Paper 2 - The Cold War

Question 1

What was the role of ideology in the start of the Cold War?

Answer 1

Fundamentally, the Cold War was a conflict between mutually exclusive ideologies (John Mason 1990s). Religious conflict also existed (comm/Lenin conflicted with Christianity) (David Williamson)

Question 2

What was the role of fear and aggression in the start of the Cold War?

Answer 2

The atomic bomb and following arms race with MAD (John Gaddis)

Question 3

What was the role of economic interests in the start of the Cold War?

Answer 3

The US and Rus. had diff. experiences in WWII: US came out with 2x GDP but Rus. had 27 mil. dead, a ruined economy, and destroyed towns (John Gaddis)

Question 4

What was the traditionalist take on who was more responsible for the Cold War’s start?

Answer 4

Russia’s ideology and need for expansion made it responsible (Arthur Schlesinger)

Question 5

What was the revisionist take on who was more responsible for the Cold War’s start?

Answer 5

US policies caused the Cold War (William Williams)

Question 6

What was the post-revisionist take on who was more responsible for the Cold War’s start?

Answer 6

Access to Soviet archives = the sight that Rus. was trying to expand (John Gaddis)

Question 7

What were the effects of containment on the relationships between 3 nations?

Answer 7

Stalin suspected that the US was involving itself in the economies of east Eur. (David Williamson). Stalin established the Comecon in 1949 to link the Soviet bloc together against US intervention. Put the nail in the coffin for relations. US involving itself in Korea led to China-Soviet relations waning and same with US.

Question 8

To what extent was there peaceful coexistence?

Answer 8

Detente regulated conflict but did not end it (John Gaddis). Nuc. Test Ban Treaty, Non-Prolif Treaty, etc.

Question 9

How did the Sino-Soviet split happen?

Answer 9

Soviet criticism of the Great Leap Foreward, Disagreement over naval coop in the Pacific, Taiwanese Strait Crisis (China tried to gain international attention through shelling Quemoy islands…Russia was like WTH man?), more disagreements and blames. (David Williamson)

Question 10

What were the causes of detente?

Answer 10

The Cuban Missile Crisis showed the world the point of no return (David Williamson) Both nations’ leadership wanted to tone things down.

Question 11

Evaluate Khrushchev’s impact on the course of the Cold War.

Answer 11

Cuba –> impetus for detente (Williamson) and creation of MAD as an actual policy (Gaddis)

Question 12

Evaluate Reagan’s impact on the course of the Cold War.

Answer 12

Summits w/ Gorb. to discuss nuc. lim. (Geneva, Reykjavik, Washington) (Gaddis). Strategic defense initiative. Starting the “2nd Cold War”

Question 13

Evaluate the impact of the Cold War on Germany.

Answer 13

Brain drain from East to West (David Williamsonn) Berlin wall built –> symbol of ironn curtain and kept people inn

Question 14

Evaluate the impact of the Cold War on Afghanistan.

Answer 14

Soviet-Afghan War: Invasion, gov. changed a lot, and eventually, 3 million refugees fleed to Pakistan. They were allowed to return, however (David Williamson)

Question 15

What role did ideological dissent play in the end of the Cold War?

Answer 15

Gorb. wanted to save socialism, but without force –>, therefore, he gave up the USSR (Gaddis). Glasnost and Perestroika

Question 16

What role did economic problems play in the end of thd Cold War?

Answer 16

Regions/nations in the USSR and its sphere had issues economically. Communism was to blame (Gaddis). Russia used force until Gorb. started Perestroika. Then they all didn’t like it and broke away.