brainscape_flashcards
(32 cards)
What triggered the Cold War?
Post-WWII ideological and military rivalry between the U.S. and USSR.
What was the true reason behind the Cold War?
The USSR wanted to expand communism, while the U.S. aimed to contain it to maintain economic and military dominance.
What were the key alliances in the Cold War?
NATO (U.S., Western Europe) vs. Warsaw Pact (USSR, Eastern Europe).
How was the Cold War resolved?
The USSR collapsed in 1991 due to economic decline, military overstretch, and internal political reforms.
What triggered the Russo-Finnish War?
The USSR invaded Finland, expecting a quick victory.
What was the true reason for the invasion?
Stalin wanted a buffer zone to protect Leningrad from possible German attacks.
What were the key alliances?
Western nations provided Finland with weapons but did not intervene directly.
How was the conflict resolved?
Finland lost some territory but remained independent, while the Soviet military was exposed as weak.
What triggered the Crimean War?
Russia sought to expand influence in the Black Sea, threatening Ottoman territory.
What was the true reason for the war?
Britain and France wanted to contain Russian expansion and protect trade routes.
What were the key alliances?
Britain, France, Ottoman Empire vs. Russia.
How was the war resolved?
Russia lost and signed the Treaty of Paris (1856), leading to military reforms.
What triggered WWI?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand led to a chain reaction of alliances.
What was the true reason for the war?
Imperial competition, rigid alliances, and a belief in a short war led to miscalculation and escalation.
What were the key alliances?
Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) vs. Allies (Britain, France, Russia, later the U.S.).
How was WWI resolved?
Germany surrendered, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh penalties, leading to WWII.
What triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, directly threatening the U.S.
What was the true reason for the crisis?
The USSR wanted to counter U.S. missiles in Turkey and test U.S. resolve.
What were the key alliances?
U.S. vs. USSR, nuclear brinkmanship.
How was the crisis resolved?
A diplomatic deal—USSR removed missiles from Cuba, and the U.S. secretly withdrew missiles from Turkey.
What triggered the Soviet-Afghan War?
The USSR invaded Afghanistan to support its communist government.
What was the true reason for the invasion?
The USSR feared losing influence in Central Asia and wanted to maintain control over a strategic buffer state.
What were the key alliances?
USSR vs. Afghan Mujahedeen (backed by U.S. funding and weapons).
How was the war resolved?
The USSR withdrew after heavy losses, and the war contributed to its collapse in 1991.
