1
Q
Early tensions between East and West
A
- The alliance of the USA and the USSR brought together two sides that were divided by their political ideologies.
- The political and economic systems of the USA and Britain were based on capitalism, while, since after the 1917 Russian Revolution, the USSR had based its economy on communism.
2
Q
Why was the Grand Alliance created?
A
- Britain had been at war with Germany since Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939.
- The USSR allied itself with Britain in 1941 when Germany began to invade its territories.
- In December 1941, Germany’s ally, Japan, launched a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor brought the USA into WW2 on the same side as Britain and the USSR.
3
Q
Capitalism
A
- Several political parties.
- Democratic elections.
- Businesses controlled by private owners for profit.
- Individual and rights of freedom are important.
- Freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
4
Q
Communism
A
- One-party state.
- No democratic elections and no opportunity to change the gov by election.
- All businesses and factories are owned by the state.
- Obedience to the state is important.
- Censorship and state controlled media.
5
Q
Tehran Conference (Nov 1943)
-OBJECTIVE
A
•To discuss the group’s planned invasion of Nazi occupied France.
- At this point, the Soviet Red Army was the only army fighting the Nazis on land.
- Stalin and Roosevelt good friends.
- Churchill suspicious of Stalin.
6
Q
Tehran Conference (Nov 1943)
-OUTCOMES (TJPUF)
A
Tehran
Japan (USSR agreed to fight Japan once war ended in Europe)
Poland (an area of Eastern Poland added to USSR)
UN (United Nations planned for after the War)
France (agreed to open a second front by invading France in 1944)
7
Q
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)
-OBJECTIVE
A
•With an Allied victory looking likely, the aim of the Yalta Conference was to decide what to do with Germany once it had been defeated.
-In many ways the Yalta Conference set the scene for the rest of the Cold War in Europe.
8
Q
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)
-OUTCOMES
A
Germany + Berlin would be divided into four zones controlled by Allies.
Treatment of Nazi war criminals.
USSR would help fight against Japan (reiterated).
Free elections for liberated countries.
USSR would have a sphere of influence in the east (where communist ideals would dominate).
BUT disagreements:
Amount of reparations Germany should pay + territory in Poland (Stalin wanted more of both) + Stalin wanted SU-friendly govt in Poland rather than free elections.
9
Q
Potsdam Conference (July 1945)
-OBJECTIVE
A
•To finalise a post-war settlement and put into action all the things agreed at Yalta.
- While the meeting at Yalta had been reasonably friendly, the Potsdam Conference was fraught with disagreements, which were the result of some significant changes that had taken place since the Yalta Conference:
- Soviet troops occupied the countries they liberated in Eastern Europe.
- Stalin set up Communist govt in Poland.
- Red Army continued to expand unlike the demilitarisation in the west.
- USA had successfully tested a nuclear bomb without telling USSR.
- Change in leadership – no longer Roosevelt and Churchill but Truman and Atlee.
10
Q
Potsdam Conference (July 1945)
-OUTCOMES
A
- Agreed on who would occupy each of the 4 zones of Germany + Berlin.
- Nazi party banned.
- Democracy was to be re-established in Germany.
- Agreements at Tehran confirmed.
BUT disagreements:
Stalin wanted Germany crippled with reparation so never strong enough to attack again; Truman refused - didn’t want to repeat mistake of TofV.
Truman wanted free elections in Eastern Europe countries occupied by SU, but Stalin wanted pro-SU govts to protect USSR’s borders.
11
Q
Reasons why Stalin wanted to expand the Soviet Union into Eastern Europe:
A
- All countries bordering the SU to be Soviet-controlled states would act as a buffer to invasions from the West – in both world wars Russia had been invaded from the West and suffered badly.
- Stalin wanted to spread Communism throughout Europe – Allies concerned that Nazi Germany would only be replaced by a new Communist dictatorship.
12
Q
How did the Soviet Union come to dominate Eastern Europe?(1945-1948)
A
Coalition governments set up.
Elections rigged to ensure communist victory.
Taking advantage of an economic crisis to seize control.
