Cold War Flashcards
(34 cards)
What was the Truman Doctrine (1947)?
The Truman Doctrine, announced by President Harry Truman on March 12, 1947, stated that America should help countries resist communist takeover with economic resources and troops if necessary, starting with $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey.
Why was the Truman Doctrine significant?
It marked a shift in US policy from isolationism to active global involvement, showed the Grand Alliance of WW2 was over, damaging US-Soviet relations, and introduced the “Domino Theory” to contain communism.
How did the Truman Doctrine shape US foreign policy?
It made containing communism central to American foreign policy, influencing actions in Korea and Vietnam, as the US feared communism would spread if not stopped
What was NATO (1949)?
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), signed on April 4, 1949, with 12 founding members like the US, UK, and Canada, was a military alliance where members agreed to defend each other if attacked.
Why was NATO created?
NATO was formed as a defense against USSR aggression, escalating Cold War tensions, especially after West Germany joined in 1955, which the USSR viewed as a direct threat
What was the Warsaw Pact (1955)?
The Warsaw Pact, signed on May 14, 1955, in Warsaw, Poland, with 8 member states including East Germany, was a military alliance of communist countries led by the USSR to control Eastern Europe.
Why did the USSR create the Warsaw Pact?
It was a response to NATO, as the USSR saw NATO as a threat, deepening the East-West divide, and ensured Soviet dominance over Eastern Europe.
What caused the 1956 protests in Hungary?
Hungarians were unhappy with communist rule under the harsh “mini-Stalin” leader, Rakosi, and wanted change, inspired by Khrushchev’s criticism of Stalin in his 1956 “Secret Speech.”
Who was Imre Nagy, and what reforms did he introduce in Hungary?
Imre Nagy replaced Rakosi in 1956 and introduced reforms: free elections, non-communists in government, and Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, aiming for neutrality and UN protection.
How did the USSR react to Hungary’s 1956 reforms?
The USSR crushed the uprising on November 4, 1956, with 200,000 troops, fearing other Eastern European countries would follow, arresting Nagy and killing over 2,500 Hungarians.
Why was the Hungarian Uprising significant?
It showed the USSR would use force to maintain control, the US offered financial aid but no military support, 200,000 Hungarians fled as refugees, and it worsened US-Soviet relations.
Why did Kennedy order the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961?
Fidel Castro nationalized US businesses in Cuba in 1959 after his revolution, and Cuba began trading with the USSR, alarming the US due to its proximity, only 90 miles from Florida
What happened during the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961?
On April 17, 1961, the CIA staged an invasion with 1,400 Cuban exiles, but they were defeated by Castro’s forces in three days, with all exiles killed or captured
Why did the Bay of Pigs invasion fail?
The exiles were outnumbered, lacked air support as Kennedy withdrew it, and the invasion was a disaster, embarrassing Kennedy and pushing Cuba closer to the USSR.
Why did Khrushchev place missiles in Cuba in 1962?
Cuba’s proximity to the US, only 90 miles away, made it strategic, and the USSR was losing the Arms Race, needing to restore nuclear balance after the US placed missiles in Turkey
How did the US have an edge in the Arms Race during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The US had Jupiter missiles in Turkey targeting the USSR, giving them a strategic advantage, which pressured Khrushchev to place missiles in Cuba for balance.
How did the Cuban Missile Crisis unfold in 1962?
On October 14, 1962, a U-2 spy plane discovered missile sites in Cuba; Kennedy blockaded Cuba on October 22, put US troops on high alert, and US “Hawks” demanded an aggressive approach.
How was the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved?
On October 28, 1962, a secret deal was made: the USSR removed missiles from Cuba, the US agreed to remove Jupiter missiles from Turkey, and Kennedy promised not to invade Cuba.
What was a key outcome/consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A “hot-line” telephone link between the White House and the Kremlin was set up in June 1963 for better communication during crises, reducing the risk of miscalculation
What treaty was signed the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, signed on August 5, 1963, banned all nuclear tests except underground ones, reducing environmental risks and easing tensions.
What was détente, and when did it begin?
What was détente, and when did it begin?
Why did the US boycott the 1980 Olympics?
The US boycotted the Moscow Olympics, held in July 1980, due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, joined by 60 other countries, including West Germany and Japan.
Why did the USSR boycott the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics?
The USSR and 14 communist countries boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in July 1984 in retaliation for the 1980 US boycott, citing security concerns and anti-Soviet sentiment.
What was the impact of the Olympic boycotts on US-Soviet relations?
The boycotts damaged relations, showing how the Cold War affected global events, with both superpowers using the Olympics as a political tool to express disapproval.
