Exam Review 2 Flashcards
Potsdam conference and the Cold War origins
Stalin, Churchill and Truman. Met to decide fate of defeated Nazi Germany, who agreed to unconditional surrender. decided on establishment of post-world order, peace treaty issues, and countering the affects of war.
Originated between 2 superpowers ideologically driven for superiority. 2 strategies: economic/military/ideological battle, and Battle for freedom of markets, decision making, thought and privacy vs gov ownership of everything
Yalta conference and results
2nd meeting of big 3: Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin to discuss post-war reestablishment of war-torn Europe.
Est of U.N., Germ \ 4 zones, Free elections E Euro, Ensured Soviet Union participated in UN. Rus join war Jap.
HUAC
House Un-American Activities Committee: investigative committee that sought to uncover citizens with communist ties in U.S.
Cold War Characteristics
McCarthyism - there are important people that are communist, paranoia at home.
People built bomb shelters, took Loyalty Oaths, Blacklists include RR.
Cold War Strategies
- Brinkmanship: responding in kind, in a stalemate
- Espionage
- Foreign Aid
- Alliances
- Propaganda
- Surrogate wars
Truman Doctrine
America helps free countries fight communism. *U.S. will support countries that fight communism with military and financial support.
Marshall Plan
Economic aid to help Europe recover from war, provide markets for American goods - helping our economy, keep communism from upsurging.
Eisenhower Doctrine
1957 - required congress to yield war-making power to president to he can take immediate military action.
- created US commitment to defend Middle East from communism
Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Stalin created wall blocking east berlin from going west. We fly in supplies until Stalin folds and opens blockade.
Closest world came to nuclear war. USSR Ships parked outside of Cuba backing Castro. USSR installs missiles in Cuba. They eventually back off.
Richard Nixon and SALT I/II-Cold War thaw
SALT I froze the number of ballistic missile launchers at existing levels, and provided addition of (SLBM) launchers after the same number of (ICBM) and SLBM launchers dismantled.
• first effort between US/USSR to stop increase nuclear weapons.
• SALT II second round of talks to reduce manufacture of nuclear weapons. SALT II was the first nuclear treaty seeking real reductions on both sides.
Afghanistan and Soviet aggression/US response and its importance to Reagan Doctrine
Afghan govt was communist and backed by Soviets. Soviets invaded to support communist govt. Afghans were supported by U.S. funds and weaponry to defeat Soviets. In response to Reagan Doctrine, that we will support nations that we have an interest in defeat communism and promote democracy.
Carter Doctrine and Carter’s response to Afghanistan
U.S. use any means necessary to protect Persian Gulf against Soviet incursions.
Response: boycott 1980 Olympics in Moscow, create RDF, requested draft,
Reagan Doctrine
foster and support irregular forces to overthrow pro-soviet gov’ts in third world.
Reagan Doctrine examples with evidence of Soviet aggression-Afghanistan, Cambodia, Angola and Nicaragua
- Afghan - U.S. Supported Afghan rebels. Soviets were committing atrocities and violating human rights.
- Cambodia - Vietnam
- Angola - UNITA’s Jonas Savimbi,
- Nicaragua - The Iran–Contra affair, the Reagan administration illegally facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, the subject of an arms embargo, in the hope that the arms sales would secure the release of hostages and allow U.S. intelligence agencies to fund the Nicaraguan Contras.
Gorbachev - problems faced
- stagnated economy resulting from Cold War arms race
- bureaucracy stuck in their ways
- population did not trust their leaders
- Rising discontent in satellite states