Gaining control over police + armed forces to arrest non-communists or leaders of opposition parties.
Banning of other political parties.
March 1946 Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech talked about how Europe was becoming more divided: the Communist East + Capitalist West. It looked like a war with GB + USA against the SU was in the making.
13
Q
Truman Doctrine, 1947
A
- March 1947—Truman made a speech in which he outlined the new policy of containment– the USA would intervene financially and militarily where needed to prevent communist expansion into non-communist countries.
- This was a direct result of the British plea for help over supporting the Greek government in the civil war against the Communist rebels.
- Truman stated that the world was divided between 2 ways of life: the free non-communist + the unfree, communist.
14
Q
Consequences of the Truman Doctrine:
A
- Greek govt was able to defeat communist rebels.
- Rivalry between USA and SU increased.
- Turning point in US foreign policy as USA became far more involved in European affairs.
- Marshall Plan introduced to provide economic aid to Europe.
- The setting up of Cominform in 1947 by Stalin to establish an eastern bloc against the capitalist west.
15
Q
Cominform, 1947
A
- 1947—Communist Information Bureau was set up to enable SU to co-ordinate communist parties throughout Europe.
- It was SU’s response to the Truman Doctrine.
- It ensured that all eastern European countries followed the same Soviet foreign policy + economic systems (e.g. collectivisation of agriculture + state control of industry).
- SU used the organisation to purge any potential rivals (Tito–president of Yugoslavia–refused to follow Stalin’s orders, leading to the expulsion of Yugoslavia from Cominform in 1948).
16
Q
Consequences of Cominform:
A
-The east remained economically weaker than the west as they were economically + politically bound to USSR, so unable to accept Marshall Plan.
• Cominform established a deeper divide between east and west as a response to the Truman Doctrine.
17
Q
Marshall Plan, 1947
A
- Economic aid given to Europe to support the US policy of containment (European Recovery Plan).
- Truman believed that countries with economic problems, unemployment + poverty were more likely to turn to communism.
- Many European countries were struggling to deal with the damage caused during WW2 so the USA gave money to help these countries recover economically to prevent the spread of communism.
- The aid was available for all – Stalin even considered it but would have needed to admit how weak the SU was economically so he refused + forbade any of his eastern bloc in Cominform from accepting the aid.
- $17 billion in aid was given over a five year period 1948-53.
18
Q
Consequences of the Marshall Plan:
A
-16 countries met to discuss how to put the plan into action (OEEC).
-The aid helped rebuild economies and raise the standard of living. US machinery helped European factories recover from the effects of war. US advisors helped rebuild transport systems.
(in return they would agree to buy US goods)
- Politically none fell to Communism.
- East-west rivalry heightened. Stalin accused the USA of using the plan to dominate Europe + boost the US economy.
19
Q
Comecon, 1949
A
- Council for Mutual Assistance founded in 1949 – a response to the Marshall Plan.
- The plan was the Soviet Union supported the eastern bloc countries financially.
- In reality it was used to:
- control the economies of the eastern bloc
- give the Soviet Union access to their resources
- encourage economic specialisation within the Soviet bloc.
E.g. Czechoslovakia + East Germany concentrated on heavy industry; Romania, Hungary + Bulgaria specialised on the production of food and raw materials.
20
Q
Consequences of Comecon:
A
- East-west rivalry was heightened – Stalin ensured there could be no economic trade with the west.
- Cominform also ensured Soviet control.
- The east were weakened by Soviet control and their need to specialise markets, which led to shortages and a much poorer standard of living than in the west as well as a lack of political freedom.
- This led to uprisings against this way of economy and life (e.g. Hungary in 1956).
21
Q
Long-term causes of the Berlin Blockade (1945-47)
Western zones
A
- Allies favoured democracy + set up free elections in their zones in West Berlin.
- Industry was encouraged in the west to speed up the economic recovery of Germany.
- Allies wanted to remain in West Berlin so they could observe Soviet activity in East Germany.
22
Q
Long-term causes of the Berlin Blockade (1945-47)
Eastern zones
A
- Berlin was in the heart of Soviet-controlled East Germany. Allies were allowed access through East Germany to reach their zones in Berlin.
