6. Cold War Rivalry- Why Did Relations Between USA And USSR Deteriorate 1945-73 Flashcards
What did the USA fear post ww2
The spread of communism. USSR occupied much of Eastern Europe after freeing it from the nazis- soviet satellite states in which communist govs which were closely monitored by Moscow. Truman was convinced Stalin wanted to expand further into Western Europe and so distrusted him
When was the yalta conference, what did it do?
1945, agreed Germany & Berlin to be divided into 4 zones
When was the Potsdam conference, what did it do?
July-aug 1945, agreed that each sector would be administered by one of the allies. USSR also to receive bulk of reparations (paid in weapons and materials) as suffered most casualties.
Stalin wanted massive compensation which would’ve crippled Germany but Truman saw a revived Germany as a barrier to future soviet expansion.
Truman also wanted free elections & to reestablish democracy in Germany and in soviet occupied nations but Stalin refused
When and what was the Truman doctrine
1947, USA committed to policy of containment of communism. Offered to help any government threatened by internal of external forces in order to prevent any further spread of communism.
When and what was the Marshall plan, how much was given?
1947, backed the Truman doctrine by providing economic aid to countries with economic problems poverty and unemployment, and in return they would buy US goods and allow US companies to invest capital in their industries- all in order to prevent them being taken over by communism.
$17 billion given in Marshall aid by 1953
What theory was containment based on, what did it mean?
Domino theory, belief that if one country fell to communism this would trigger the fall of its neighbouring countries. Americas policy was to ensure that the most unstable domino didn’t fall.
Which countries made up the German federal republic and German Democratic Republic?
GFR= Britain, France, USA.
GDR = USSR
What was the 48/49 Berlin crisis and why did it happen?
Stalin increasingly worried that West Berlin would become a wealthy capitalist base within communist Eastern Europe.
So soviet troops cut off all links (road,rail,canal) between West Berlin and west Germany. Stalin hoped that the west would be forced to give up their sectors but Truman was determined to follow his policy of containment.
The west organised an airlift to fly in supplies to West Berlin until Stalin gave in and reopened all routes to West Berlin. Truman saw this as a success for his policy of containment. Stalin wouldn’t shoot down planes as risk of war
When was NATO created , who involved and why
1949, Western European states and USA, defensive alliance with the main purpose to prevent soviet expansion
When was the Warsaw pact created, who involved and why
1955, 8 nations headed by USSR, Stalin saw NATO as an ‘aggressive alliance’ aimed at the USSR . Warsaw pact designed to counter the threat of NATO
What was the 1961 Berlin crisis and the solution to it
By 1961 USSR was losing 20,000 people across the border with West Berlin. They tended to be young, educated people who wanted to escape soviet oppression.
Khrushchev (soviet leader) decided to build a wall to prevent soviet citizens from leaving for the west.
What initially caused the Cuban missile crisis
1959, US backed Cuban dictator Batista was overthrown by a left wing rebel force led by Fidel Castro. He ejected all US businesses and investment, US retaliated by refusing to buy Cuba’s biggest exports- sugar,however, USSR offered to buy it instead.
Castro strengthened relations with the USSR, threat of a communist country 90 miles off the Florida coast worried JFK. He supported a landing of Cuban exiles at the bay of pigs in Cuba, intending to overthrow Castro- it was a disaster and great humiliation for the US president.
Soviet leader, Khrushchev, concerned about proximity of US missile bases in Italy and turkey and wanted to establish soviet bases in Cuba to balance things out- Castro agreed with the request.
What alerted JFK to the Cuban missile crisis and how did he react?
1962- Us spy plane photographed soviet missile launch sites being constructed in Cuba .
Kennedy imposed a naval blockade around cuba.
Khrushchev sent a letter to jfk insisting soviet ships would break the blockade & was prepared to use nuclear weapons in war.
JFK wrote back asking him to withdraw soviet missiles from Cuba.
Khrushchev agreed only if USA removed missiles from turkey and agreed not to invade cuba.
USA removed from turkey in secret and soviet missiles removed from Cuba.
What happened following the missile crisis
Reduction in tension but people were fearful of future crises so a hotline telephone was established between the White House and Kremlin .
Partial test ban treaty signed august 1963, USA & USSR agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere
Decision to not confront communism as deemed too dangerous.
Reasons for US involvement in Vietnam
Unpopular southern leader Diem overthrown in nov 1963 and take over by communist north & leader Ho Chi Minh was feared.
Us policy of containment meant they supported Diem, and the domino theory suggested if south Vietnam became communist then neighbouring countries would too.
Gulf of Tonkin incident 1964- us destroyer “Maddox” fired on by a north Vietnamese patrol boat- president Johnson used this as an excuse to send troops to aid south vietnam
