marshall aid

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8
Q

Comecon

A

1949
Built trade links with Comecon countries
Prevented countries in it from signing up to Marshall Plan

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9
Q

Causes of Berlin Blockade

A

Jun 1948
USA wanted a united capitalist Germany
USSR wanted Germany to be weak and divided
Merge of French, British and US regions (Stalin not consulted) and Deutschmark introduced there

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10
Q

Events of Berlin blockade

A

USSR closed all links to West Berlin to force British, French and US troops to leave.
Airlift 1948-49

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11
Q

Outcomes of Berlin blockade

A

Propaganda for USA
Sept 1949, FDR formed
Apr 1949 NATO
Propaganda- made USSR look aggressive
Oct 1949- GDR
May 1955- Warsaw Pact

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12
Q

Events of Chin

A

1949
CCP (Chinese communist party)- Mao Tse-tung took control of China
USA supports Chinese government
USSR invades Manchuria (NE China)
CCP boosted by Soviet aid and in control of Manchuria by 1948
Defeated Chinese gov in 1949 with peasant support

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13
Q

Consequences of China

A

West refused to acknowledge CCP and backed exiled leader
Money to Taiwan and Japan to stop them becoming communist
USSR and China relations weak
Mao’s rule lead to starvation and violence
Treaty of Friendship

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14
Q

Treaty of Friendship

A

1950
300m aid from Soviet to China, high interest and on Soviet products
Accepted 8000 Chinese students to study science in USSR
Sent 20000 ‘experts’ to help development (cost China)
China had to give up 2 major ports and mining rights to Soviets

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15
Q

Korean War events

A

1950-53
1948- North (Kim Il-Sung) and South (Syngman Rhee) established
Mar 1949- Kim asked USSR to help invade south. Stalin didn’t want to fight US and encouraged China to help
Kim invaded, US asked UN for ceasefire and UN demanded Kim’s forces withdraw
UN forces lead by US supported Rhee, war became a stalemate

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16
Q

Significance of Korean War

A

US influence in UN clear
US committed to containment
US fought USSR (proxy)
General Macarthur sacked for calling for use of nuclear weapons
Neither US/USSR wanted to risk military struggle against each other
Little changed in Korea, tension continued

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17
Q

Vietnam events

A

1955-75
Sept 1945- Viet Minh independence fighters establish Communist republic of Vietnam
1954 French decide to withdraw, US paid 2/3 of French campaign, didn’t want to give up
Geneva 1954 world powers agreed to communist North French south, Eisenshower refused
Aid sent to south to help containment

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18
Q

Vietnam events p2

A

South lead by corrupt and unpopular Ngo Dinh Diem
1960 communist Vietcong formed to overthrow Diem
Diem removed by US backed rebels
Johnson (after Kennedy) ordered full involvement, gradually left after 1972

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19
Q

Arms race

A

1945- US 2 atom bombs
1949- USSR tested first A bomb
1952- USA develops H bomb
1953- USSR develops H bomb

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20
Q

Effects of brinksmanship

A

Defence costs increased for both sides
Attack drills taught in US

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21
Q

Space race

A

1957- first satellite USSR
1961- Yuri Gagarin first man in space
1969- Neil Armstrong first man on moon

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22
Q

Impact of NATO

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A

Stalin saw it as an act of aggression
US promised funds to help allies
Set up US bases in NATO countries

23
Q

Impact of Warsaw Pact

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A

2 opposing alliances in Europe, separated by Iron Curtain
Both planned military action
USSR gained control over armed forces of satellite states

24
Q

Hungarian Uprising events

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A

Khrushchev now in power
Hungary thought they could be freed from Rakosi as Poland received some reforms
Khrushchev appointed Imre Nagy following Hungarian protests
Nagy wanted UN protection from USSR, to hold free elections and leave Warsaw Pact (be neutral)
1956- Soviet troops invaded Hungary, Khrushchev feared others would leave WP

