B3. Ike's USA and the cold war Flashcards
Superpower rivalry and conflict with the USSR; responses to developments in Western and Eastern Europe; reactions to the rise of Communism in Asia; responses to crises in the Middle East (113 cards)
1
Q
What quote did Khrushchev give to explain why he wasn’t worried about the U.S. having more atomic weapons?
A
If they have more bombs, fine. But we only need one to destroy our enemy.
2
Q
What are ICBMs?
A
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles that can travel thousands of miles before hitting their target.
3
Q
Name two key areas of innovation competition in the Cold War (excluding proxy wars).
A
Arms race and space race.
4
Q
What year was the first Soviet man-made object put into space?
A
1957
5
Q
What was the name of the first Soviet satellite?
A
Sputnik
6
Q
What year did the Soviets launch the second craft containing an animal?
A
1958
7
Q
What was the name of the dog aboard this Soviet spacecraft?
A
Laika
8
Q
What was the name of the failed U.S. satellite launch that blew up after rising 4 feet?
A
Vanguard TV-3
9
Q
What was one of the nicknames given to the failed Vanguard launch?
A
Kaputnik
10
Q
Who did the failed U.S. launch force the Eisenhower administration to rely on more heavily?
A
Wernher von Braun
11
Q
By 1953, hydrogen bombs were how many times more powerful than Hiroshima’s bomb?
A
7 times more powerful
12
Q
By 1955, what fraction of U.S. nuclear weapons were kept ready to launch within 15 minutes?
A
One-third
13
Q
How many nuclear weapons did the U.S. have in 1957?
A
5543
14
Q
How many nuclear weapons did the USSR have in 1957?
A
650
15
Q
How many times more nukes did the U.S have than the USSR in 1957?
A
Roughly 8 times more
16
Q
What was the name of the perceived Soviet nuclear lead in the arms race?
A
The Missile Gap
17
Q
What was the name of the largest nuclear weapon ever tested in 1961?
A
Tsar Bomba
18
Q
What policy aimed to increase nuclear weapons while decreasing spending on conventional forces?
A
The New Look Policy
19
Q
What was another name for the New Look Policy?
A
More bang for the buck
20
Q
What was John Foster Dulles’ perspective on the Communist threat?
A
The U.S. and allies must be ready to respond vigorously.
21
Q
What was the name of the first thermonuclear bomb?
A
Ivy Mike
22
Q
Did Eisenhower support the Truman Doctrine?
A
Yes
23
Q
What was the principle of the New Look Policy?
A
Relying on nuclear weapons while reducing conventional forces.
24
Q
What was Brinkmanship?
A
A strategy to push the enemy to the brink of war to force concessions.
25
What Truman-era report influenced Eisenhower’s foreign policy planning?
NSC-68
26
How did Eisenhower’s "Dynamic Conservatism" influence foreign policy?
He aimed to win the Cold War affordably by limiting military spending.
27
What did Eisenhower do to the CIA during his presidency?
He expanded its use and authority.
28
Why were CIA covert actions considered advantageous?
They were cost-effective and outside Congressional oversight.
29
What global trend shaped Eisenhower’s foreign policy in colonized regions?
Decolonization
30
What was the U-2 plane that could photograph the enemy?
The U-2 was a high-altitude reconnaissance plane used by the United States to gather intelligence over Soviet territory.
31
Was Eisenhower's administration secure regarding the U-2 flights?
No, Eisenhower was doubtful about the security of the U-2 flights.
32
How did the CIA feel about the U-2 flights?
The CIA was assured that there would be no problems with the U-2 flights.
33
What was the expectation for pilots if their U-2 planes were in trouble?
The expectation was for pilots to self-destruct the plane to prevent capture.
34
How many years of successful U-2 missions over the Soviet Union were there before an incident?
Four years.
35
What was the name of the pilot who was shot down by Soviets in 1960?
Gary Powers.
36
What did the Eisenhower administration claim the U-2 flight was for?
They claimed it was a meteorological flight.
37
What did the Soviets produce when they captured the U-2 plane and pilot?
The Soviets produced both the plane and the pilot intact.
38
What did the Eisenhower administration claim when the Soviets produced the U-2 plane and pilot?