- SU rigged elections in their eastern zone to place the Communist Party in control.
- Black market thrived in East Berlin since SU wanted to crush their economy to keep Germany weak + make communism be their only hope.
- Stalin wanted allies out of West Berlin as he was worried that the capitalist way of life would be more attractive to East Germans.
23
Q
Short-term causes of the Berlin Blockade (1947-48)
A
JAN 1947 – US + British zones in Berlin merged to become Bizonia. Stalin was suspicious of this + tensions between the zones increased.
MAR 1948 – Stalin heard that Bizonia planned to introduce their own currency to West Berlin. Soviets walked out of Allied Controlled Comission (joint body set to run Germany) in protest.
APR 1948 – German allied zones included in Marshall Plan. Stalin worried that East Berliners would look longingly at economic recovery in West Berlin + Soviets would lose support.
JUN 1948 – Plans for new currency in West Berlin announced (Deutschmark). SU retaliated by introducing its own currency (Ostmark).
24th JUN 1948 – Stalin cut off road, rail + canal traffic in attempt to starve the 2 million people in West Berlin. Stalin trying to force allies to pull out of West Berlin + gain SU dominance over the capital.
24
Q
What happened during the Berlin Airlift 1948?
A
28th June 1948 - Allies started airlifting supplies from their bases in West Germany. This lasted 10 months, with planes flying day + night.
SU didn’t shoot the planes down, but they placed weather balloons in awkward areas + Soviet planes flew down air corridors. This made it harder for the Allies’ planes to move around in the air.
As a warning to the SU, Truman sent B-29 bombers capable of carrying atomic bombs to Britain. This meant the SU was now in bombing range.
SU tried to persuade the people in the West to move to the East, but only 3% moved. Stalin hoped severe winter conditions would stop the airlifts, but they had a mild winter which didn’t disrupt flights.
An average of 4000 tonnes of supplies were delivered each day. West Berliners were supplied with food, clothing, oil + building materials, but there were still great shortages + many left.
12th May 1949 - Stalin called of the blockade as it had failed to keep the Allies out of Berlin.
25
Consequences of the Berlin Airlift 1948:
Divided Germany:
- days after blockade, Allies created Federal Republic of Germany.
- Oct. Stalin renamed the Soviet zone the German Democratic Republic.
- German zones would not be working together.
Increased rivalry:
- tension + rivalry between east + west increased.
- Stalin was humiliated + angry that his blockade was defeated.
- Truman wanted to continue successfully standing up to the SU.
- the ‘arms race’ intensified.
Military alliances:
- Apr. 1949 - West Europe + USA formed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to work together to prevent SU expansion.
- Stalin saw NATO as an act of aggression towards the SU.
- May 1953 - West Germany joined NATO + was allowed to remilitarise.
- Days later Stalin set up Warsaw Pact so 8 countries in Eastern Europe would support each other if attacked.
26
Arms race definition
Competition to build the best nuclear weapons.
27
Space race definition
Competition to get into space first.
28
The arms race between the USA and USSR
Each superpower suspected that other of wanting to make enough nuclear weapons to make the ‘first strike’ - tensions increased.
After USA’s first successful atomic bomb test 1945, SU tripled scientists pay so 1949 USSR’s first successful atomic bomb test.
Truman massively increased defence spending to create the H-bomb + SU retaliated by increasing its own defence spending.
Each side felt threatened by each other + continued to develop increasingly powerful weapons.
29
The space race between the USA and USSR
1957 tension intensified when USSR launched Sputnik, a satellite which could orbit the earth in 1 + a half hours.
USA saw this as a military threat + increased its spending on missiles. This led to the USA founding NASA + placing missile bases in some European countries, especially West Germany.
30
How did the SU gain control over Hungary?
* When WW2 ended the Soviet army which had liberated Hungary from Nazis remained in Hungary.
* 1945 Smallholders Party was largest party + Communists had only 17% votes.
* Communist members in charge of police + arrested leaders of Smallholders Party + forced PM Ferenc Nagy to resign.
