ᥴoᥣd wᥲr Flashcards
(125 cards)
1
Q
What is communism? Talk about industry, money and living standards.
A
-> industry owned by the state
-> private wealth taken away by the government
-> similar living standards for everyone
2
Q
What is capitalism? Talk about industry, money and living standards.
A
-> industry mostly owned by private companies
-> freedom to make as much money as you can
-> often a big difference between rich and poor
3
Q
Was both the USA and USSR a democracy or dictatorship?
A
USA - democracy
USSR - dictatorship
4
Q
At the start of the Second World War (1941), who was Germany in an alliance with?
A
The USSR (they both invaded Poland together that year) and Japan (this alliance was called the Axis).
5
Q
What happened in June 1941?
A
Nazi Germany invaded the USSR in a surprise attack, costing millions of lives.
6
Q
What happened in December 1941?
A
Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii (in the USA) which led to the USA being willing to join the Grand Alliance against Nazi Germany.
7
Q
What did the surprise attacks in 1941 lead to?
A
The Grand Alliance at the end of December 1941 between the USA, USSR and Britain who united to defeat Germany and Japan.
8
Q
Who were the Big Three and what did they think of the Grand Alliance?
A
Stalin (USSR) - suspicious of the West, Roosevelt (USA) - willing to work with Stalin as he thought Stalin would stop cooperating if his demands were not met, and Churchill (Britain) - suspicious of Stalin and communism and worried about Stalin’s demand for land to protect from a future invasion from the West.
9
Q
When was the Tehran conference and what did it entail?
A
It was in 1943 where the Big Three decided to invade Nazi-occupied Europe.
- Stalin also said he would join the United Nations in the future and would help USA fight against Japan once Hitler was defeated.
- Churchill and Stalin did not get along - they made a ‘percentages agreement’ which said that countries in Eastern Europe would be divided between them after the war.
10
Q
When was the Yalta conference and what were the aims of the Big Three?
A
It was in 1945 when Germany was close to losing the Second World War to decide what should happen to Nazi-occupied countries once they were freed.
- Churchill was worried about a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ and wanted the countries to have democratic elections
- Roosevelt was sick, but wanted to ensure cooperation between Stalin and the West -> he still wanted USSR support to defeat Japan
- Stalin wanted the USSR to have a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, take reparations from Germany and knew the Soviet Army (known as the ‘Red Army’) could occupy those countries once the Nazis were defeated (but needed the USA and Britain to do this).
11
Q
What 3 things were agreed at the Yalta conference?
A
- most Eastern European countries would come under the Soviet sphere of influence but had to have democratic, fair elections
- Germany and Berlin would be split into 4 zones respectively run by Britain, France, the USA and the USSR
- the USSR could take reparations from Germany and would also join the war against Japan
12
Q
Give examples of Soviet Expansion that went against the agreement at Yalta that the USSR should hold fair, democratic elections?
A
Romania - in 1945 Soviets disarmed their army and forced their King to appoint a communist government. In 1946 they won 80% of the vote, likely because Soviets stood outside booths with guns. In 1947, they abolished the royal family.
Rigged elections - they also rigged elections and occupied countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Hungary.
13
Q
Which country did not allow communist occupation during Soviet expansion and how?
A
Yugoslavia - Tito (the president) was communist but refused to take orders from Stalin. Yugoslavia was therefore expelled from Cominform and they began accepting USA economic aid.
14
Q
When was the Potsdam conference and what did it entail?
A
In 1945, the day after the USA successfully tested their first atomic bomb. Roosevelt had also died and was replaced with Truman, who shared Churchill’s concerns about Soviet expansion.
- the successful atomic bomb (which was already made aware to Stalin due to spies) frustrated Stalin as the USA planned to use it against Japan and so no longer needed his help
- the division of Germany and Berlin was finalised and most of Germany’s reparations would go to the USSR in the form of industrial equipment
- large disagreement on how to punish Germany -> Stalin wanted it to be harsh, but the West did not want to damage Germany too severely
15
Q
When were the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan and how many died?
