1950s Flashcards
(8 cards)
What was NATO?
-A group of countries providing collective security
-An attack on one is an attack on all
-USA improved sizes and strength of European members
-USA, France and Britain held nuclear weapons
What was the Warsaw pact?
-Formed as a response to NATO
-Presented as collective responsibility but power was all in Moscow
-Nuclear weapons held by USSR
How did the arms race pan out?
-1945, USA drops 2 nuclear bombs on Japan
-1949, USSR tested first successful atomic bomb, used spies
-1952, USA tested first hydrogen bomb which had 1000x more power
-1953, USSR tested first successful hydrogen bomb
-1957/8, ICBMs developed and tested which USSR managed first
-USSR also send first satellite into space
-1961, USSR detonates Tsar bomba
What was the idea of M.A.D and how did it impact the Cold War?
-Mutual assured destruction
-Possibly made the Cold War safer because neither side wanted to launch a bomb
-Possibly made Cold War more dangerous due to increased tension
What were the consequences of the arms race?
-Made future war more dangerous
-Introduced idea of M.A.D
-Events such as Cuban missile crisis came close to nuclear war
-Billions were spent
What was the impact of the new soviet leader, Khrushchev?
-De-stalinisation
-Peaceful co-existence
How did the Hungarian revolution pan out?
-People saw death of Stalin as an opportunity for more freedom
-23rd Oct, protests for more freedom and rights and for Nagy
-29th Oct, Khrushchev agreed and took troops out of Hungary
-5 days of freedom then on 1st Nov Nagy announced leaving the Warsaw pact
-4th Nov, Khrushchev reinvaded killing 4000 and 200,000 refugees
What were the consequences of the Hungarian revolution?
-De-salinisation and peaceful co-existence didn’t mean anything
-Sent a message that USSR wouldn’t let anyone break free
-USA looked weak as they didn’t get involved
-Cold war became increasingly more dangerous