* 1947 Communist Party had taken control of govt, but Hungary still democracy.
31
How did the SU influence Hungary?
* 1949 Hungarian economy controlled through Comecon—>can’t receive Marshall Aid. SU took resources for unfair prices—>living standards poor.
* 1949 new constitution making Hungary ‘one-party state’.
* 1952 Rakosi (communist) becomes PM.
* Rakosi uses fear of secret police to keep control. Orders deaths of 2000 + imprisonment of 200,000 political opponents.
* 1953 Stalin dies + replaced by Malenkov, who replaces Rakosi with Imre Nagy – hope for change.
* 2 yrs later Malenkov replaced by Khrushchev who spoke out against Stalin’s years of terror (de-Stalinisation) - hope for change.
32
Uprising in Hungary 1956
* Oct 1956 Hungarian students led demonstrations in Budapest against Communist rule. Statue of Stalin pulled down + dragged through streets.
* Khrushchev sent tanks to restore order. 12 people were killed + over 100 were injured.
* Nagy reaches agreement with Khrushchev to withdraw tanks, release political prisoners + let Hungary leave Warsaw Pact.
* Khrushchev temporarily withdraws tanks, but won’t let Hungary leave Warsaw Pact + doesn’t want to appear weak.
* 4th Nov 200,000 Soviet troops + 6000 tanks return to Hungary + crush uprising.
* 10th Nov ceasefire agreed, but some fighting continued until mid 1957.
33
Consequences of the Uprising in Hungary:
- Some Soviet troops (7000) + many rebels (20,000) killed.
- 200,000 Hungarians fled during the uprising + became political refugees.
- Hungary too far for military intervention from West + threat of nuclear war due to arms race.
- USA + Britain condemned actions of SU + staged demonstrations in support of Hungarian protestors.
- $6 million aid to refugees due to Ed Sullivan (USA TV presenter).
- Satellite states warned not to leave Warsaw Pact.
- West didn’t believe Khrushchev’s messages on peace.
34
Refugee Crisis 1949-1961
—>Many people were fleeing to the West because they didn’t like conditions in East Germany.
—>Collectivisation was very unpopular + goods were very expensive to buy.
—>Jan 1961 crisis had reached its breaking point: 20,000 people were leaving each month.
—>So many people left that it seemed like East Germany’s economy might collapse.
—>Skilled craftsmen + clever mathematicians were amongst this W wanting to leave.
—>Khrushchev was determined to solve the problem.
35
Berlin Ultimatum 1958
—>Khrushchev accused Allies of breaking Potsdam agreement.
—>He issued an ultimatum for them to leave Berlin within 6 months + Berlin could become a free neutral city.
—>President Eisenhower (USA) was willing to negotiate since he didn’t want to go to war over Berlin.
—>1959 Khrushchev’s visit to USA was successful + it was hoped an agreement could be made in future Paris Summit.
36
Vienna Summit 1961
—>Khrushchev scheduled a summit with the new president of USA, Kennedy.
—>Khrushchev believed he could use his experience to push JFK around, but didn’t realise that JFK had re-asserted the Truman Doctrine in his inauguration speech in Jan 1961.
—>At the summit Khrushchev demanded that western forces leave West Berlin. He wanted to make a treaty with Eastern Germany to end all occupation rights.
—>Kennedy refused + both countries increased the money spent on their armies.
37
Building the Berlin Wall 1961
* 13th Aug 1961 Khrushchev closed border between East + West Berlin.
* East German troops tore up streets near border between East and West so they could erect barbed wire fencing 43km long to separate the 2 Berlins.
* USA + Allies did not react - wall within boundary of East Berlin.
* Very quickly the temporary barbed wire barrier was replaced by a built wall with chain fences + minefields.
* An area was cleared so East German guards could fire at any East Germans trying to escape to the West.
* Final wall was 3.6 metres high + 1.2m wide so very difficult to climb over.
* The area beyond the wall was heavily guarded with patrolling soldiers + dogs as well as floodlights + trip-wire machine guns.
38
Impacts of the Berlin Wall
- Serious stand-off between the 2 superpowers.