A
Hiroshima - 6th August 1945, 70,000 died instantly
Nagasaki - 9th August 1945, 40,000 died instantly
16
Q
What was the impact of the atomic bomb being used on Japan?
A
- marked the beginning of the Cold War
- brought an end to the war between USA and Japan which then, due to the USSR not being involved, prevented Stalin from claiming land in Asia
- ended the alliance between the USA and the USSR and began the Nuclear Arms Race
17
Q
When and what was the Long Telegram?
A
February 1946 - Kennan (a US official in Moscow) sent an 8,000 word telegram (this is why it was called the Long Telegram) to Truman outlining Soviet determination to expand its influence and the USSR explicitly viewing the USA as its enemy.
18
Q
When and what was the Novikov Telegram?
A
September 1946 - Novikov (the Soviet’s USA ambassador) sent a telegram stating that the USA was economically powerful and wanted to dominate the world and spread its influence due to things like the increasing size of their army, so therefore cannot be trusted.
19
Q
What are satellite states?
A
Countries ruled ultimately by Stalin that were between the USSR and the West to prevent invasion from the West.
20
Q
When was the Iron Curtain speech, who was it said by and what were the consequences of it?
A
In 1946, said by Churchill - “an iron curtain has descended across the continent”. Consequences included the clear ending of the Grand Alliance and the USA’s plans to stop the spread of communism through things like the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan.
21
Q
What was the Truman Doctrine?
A
A speech by USA President Truman in March 1947 speaking to the US congress (the part of the government that makes laws) about the threat posed by communism and his policy of containment. He promised to support any country under threat of communism and contain it to the countries already influenced.
22
Q
What was Stalin’s response to the Truman Doctrine?
A
He created Cominform in 1947 - a way to bring all communist countries in Eastern Europe into one group and ensure they all followed the same policies and encourage trade between them.
23
Q
Why did the USA feel the need to introduce the Marshall Plan?
A
The Second World War left most of Europe bankrupt and Truman knew that this could lead to extreme political ideas. He saw Europe as vulnerable to communism. The Marshall Plan would allow Europe to rebuild quickly and still remain as valuable trading partners for the USA as any country who received Marshall Aid had to spend a part of it on US goods.
24
Q
What was the rule that came with the Marshall Plan?
A
Any country that received it had to spend part of it on US goods such as food and farm machinery.
25
How much money and to how many countries did the Marshall Plan include?
$13.3 billion dollars to 16 countries in return for trading with the USA.
26
Was Marshall Aid extended to Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain?
It was, though none took it.
27
What was Stalin’s view of Marshall Aid?
He thought it was the USA buying influence in Europe and was an example of ‘dollar imperialism’, where the USA was using its wealth to build power and support capitalism. He thought that any country who accepted Marshall Aid would become loyal to the USA so he forbade Cominform countries from accepting it.
28
When was Comecon created and what did it entail?
It was created in 1949 and was Stalin’s response to the Marshall Plan. It was supposed to be an organisation allowing the USSR to give the satellite states financial support but instead was used to control their economies and give the USSR access to all of their resources. They even encouraged economic specialisation where some countries would focus on food production and others on industry.
29
What was the difference between the Western sectors of Germany (ruled by Britain, France and the USA) and the Eastern sector of Germany (ruled by the USSR)?
West -> invested a lot of money into their industries, mostly so they could trade with West Germany but also to promote capitalism as a better system. It was nicknamed ‘a capitalist island in a sea of communism’ and received the fourth largest amount of Marshall Aid to keep living standards high.
East -> Stalin kept taking large amounts of reparations from Germany and whole factories were even dismantled and taken to the USSR. The economy was set up on communist principles so living standards were lower. It also became a dictatorship and a secret police force called the Stasi was formed. There was no freedom of speech and media was censored.
