History PP1 A Flashcards
1 a) What was the Truman Doctrine? (5)
It was an American policy of containment
Announced by Harry Truman in 1947
It meant that the USA would help any country threatened by Communist aggression.
The USA sent help in the form of military and economic aid
It had aided Greece when it was under Communist threat
1b) Why was the failure of the Berlin Blockade important? [6]
I was to force the US, France and Britain out of Berlin, but the sayed
They defeated it by using a massive airlift to keep the people in Berlin supplied with essential goods.
Berlin stayed divided between the Soviet Union and the West
At the height of the crisis, Britain, France & USA met in Washington and formed NATO in 1949
Germany was then divided into two separate countries (West: German Federal republic, East: German Democratic republic)
The West introduced a new currency (Deutschmark)
1c) 2 Why is it surprising that Britain and the United States agreed at Yalta that Eastern Europe should be a Soviet sphere of influence? [4]
Churchill and Roosevelt were very anti-Communist
Stalin wanted to go further than having a sphere of influence and really wanted to control them
Clear when it was agreed that there would be Communists in the Polish government
Went against another agreement at Yalta – that there would be free democratic elections in countries freed from Nazi control.
1 c 1 Why is it unsurprising that Britain and the United States agreed at Yalta that Eastern Europe should be a Soviet sphere of influence? [3]
The Allies recognised that the Soviet Union needed security, especially after Germany had invaded it
Stalin wanted a wall of friendly countries
Britain and America thought this wouldn’t lead to complete Soviet domination of Eastern Europe because the USSR agreed to free elections in these countries.
2 a Describe MacArthur’s role in the Korean War. (4)
He commanded the UN forces.
He led an attack at Inchon, 200 miles behind enemy lines
He argued in support of using nuclear weapons against China.
He was communicating with foreign governments that he planned to expand the war. This was not US policy.
2 bWhy did Kennedy go ahead with the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961? [6]
*The plan for the invasion was put together by President Eisenhower
when Kennedy became President in 1961 he decided to go ahead with the plan to invade Cuba
*Kennedy thought that Castro was a danger to the US
Castro had broken all ties with the USA and taken US assets in Cuba.
Cuba was super close to the USA, just off the coast of florida
In 1960, Castro declared he was a Communist and an ally of the USSR.
2c1 How did United States’ strategy and tactics lead to its failure in Vietnam. [4]
The USA was better armed and had more advanced weapons, this wasn’t an advantage in the type of guerrilla war that the Vietcong and North Vietnamese fought.
They mixed in with ordinary villagers so that the Americans never knew who was an enemy soldier
They also used small surprise hit and run attacks instead of big battles.
The Americans were not used to this and did not know how to respond.
2c2What, other than United States’ strategy and tactics, led to its failure in Vietnam. (4)
American public gradually turned against the war
Partly because of the number of American soldiers being killed
incidents like the My Lai Massacre
Americans thought that the war would never end and there were anti-war demonstrations all over the country
3 aWhat were Stalin’s main achievements at the Yalta Conference? (4)
He weakened Germany.
Germany was divided into four
He obtained the eastern zone of occupation of Germany
Germany was to pay reparations
3bWhy was it difficult to deal with Poland after the Second World War? (6)
*The Western Allies wanted Poland to have a government elected by free and fair multi-party elections.
They wanted the elections to be held as soon as possible,
Agreed to a provisional government of pro-Soviet Lublin Poles and exiled London Poles.
*Stalin wanted a pro-Soviet government on his border.
Was willing to murder opposition leaders and fix the elections
Stalin wanted to move USSR border Westwards into Poland
3c1 How was the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) an important consequence of the Berlin Blockade? (3)
The USA pledged to join NATO, the first time in the country’s history that it had committed itself in peacetime to a military alliance
and one which would not require an attack on the USA to involve it in possible military action.’
It was a defensive alliance for large parts of Europe and North America.
3c2 What other than NATO, were important consequences of th Berlin Blocade [6]
The West had successfully stood up to the Soviet Union
In May 1949, it was announced that the Federal German Republic, West Germany, had been formed by the merging of the zones of the Western allies
The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established
COMECON was created to direct the economies of the Soviet bloc
In 1955 the Warsaw Pact was formed.
The Berlin Airlift was successful
4a What was Eisenhower’s policy towards Vietnam? [5]
He saw Vietnam as a key battleground in the fight against communism.’
He saw Vietnam as a crucial part of his domino theory
He had sent American air force pilots to support the French military operations
He increased the number of military advisers to 900
He maintained a naval presence in the region
4b Why was the USA unhappy with the changes Castro introduced immediately following the Cuban Revolution? [7]
*The USA lost influence and control over Cuba.
US companies and many of its citizens lost land and industries as Castro put into effect his communist ideas
His friendship with the USSR was even more concerning as it led to trade deals, arms supplies and military advice.
This would give the USSR influence in America’s ‘own backyard’ at a time of the Cold War.’
*Castro took over many American agricultural businesses.
Castro distributed American owned land to the peasants.
Castro sold his sugar and tobacco to the USSR.
4c1 Why was American Policy of Containmet 1950 and 1973 unsuccessful? [5]
failed to contain Communism in North Vietnam
It spread to South Vietnam
Eventually united the two parts of Vietnam into a united communist country
spread to Laos and Cambodia.’
The USA would rather support capitalist military dictators than communist leaders that were preferred by the majority (Vietnam and Cuba)