- USA disputed right of Soviet troops to patrol + guard checkpoints to the Wall.
- USA stationed troops + tanks on western side of checkpoints which provoked SU to place tanks on eastern side - possibility of armed conflict.
- Kennedy promised Khrushchev that if SU removed its troops, USA would do the same. This ended the stand-off.
- Families were split apart + many people lost their lives trying to cross from East to West.
- Germans felt let down that SU had broken 1949 agreement about the running Berlin + that Kennedy hadn’t gone to war.
39
How did the Refugee Crisis in Berlin end?
- Khrushchev felt victorious over JFK about the Berlin Wall.
- The Wall stopped the flow of refugees.
- Economic crisis of East Germany slowly evaporated.
- Tension in Europe was eased.
40
Kennedy’s visit to Berlin, 1963
- Kennedy was popular within West Germany as he had not abandoned them.
- He spoke to a crowd of 200,000 in the centre of the city, near the Wall.
- Some East Berliners listening on the other side of the Wall also applauded.
41
Paris Summit 1960
—>9 days before Khrushchev + Eisenhower due to meet in Paris, SU announced that it had shot down a U-2 American spy plane.
—>Eisenhower was prepared to stop all flights, but refused to apologise + Khrushchev had demanded both.
—>Preliminary meetings between them were bitter.
—>Eisenhower cancelled his visit to the USSR + the summit never happened.
42
Cuban Revolution, 1959
| Cuban Missile Crisis
* Fidel Castro gathered rebels + overthrew Batista, taking leadership of Cuba in May 1959.
* USA had influence over trade in Cuba + had American factories there.
* Castro wanted independence from USA, so took control of all American property located in Cuba.
* USA responded by stopping the import of Cuban sugar, which threatened to bankrupt the Cuban economy.
* USA refused to acknowledge Castro’s govt due to his connections with communism so Castro turned to the SU for help.
* Khrushchev was happy to have an ally very close to America’s mainland. He offered to buy Cuban sugar + also sent military weapons to Cuba at the end of 1959.
* Sep 1960 Khrushchev promised to send further military assistance to Cuba. He was keen to challenge USA over Cuba since he needed more successes to deflect criticisms of his failures within the SU.
43
Bay of Pigs, 1961
| Cuban Missile Crisis
* USA withdrew diplomatic ties with Cuba due to SU involvement with Castro(Jan 1961).
* Eisenhower had previously authorised a scheme in which Cuban exiles (who left Cuba when Castro seized power) living in USA were trained by the CIA in preparation of an invasion of Cuba – Kennedy accepted this scheme.
* The aim of the invasion was to initiate a national uprising to overthrow Castro.
* Exiles called themselves La Brigada 2506 + numbered 1500.
- Castro was very popular, so when the exiles landed in Cuba the Cubans didn’t overthrow him.
- USA failed to send air support to attack the Cuban airforce, which sunk La Brigada’s ships.
- When La Brigada landed at the Bay of Pigs, 20,000 far superior Cuban troops were waiting for them.
44
Consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion:
| Cuban Missile Crisis
- Before, Castro was losing support due to Cuba’s severe economic situation, however after his position became stronger since threat from USA invasion united the Cubans.
- Castro was popular enough to announce his communism (closer to SU) + SU troops were stationed in Cuba.
- USA lost support in Latin America.
- JFK’s failure meant he was embarrassed + even more determined to overthrow Castro. Operation Mongoose was the CIA’s numerous attempts to remove Castro.
45
Military buildup in Cuba, 1962
| Cuban Missile Crisis
* Khrushchev stationed missiles in Cuba - the missiles were in range of USA.
* U-2 American spy plane flew over Cuba + took photos of the military buildup.
* In response to the military buildup, JFK set up an emergency meeting to decide what to do.
* JFK set up a naval blockade to prevent the missiles being brought to Cuba + placed Polaris submarines in position to attack if necessary – Khrushchev saw this as an act of war.
46
October Crisis, 1962
| Cuban Missile Crisis
* 18 Soviet ships approaching Cuba turned back after JFK stated that they would not be permitted to approach.