30
What triggered the Berlin Blockade? (Zones and currency)
In January 1947, the USA and Britain decided to merge their zones of Germany and Berlin together to form ‘Bizonia’ (which later became Trizonia when France joined in 1949). Stalin was not consulted and no Soviet representative were at the meeting. In June 1948, there was also a new Bizonia currency - the Deutsche Mark. It was seen as more valuable so many East Germans quickly traded in their Reichmarks for them, making East German currency much less valuable and a threat to its economy.
31
When was the Berlin Blockade, what happened and what did Stalin want to achieve?
It began on the 24th June 1948. Stalin cut off road, canal and rail routes from West Germany to West Berlin so that they ran out of consumer goods and even basic necessities like food and coal. It also prevented Marshall Aid from reaching West Berlin. Stalin wanted West Germany to abandon West Berlin so that he could claim it (as Berlin was within the Eastern Zone) by starving them.
32
What was West Germany’s response to the Berlin Blockade?
The Berlin Airlift which began on 26th June 1948. Truman saw the blockade as a test of his policy of containment, so letting the Soviets claim West Berlin would break this. They transported essential goods through established ‘air corridors’ above East Germany and soon planes would land every three minutes and 8,000 tonnes of supplies were received each day.
33
What was Stalin’s response to the Berlin Airlift?
He ordered East German authorities to shine searchlights at planes, causing several crashes, and cut off all electricity. He said that if those in West Berlin moved to East Germany, he would offer them more supplies, but only 2% took up this offer. He called the Berlin Blockade off in May 1949.
34
When and why was NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) formed?
It was formed in 1949 because many Western leaders felt they would be unable to defend their countries against the USSR. Ernest Bevin suggested a defensive alliance.
35
What did NATO membership entail and what was Article 5?
It often meant that countries agreed to have a permanent US military base in their country (including West Germany, very close to the Iron Curtain). Article 5 stated that an attack against one NATO member was viewed as an attack against all members and all must assist the country in danger.
36
What was Stalin’s reaction to the creation of NATO?
He saw it as an ‘aggressive alliance’ that sought to attack the Eastern bloc in the future, but he was not the one who responded with the Warsaw Pact. He died in 1953, and the Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955.
37
When was the Warsaw Pact created, why was it named that and what did members have to agree to?
Created in 1955 whilst Khrushchev was leader of the USSR. It was originally named the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance but was known as the Warsaw Pact because it was signed in Warsaw which is in Poland. Members of the Warsaw Pact had to agree to keep their governments communist.
38
What were the main consequences of NATO and the Warsaw Pact?
Created more divide between East and West and both sides promised to go to war to defend other countries if necessary, so only a small incident could push Europe into war.
39
Describe the events of the Arms Race. (5 points)
-> USA developed first atomic bomb in 1945 and used it on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
-> Stalin then created his own atomic bomb in 1949, meaning Truman no longer had an advantage
-> USA tested the first hydrogen bomb (1,000 times more powerful than an atomic bomb) in 1952
-> USSR detonated the most powerful bomb in the world a year later - the ‘Tsar bomb’, said to be more powerful than all the explosives used in the Second World War combined
-> both sides continued to spend vast sums of money but never launched any nuclear weapons due to Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) which meant if one side launched one, the other would retaliate and both would be destroyed
40
Describe the events of the Space Race. (4 points)
-> USSR launched the first satellite (Sputnik) in 1957, followed by another satellite in 1957 (Sputnik II) carrying a dog called Laika, the first animal in space, who died 6 days after launch due to lack of oxygen
-> in 1958 the USA launched their ‘Explorer I’ satellite and the formation of NASA was also approved by the US congress this year
-> in 1959 the Soviets got the first man-made object to the moon (Luna II) followed by the first man in 1961 (Yuri Gagarin) - this process cost them around 20 billion dollars
-> the USA Apollo programme cost 25.8 billion dollars but Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969
41
How and when did Stalin die?
He died of a stroke in March 1953 because his soldiers, after hearing a thump, were too terrified to enter his room.
42
What was de-stalinisation?
Where Khrushchev described Stalin as a cruel leader who ruled through fear in 1956 and removed his harshest policies. He talked about ‘peaceful coexistence’ between East and West where they would leave each other’s spheres of influence alone and, if they had to argue, would do so without weapons.