They claimed that Gary Powers lacked authorization to fly over the USSR.
39
Did Eisenhower ever admit that he was responsible for the U-2 spy flight?
Yes, he eventually admitted responsibility.
40
Where did Eisenhower meet Khrushchev to discuss the U-2 spy flight?
The Paris Summit.
41
What did Khrushchev expect from Eisenhower at the Paris Summit?
An apology for the U-2 incident.
42
What year did the U-2 crisis occur?
1960
43
What year was there an anti-Soviet revolt in Hungary?
1956
44
How did the Soviets react to the Hungarian revolt?
The Soviets sent tanks and 250,000 soldiers to suppress the uprising.
45
Why did the Hungarians expect U.S. aid?
Because Eisenhower and Dulles seemed to be pro-roll back of Soviet influence.
46
What did Eisenhower claim about Hungary’s status in relation to the West?
He claimed Hungary was as inaccessible as Tibet.
47
What concurrent crisis did Eisenhower prioritize over the Hungarian revolt?
The Middle East crisis.
48
Why had the West refused to give East Berlin diplomatic recognition?
Because they said East Berlin lacked legitimacy.
49
Why was West Berlin irritating for Khrushchev?
It had become a disruptive enclave within the Soviet bloc, a center of Western espionage, and a magnet for skilled East German workers.
50
What year did Khrushchev demand that West Berlin become a free city?
1958
51
What did Khrushchev threaten if West Berlin did not become a free city?
He threatened to turn over the access routes to Berlin to the East German government.
52
How did Eisenhower react to Khrushchev’s demand?
He did not respond directly.
53
How did the Democrats and the defense and arms industries view Eisenhower’s reaction to the Berlin crisis?
They accused him of failing to take the Berlin crisis seriously enough.
54
Did Eisenhower accept that there was a Berlin crisis?
No, Eisenhower did not accept it as a crisis.
55
How did the world react to Eisenhower’s behavior during the Suez Crisis?
He received international praise.
56
Why did Eisenhower oppose the tripartite action by Britain, France, and Israel in the Suez Crisis?
He was not informed beforehand and opposed their unilateral action.
57
Why did Eisenhower pressure allies to withdraw during the Suez Crisis?
He wanted to avoid pushing Arab nations toward the Soviet Union.
58
59
How did the Soviet Union respond to the Hungarian Uprising?
They sent in tanks and 250,000 troops to crush the revolt.
60
Why did Hungarians expect U.S. aid during the uprising?
Eisenhower and Dulles had publicly supported the idea of "rollback" of communism.
61
What did Eisenhower claim about Hungary's accessibility?
That it was as inaccessible as Tibet.
62
What concurrent crisis did Eisenhower prioritize over the Hungarian Uprising?
The Suez Crisis in the Middle East.
63
Why had the West refused to give diplomatic recognition to East Germany (GDR)?
They believed it lacked legitimacy.
64
Why was West Berlin problematic for Khrushchev?
It was a Western enclave within the Eastern bloc, a base for espionage, and attracted skilled East German workers.
65
What year did Khrushchev demand that West Berlin become a "free city"?
1958
66
What did Khrushchev threaten to do if his demands about Berlin were not met?
Hand over access routes to West Berlin to East Germany.
67
How did Eisenhower initially respond to Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum?
He did not respond publicly.
68
How did U.S. Democrats and the defense industry react to Eisenhower's inaction?
They accused him of not taking the Berlin Crisis seriously enough.
69
Did Eisenhower acknowledge the Berlin situation as a true crisis?
No, he did not consider it a real crisis.
70
What year did Eisenhower fly to Korea?
1952
71
What year did Eisenhower visit Korea?
1952
72
What did Eisenhower conclude from his visit to Korea?
He concluded that there was a stalemate and that the U.S. should exit.
73
Who disagreed with Eisenhower’s conclusion about Korea?
Dulles, Nixon, and others.
74
How did Eisenhower put pressure on the Chinese to agree to peace during the Korean War?
He refused to deny that he would use nuclear weapons against them.
75
What other factors made the Chinese sign the armistice?
They were exhausted and scared that the new Soviet regime would be unsupportive.