* Khrushchev sends a letter saying he will remove the missiles if the blockade was stopped.
* Khrushchev sent a second, tougher letter saying he would only remove the missiles from Cuba if USA removed missiles from Turkey.
* A Soviet missile shot down a U-2 spy plane - the crisis was at its peak.
* Kennedy followed the suggestion of his brother + ignores the second letter and accepts the conditions of the first letter.
47
Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis:
- Kennedy became a hero as it looked as if he had brought the world back from the brink of war + stood up to the communists.
- Khrushchev felt he had saved Cuba from invasion, especially since the missiles had been removed from Turkey BUT this marked the end of his popularity since communists in China + SU saw him as weak from backing down.
- As delay in communication may increase tension, a Hotline was established between the White House in the USA and the Kremlin in the USSR.
- To prevent another escalation of the nuclear arm’s race, leaders of the USA and USSR signed a number of treaties between to limit nuclear testing and development of nuclear weaponry (e.g. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1963).
- Beginning of détente, reduction of tension (SALT).
48
What were the causes of the Prague Spring reforms?
—>Since 1948 Czechoslovakia had been a model satellite state to the SU + economically they were successful.
—>When hard-line communist + highly unpopular Novotny became president.
—>The secret police brutally crushed all political opposition + the economy was declining since the steel they produced was sent to the USSR due to Comecon. The standard of living had declined.
—>Dubcek challenged Novotny’s leadership + Brezhnev (leader of SU) supported Dubcek as replacement for Novotny. Jan 1968 Dubcek became the Communist Party leader.
—>Dubcek was a committed communist but wanted “socialism with a human face” - he wanted to get rid of the most repressive aspects of communist rule to reform the economy + allow more cultural freedom.
49
What were the Prague Spring reforms 1968?
* Relaxation of press censorship (freedom of speech + press).
* Political opposition groups allowed (more democratic).
* More power given to regional govts.
* More power given to Czech parliament.
* Reduction in the power of the secret police.
* Fewer travel restrictions.
50
Responses to the Prague Spring reforms 1968
- Dubcek’s reforms were welcomed by many members of the Czech Communist Party, especially students.
- Artists + writers took full advantage of the reforms, writing books, plays + essays critical of Soviet-style communism.
- Older Czech communists were shocked by the reforms + their horror was shared by Soviet leader Brezhnev.
- Dubcek + Brezhnev were friends + Dubcek had made no move to leave the Warsaw Pact, but the reforms were weakening up Soviet control over Czechoslovakia.
- Brezhnev attempted to persuade Dubcek to take back the reforms, but Dubcek failed to take the hint.
51
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968
* Months after Prague Spring reforms, Brezhnev ordered a full-scale invasion of Czech to overthrow Dubcek.
* Dubcek ordered the Czech people not to respond with violence, but there was many non-violent civil disobedience (e.g. students stood in way of tanks).
* Dubcek was arrested + taken to Moscow, where he was forced to sign the Moscow Protocol which committed the Czech govt to ‘protect socialism’ by reintroducing censorship + removing political opposition.
52
Brezhnev Doctrine
Brezhnev’s justification of the invasion of Czechoslovakia.
USSR would have the right to invade any country in Eastern Europe whose actions appeared to threaten the security of the whole Eastern Bloc.
Brezhnev argued that Dubcek’s actions threatened to undermine the Warsaw Pact + communist control in Eastern Europe, so the Soviets had to invade.
53
Consequences of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia:
- USA already fighting in Vietnam so offered no military support, but publicly condemned the invasion.
- Western European countries also condemned the invasion but offered no military help. Western European Communist Parties formally declared themselves independent of the Soviet Communist Party - SU lost authority + support of communists.
- Yugoslavian + Romanian govts condemned invasion, distanced themselves from SU + later formed alliances with China - further dividing the communist world.
54
How did Cold War tensions reduce?
Nixon’s visit to Moscow 1972
* American president Nixon visited the USSR in 1972.
* He made it clear that Vietnam war was not a reason for détente not to happen.