25
Hungarian Uprising consequences
Nagy executed Hungarians and Soviet troops killed Kádár appointed Less harsh communism accepted by Hungarians
26
Hungarian Uprising wider consequences
UN condemned Soviet actions US supported Hungary and accepted refugees US couldn’t send troops as it risks war with USSR Satellite states saw US couldn’t help so Soviet control tightened
27
Tension before U2 crisis
West Berlin Refugee problem in Berlin Berlin Ultimatum 1958, all troops must leave within 6 months
28
Paris Summit
May 1960 Disaster Khrushchev stormed out after US failed to apologise for U2
29
Vienna conference
June 1961 Neither willing to back down Khrushchev thought he could exploit Kennedy’s inexperience
30
U2 crisis eventd
May 1960 US pilot Gary Powers captured US lied, after coming clean Eisenhower refused to say sorry or that it wouldn’t happen again Khrushchev reissued ultimatum
31
Reasons for Berlin Wall
Western powers remained in Berlin despite Khrushchev’s ultimatum Refugee problem really bad
32
Kennedy’s response to Berlin wall
US made an official complaint to USSR Western troops remained in Berlin Barrier between freedom and communism Ich bin ein Berliner, after CMC
33
USSR impact of Berlin wall
Solved refugee problem Humiliation for USSR and propaganda victory for USA Showed Soviets given up on unifying Berlin
34
Castro’s role in Cuban Revolution
Batista hated Castro lead a revolution 1956-1958 US refused to talk to him Castro built links with USSR
35
Why did Cuba turn into a crisis
US banned all trade with Cuba and refused to acknowledge its government CIA failed to assassinate Castro but failed, convinced Kennedy to back an invasion of Cuba
36
Bay of Pigs
1961 Supposed to look like a Cuban revolt Castro’s control supposed to be weak Cubans supposed to hate Castro Planes recognised as US, photographed Castro knew about invasion and US backed troops outnumbered and surrendered
37
Impact of Bay of Pigs
Kennedy embarrassed Castro claimed a victory Ended all chances of relationship between Cuba and US Castro announced he was communist Cuba and USSR built closer ties
38
Khrushchev’s role in Cuban Missile Crisis
Keen to increase Soviet influence near America Castro liked idea of Soviet missiles
39
Kennedy’s role and US fears of Cuban Missile Crisis
US panicked when they learnt they were in range of Soviet missiles Kennedy announced blockade of Cuba US troops on DEFCON 3
40
Timeline of Cuban Missile Crisis
Nuclear warheads and missiles sent to Cuba Kennedy informed Kennedy decided against an attack and orders blockade USSR says they’ll ignore it USA and USSR prepare for nuclear attack Khrushchev offers to remove missiles if Kennedy does from Turkey Khrushchev agrees and it’s over October 1962
41
Short term results of crisis
Communist Cuba survives USSR publicly withdraws missiles, USA secretly does from Turkey USSR looked weak to public
42
Dangers of CMC
Soviet fleet approached blockade Oil tanker let through US troops prepared to invade Cuba Depth charges fired at submarine, senior officer told captain not to fire back
43
Long term results of CMC
Direct communication link between Washington and Moscow 1963 Kennedy speech about working with USSR USSR caught up with arms race 1965, so MAD assured Agreed not to give nuclear weapons to other countries
44
Impact of Soviet rule in Czechoslovakia
1968 Czechoslovakia had a bad economy and standards of living Communist rule unpopular- limits on free speech
45
Prague Spring movement
Dubček made Czechoslovakian leader Friend of Brezhnev Press censorship ended Other parties allowed along communism More power given to Czechoslovakian parliament- soviet control reduced Economy reformed with sone capitalist elements
46
How Czechs responded to reforms
Welcomed enthusiastically
47
Immediate effect on Warsaw Pact countries of Prague Spring
Brezhnev concerned it would threaten Communism in eastern block Polish students called for reform Brezhnev had a dilemma- damage reputation or allow eastern bloc to collapse
48
USSR response to Dubček
Brezhnev failed to convince Dubček to stop 1968- tanks sent to Prague, Dubček arrested
49
Brezhnev Doctrine
USSR declared right to invade any Eastern bloc country that threatened Eastern bloc security
50
Effect on West of Prague
USA condemned invasion Offered no military help USA already stuck in Vietnam Didn’t damage growing detente
51
Effect on East of Prague
Limited reforms Poland protested Strengthened Soviet control Protests in China
52
Reasons for Détente
China Soviet split Arms race, USA and USSR didn’t want other countries to have their powers Neither could afford arms and space race- USSR economic, US social issues and protests in US Vietnam, US and USSR began to rely more on indirect action rather than military intervention
53
SALT 1
1972 No further production of strategic ballistic weapons No more ICBMs No new nuclear missile launchers
54
Roles of Brezhnev and Nixon in Détente
Worked together well They were both experienced, helped them make progress where younger leaders had failed Both seen bad parts of Cold War
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