The Cold War (1945-1989)

Question 1

What was The Cold War?

Answer 1

• Competition between the US & Soviet Union
• 1945-1989
• Also involved allies of the US & USSR
• Competed for global influence
• Which system would be superior?
• Called a Cold War because the two sides never actually fought

Question 2

How did communism expand in Europe during the Cold War?

Answer 2

• Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe after WW2
• Stalin imposed communist governments to create a “buffer zone” between USSR & Europe

Question 3

Which European countries did Russia impose communism in?

Answer 3

• Poland
• Czechoslavakia
• Romania
• Hungary
• Bulgaria
• East Germany

Question 4

What was Western Europe like politically during the Cold War?

Answer 4

• American sphere of influence
• Democratc, capitalist, societies
• NATO
• Millitary alliance between US & Western European states

Question 5

What was Eastern Europe like politically during the Cold War?

Answer 5

• Soviet Sphere of Influence
• Communist Dictatorships
• Forced imposition of communism
• Warsaw Pact
• Millitary alliance between USSR & E. European states to oppose NATO

Question 6

What was the nickname given for the division of communism and democracies within Asia during the Cold War?

Answer 6

The Bamboo Curtian

Question 7

How was Korea politically divided during the Cold War & what conflict was a result of the division?

Answer 7

• Communist North supported by USSR
• Capitalist South supported by US
• US military involvement from 1950-1953 known as Korean War
• Division exists today

Question 8

How was Vietnam politically divided before the Vietnam War?

Answer 8

• Communist North supported by the USSR
• Capitialist South supported by US

Question 9

When was the Vietnam War?

Answer 9

1960s and 1970s

Question 10

What was the result of the Vietnam War?

Answer 10

Communism won and Vietnam was unified under communism in 1975

Question 11

What other 3 Asian states aside from Korea and Vietnam that were communist during the Cold War?

Answer 11

• Mongolia
• Laos
• Cambodia

Question 12

What are two examples of Proxy Wars in Asia during the Cold War?

Answer 12

• Vietnam War
• Korean War

Question 13

The US became the leader of the Western world because:?

Answer 13

• Educated & industrial capitalist democracy
• American pop culture goes global
• Only major WW2 participant not to be bombed

Question 14

What were the effects of the US leading the charge against communism?

Answer 14

• An “Imperial presidency” with expanded powers
• Increased power of defense & intelligence agencies making a “national security state”

Question 15

When was the first atomic weapon developed in the US and where were they used?

Answer 15

In 1945 on Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Question 16

When did the USSR test its first atomic bomb?

Answer 16

In 1949

Question 17

What nuclear developments occur during the Cold War between the USSR & US?

Answer 17

• Both countries rapidly stockpile nuclear weapons, and improve ways to deliver them
• Bombers, submarines, missiles
• about 60,000 warheads by 1989

Question 18

What was M.A.D and how did prevent direct confrontation between the US and USSR?

Answer 18

Mutually Assured Destruction
The US and USSR carefully avoided direct confrontation because of fears that global nuclear war would result in human extinction

Question 19

What were examples of Cold War Characteristics?

Answer 19

• Nuclear Arms Race
• Space Race
• Proxy Wars
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Eastern European Revolutions

Question 20

What was the Space Race?

Answer 20

• Emphasis on science and technology
• USSR & US compete scientifically to see which country was the most scientifically advanced

Question 21

What were some major events during the Space Race?

Answer 21

• 1957 - USSR launches first man-made satellite into orbit (Sputnik)
• 1961 - USSR launches first human into space (Yuri Gagarin)
• 1969 - US sends humans to the moon and back successfully (Apollo 11)

Question 22

What were Proxy Wars?

Answer 22

While avoiding direct confrontation, the US and USSR often supported opposing sides in regional conflicts around the world

Question 23

What are some examples of Proxy Wars?

Answer 23

• Korea
• Vietnam
• Cuba
• Afghanistan
• Nicaragua
• Newly-independent African states

Question 24

Which Proxy Wars resulted in communinst victories during the Cold War?

Answer 24

• Vietnam
• Cuba

Question 25

Which Proxy Wars resulted in a stalemate during the Cold War?

Answer 25

- Korea - Nicaragua

Question 26

Which Proxy War resulted in a non- communinst victory during the Cold War?

Answer 26

Afghanistan (1980s)

Question 27

Who was Fidel Castro?

Answer 27

- The leader of a communist revolution within Cuba in 1959

Question 28

What event marked a failed American effort to invade & get rid of communism during the Cold War in the Americas?

Answer 28

- Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)

Question 29

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962?

Answer 29

- USSR places nuclear missiles in Cuba (90 miles from US) - After a tense standoff, USSR withdraws missiles in exchange for US pledge not to invade Cuba again, and for US removal of missiles in Turkey - Closest the US and USSR were to direct confrontation

Question 30

Who was Mikhail Gorbachev & what did he do?

Answer 30

- Became leader of USSR in 1980s - Lifted bans on censorship & permitted free expression of ideas & religions - Unilateral military cuts - Reformed the stagnant economy with modest capitalism

Question 31

What did Mikail Gorbachev oppose?

Answer 31

Soviet military intervention to suppress anti-communist movements

Question 32

What were 2 policies implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev?

Answer 32

- Perestroika - restructuring - Glasnot - openness

Question 33

How did communism collapse in Europe (1989)?

Answer 33

- Eastern Europe countries in the Warsaw Pact broke free of Soviet control & began democratic & capitalist reforms - USSR does not intervene - Protests within USSR itself for democracy & independence gain steam - USSR dissolves into 15 independent countries

Question 34

Why did communism fail?

Answer 34

- Oppresive political system - People tend to like democracy, free speech, free religion - Communism was not as good at producing BOTH military & consumer goods compared to communism

Question 35

What reforms have been made in China since Mao?

Answer 35

Deng Xiaoping took over in 1976 & began reforms: - Eased censorship - dismantled collectived agriculture - Opening to capitalist ideas and the world market

Question 36

What were the results of China opening to capitalist ideas and the World Market?

Answer 36

- Great economic growth - Led to inequality, consumerism, pollution, and corruption

Question 37

How has the CCP maintained its status as the only political authority China in the late 20th century?

Answer 37

- Democracy movements repressed - Tiananmen Square Massacre

Question 38

What was the Tiananmen Square Massacre?

Answer 38

Pro-democracy activists killed/imprisoned

Question 39

What are some examples of traditional values that some Chinese people have returned to since Mao?

Answer 39

- Confucianism - Daoism - Buddhism

Question 40

What has China been like overall since 1976?

Answer 40

- Eased censorship - Dismantled collectivized agriculture - Opening to capitalist ideas and world market - CCP is still only political authority - Some return to traditional values

Question 41

What’s the only true communist state today?

Answer 41

North Korea

Question 42

What states today are “communist” in name, one party control, but have made some capitalist economic reforms?

Answer 42

- China - Laos - Vietnam - Cuba

Question 43

What state has one party control but is not communist anymore?

Answer 43

- Russia