* Nixon had already visited China + Brezhnev was keen that the USA did not make an alliance with China.
* Brezhnev wanted to gain access to US technology + grain so wanted to make peace as well. (Nixon increased trade so SU would help negotiate end of war with North Koreans).
* USA + USSR made a public declaration stating that they wanted to return to normal relations.
55
How did Cold War tensions reduce?
SALT 1 1972
* Nixon was worried about nuclear weapons.
* Both USA + USSR thought it was a good idea to limit their use.
* Over 3 years, talks were held in Helsinki and Vienna and the result was the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks.
* SALT 1 limited the use of nuclear weapons.
* But some people worried that it didn't stop either country from building new ones.
56
How did Cold War tensions reduce?
The Middle East: Yom Kippur War, 1973
* 1973 a war broke out with Syria + Egypt—armed + supplied by USSR—against Israel—armed + supplied by USA.
* After tense negotiations, it was finally agreed that a non-nuclear UN peacekeeping force would be sent to help in the war.
* Both the USA + USSR accepted this plan and further nuclear war was avoided.
57
How did Cold War tensions reduce?
Nixon’s visit to Moscow 1974
* Nixon visited the USSR in 1974.
| * As a result of the meeting, they agreed to cooperate more in trade, to relax world tension + to reduce nuclear arms.
58
How did Cold War tensions reduce?
Space linkup
* 1975, US and Soviet astronauts met in space.
* There was a symbolic handshake between them.
* It was a sign that relations between the USA + USSR were improving.
59
How did Cold War tensions reduce?
Helsinki agreements
* 1975 USA + Soviet Union, as well as 33 other countries, made agreements on three key issues (baskets):
* Recognition of the current borders of European countries.
* To respect human rights + freedoms in their respective countries.
* To help each other economically + technologically.
60
How did Cold War tensions reduce?
SALT II 1979
* Began in 1974, another round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks which were finalized in 1979:
* Agreement over limiting the production of long-range missiles + deployment on new types of strategic offensive arms.
* These agreements never came to much:
- Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and the Cold War began to escalate once more.
- US Senate refused to ratify SALT II.
61
Why did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan?
(1) USA + SU wanted to benefit from oil in Persian Gulf.
(2) Afghanistan was an Islamic country which was of strategic importance to the SU (bordered SU).
(3) In a communist revolution 1978, Communists overthrew the Islam Elite in Afghanistan. This was good for the SU.
(4) Thousands of Muslims fought against the communist regime, joining the freedom fighters called the Mujahideen. They claimed jihad (holy war) against the communists.
(5) Brezhnev was keen to protect the revolutionary communist govt + gave them help. 1979 SU sent 50,000 troops in response to Islamic fundamentalism. They stayed there for 10 years.
(6) USA was facing criticism for their failure to solve the hostage crisis of US embassy in Iran. USA wanted to appear strong.
(7) President Carter wanted to win back support after crisis so enforces Carter Doctrine which meant USA was prepared to use force if necessary to protect their interests in Persian Gulf.
(8) USA, as well as 61 other countries, boycotted Moscow Olympics 1980. Everyone was outraged about SU troops in Afghanistan.
(9) By end of 1980 détente was over. Relations were as bad as during Cold War - maybe worse.
63
Reagan’s attitude to foreign policy
* Became president of USA 1981.
* Thought détente was disaster for USA, thought it made them weak - wanted to win Cold War + rejected idea of peaceful co-existence.
* Very tough attitudes towards USSR - caused tensions to rise.
* Massively increased USA’s defence spending - thought they could win a nuclear war against Soviets by targeting their missiles (NUTS strategy). Used ‘Star Wars’ technology (satellites).
* Strategic Defence Initiative turning point in arms race - SU too behind in technology to compete.
* Reagan tried to broker deals for arms reduction (‘zero option’), knew SU couldn’t afford to keep up - Brezhnev refused. Reagan refereed to SU as ‘evil empire’.
* Some refer to Reagan’s foreign policies as the Second Cold War due to his harshness towards communism.
* Upon his first meeting with Gorbachev, Reagan was described as ‘retarded’.