76
77
What did Eisenhower conclude after his visit to Korea?
That the war was at a stalemate and the U.S. should withdraw.
78
Who disagreed with Eisenhower's desire to exit the Korean War?
John Foster Dulles, Nixon, and other advisers.
79
How did Eisenhower pressure China into peace negotiations?
He refused to rule out using nuclear weapons.
80
What other factors pushed China to sign the armistice?
Exhaustion from the war and concern that the new Soviet leadership might not support them.
81
Who was the Vietnamese nationalist leading the fight against French colonialism?
Ho Chi Minh
82
What was Truman’s policy in Vietnam that Eisenhower continued?
Financial support to sustain the French war effort.
83
What battle in 1954 led the French to request U.S. air strikes?
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
84
Why was Eisenhower reluctant to intervene militarily in Vietnam?
He doubted the domino theory, feared escalation, and had few troops due to the New Look policy.
85
Where and when was it agreed that France would exit Vietnam?
The 1954 Geneva Accords
86
What did the Geneva Accords propose for Vietnam?
Temporary division at the 17th parallel, with reunification elections in 1956.
87
How did Eisenhower respond to the Geneva Accords?
He refused to sign and instead created and supported South Vietnam.
88
Who became the U.S.-backed leader of South Vietnam?
Ngo Dinh Diem
89
What organization did Eisenhower help create to protect South Vietnam?
SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)
90
How much aid had Eisenhower given to South Vietnam by 1961?
$7 billion
91
How many military advisers did Eisenhower send to South Vietnam?
1,000 military advisers
92
Who was the Vietnamese nationalist and communist leading the fight against French colonialism?
Ho Chi Minh.
93
What policy did Eisenhower continue in Vietnam?
He continued Truman's policy of providing money to sustain the French war effort.
94
At the important battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, what did the French ask the U.S. to do?
The French asked the U.S. to launch a military strike to help them.
95
What made Eisenhower pro-U.S. intervention in Vietnam?
He thought having a strong, cooperative, anti-Communist France was important for the Western alliance. He was also told by the NSA that Vietnam was vital to U.S. security.
96
What made Eisenhower hesitant about U.S. intervention in Vietnam?
Some doubted the "domino effect" theory and thought it would be a waste. Also, due to the New Look policy, few U.S. troops were available.
97
Where and when was it agreed that the French would exit Vietnam?
At the 1954 Geneva Accords.
98
What happened to Vietnam as a result of the Geneva Accords?
Vietnam was temporarily divided into Communist North Vietnam and non-Communist South Vietnam, with reunification scheduled for 1956.
99
How did Eisenhower react to the Geneva Accords?
He refused to sign them and created the new state of South Vietnam.
100
Who became the leader of South Vietnam after the Geneva Accords?
Ngo Dinh Diem.
101
What organization did Eisenhower create to protect South Vietnam?
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
102
What two small islands in the Taiwan Strait caused issues for Eisenhower?
Quemoy and Matsu.
103
Who controlled the islands of Quemoy and Matsu?
Taiwan.
104
What happened in September 1954 to the islands of Quemoy and Matsu?
They were bombarded by China.
105
Who pressured Eisenhower to intervene in the Taiwan Strait crisis?
The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
106
Did Eisenhower intervene in the Taiwan Strait crisis?
Yes, he signed a treaty with the leader of Taiwan committing the U.S. to defend Taiwan and its territories.
107
About what issue was Eisenhower deliberately vague in order to get what he wanted?
The use of atomic weapons against China.
108
What year did China back down after escalating tensions over the Taiwan Strait islands?
1958
109
What forced China to back down in 1958 regarding Taiwan?
Eisenhower threatened to respond with military force if the islands were invaded.
110
What was the U.S.–Taiwan agreement called that committed the U.S. to defend Taiwan?
The Formosa Resolution.
111
By 1961, how much money had Eisenhower given in aid to South Vietnam?
$7 billion.
112
How many American personnel did Eisenhower send to South Vietnam?
About 1,000 military advisors.
113
What was the purpose of the U.S. advisors sent to South Vietnam?
To support the South Vietnamese government and provide military advice.