* Despite his hardline approach, he eventually agreed to INF.
64
Summit conferences - Geneva Nov. 1985
* Gorbachev + Reagan both wanted the world to be a ‘safer place’.
* They met without advisors + set up the Geneva Accord:
- speed up arms talks.
- works towards abolition of chemical weapons.
- more active on human rights.
•They promised to meet again in the near future.
65
Summit conferences - Reykjavik 1986
* Reagan + Gorbachev agreed to reductions in nuclear arsenals BUT became deadlocked on restricting SDI (USA missile defence).
* Talks broke down over SDI (Reagan insisted on deploying them) + the ABM treaty.
66
Summit conferences - INF Treaty Dec. 1987
* Gorbachev thought nuclear weapons were too expensive + they were no guarantee of security.
* Reagan told Gorbachev USA didn’t intend to invade SU.
* Soviet economy couldn’t afford spending on nuclear weapons.
* Gorbachev believed disarmament would win over the West + encourage trade deals with them.
* The treaty eliminated many nuclear weapons.
* USSR + USA agreed to be able to inspect each other’s military installations.
* ’Gorbymania’ showed that he was loved by the West.
* More radical agreement to half long-range nuclear weapons was hoped to be signed in Moscow 1988.
* Reagan was still committed to SDI.
68
Collapse of the Soviet Union - changes in Eastern Europe
* Collapse of SU started in 1989 - Gorbachev’s aim to strengthen communism through perestroika (restructure) + glasnost (open) was too liberal...
* Solidarity movement in Poland campaigned for change against communist regime. Poland started having democratic elections, turning away from communism.
* Hungary opened its borders to Austria, allowing East Germans leave East Germany + travel across the borders to Austria.
* In Czechoslovakia there were demonstrations against communism which their first non-communist leader in years, Vaclav Havel, calmed down.
* Romania was the most hard-lined communist satellite state, but its 2 leaders were killed for wanting to continue communism.
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The fall of the Berlin Wall
-East Germans saw freedom being enjoyed by other Warsaw
Pact countries + wanted the same.
- Demonstrations started demanding democracy + free elections, encouraged by Gorbachev’s rule about SU not interfering.
- East Germans began to flock through Hungary to West Germany.
- Powerless to stop it, East Germany govt opened border crossings into West Germany.
- Germany was reunified on 3rd Oct 1990.
- Germany joined NATO + in 1991 Warsaw Pact was no more.
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Gorbachev’s new thinking
1. Realised communism faced problems (poverty, queuing up to 5 hrs for bread).
2. Realised communism needed reform + modernisation.
3. PERESTROIKA: restructuring the communist party + soviet system.
4. GLASNOST: openness, being open to USA (due to better equality of life in USA).
5. Ending arms race with USA + signing arms reduction agreements (didn’t want to escalate tensions, can’t afford).
6. Abandoning Brezhnev Doctrine (to help détente since invasion of Czech was condemned by many).
7. Stopping Soviet interference in Eastern European satellite states (economy can’t stand strain of supporting these countries) - this self-determination became known as ‘SINATRA’ DOCTRINE.
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Consequences of Gorbachev’s new thinking:
- Gorbachev won over the Soviet people by getting to know them when he went on walkabouts that took him all over the SU.
- Dissidents were released from jail.
- Banned books were published.
- Soviet people learned of the atrocities committed when Stalin was in power.
- Certain aspects of free economy were introduced.
- The more freedom people gained, the more they wanted + the more they began to criticise Gorbachev, making it difficult to keep the Communist Party in power.
GCSE History
flashcards
Decks in class (12)
# Cards
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WW2: Y9 Exam10
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Nazi Germany32
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Weimar Germany27
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Medicine: Modern34
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Cold War69
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Elizabeth: Queen, Government and Religion 1558-6944
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Elizabeth: Society in the Age of Exploration 1558-8844
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Medicine: WW1 Western Front46
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Medicine: Medieval26
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Medicine: Renaissance33
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Medicine: 18-19th Century33
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Elizabeth: Challenges at Home and Abroad 1569-8839