43
How true was Khrushchev’s promise of de-stalinisation? (Uprisings and USA)
-> There were uprisings in East Germany (1953) and in Poland (1956) and both were crushed by the Red Army as Khrushchev did not want to appear weak. However, those in Poland did get some more freedom and Khrushchev allowed them to choose their own leader.
-> The Arms Race still continued and USA fear of communism was so high that it was called the ‘Red Scare’ and many Americans falsely believed that communists were everywhere in their lives.
44
Why did the Hungarians hate Soviet rule? (Vote, leader, religion).
In the 1945 elections, communists only won 17% of the vote yet the Soviets insisted on a coalition government (a government made from multiple political parties) where communists had the leading roles. The other leaders were either arrested or fled, and soon Rákosi, a very strict communist leader who wanted a dictatorship, was put in power. In addition to this, they had banned all religion and Hungary was a very religious country.
45
Why did the Hungarians think an uprising would work?
After the Polish uprising in 1956, they gained more freedom, so the Hungarians were inspired by this.
46
When did demonstrations in Hungary begin and what did they do?
23rd October 1956 - put up posters criticising the USSR, demanded free elections, a free press and the withdrawal of Soviet troops. They also pulled down a statue of Stalin and dragged it through the streets alongside killing members of AVO (the Hungarian secret police).
47
What was Khrushchev’s response to the Hungarian uprising?
He sent thousands of Soviet troops and tanks into Budapest on the 24th October 1956 which resulted in many casualties. However, Khrushchev saw how unpopular communism was so he agreed that Nagy, a popular politician, could be leader to pacify them.
48
What did Nagy do during the Hungarian Uprising?
He persuaded the USSR to withdraw their troops on the 28th October 1956 and introduced plans for free elections, freedom of speech and press, and that Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact and start trading with the West.
49
What was Khrushchev’s response to Nagy’s reforms?
He thought they went too far and so sent 6000 Soviet tanks and 200,000 Soviet troops into Budapest on the 4th November 1956.
50
How did the Hungarians resist Khrushchev’s response to Nagy’s reforms.
They could not match the military equipment or training of the Soviets, so they used ‘guerrilla tactics’ such as setting up ambushes for Soviet tanks in the streets. Teenagers and children were involved, and it took the Soviet’s two weeks to crush the revolt.
51
How many died during the Hungarian Uprising?
Between 3,000-20,000 Hungarians and only around 700 Soviets.
52
What were the consequences of the Hungarian Uprising?
Nagy was arrested and executed in 1958. He was replaced with Kádár, a communist leader like Rákosi who reversed Nagy’s reforms and restored Hungary to communism, sending a clear message to other satellite states.
53
Why did the West not assist with the Hungarian Uprising?
It could trigger war due to the Warsaw Pact which could then become a nuclear war. Most Western leaders were also distracted by the Egyptian Suez Crisis. However, there were demonstrations in support of them and homes were offered to the 200,000 refugees. 6 billion dollars were also raised for them.
54
When, what and by who was the Berlin ultimatum, and what did it lead to?
November 1958, Khrushchev demanded the West to withdraw from West Berlin within six months, but they did not abandon the city so it led to numerous summits.
55
Why did Khrushchev say the ongoing problems in Berlin were like ‘a fishbone stuck in our throat?’
-> many East Germans saw little future under communist rule and so defected to West Germany
-> around 100,000 refugees had left between 1955 and 1960, and many were highly skilled and educated people such as scientists, engineers and mathematicians so this was called the ‘brain drain’
56
How did Khrushchev and Eisenhower try to resolve tension in Berlin in 1959?
-> had a summit meeting in Geneva in May but could not agree so met again at Camp David (a US residence) in September
-> Khrushchev agreeing to set foot on US soil was significant and demonstrated good progress in relations but there was still no agreement: they planned to continue this in Paris in 1960
57
What happened at the Paris Summit?
On 1st May 1960, two weeks before the summit was set to happen, an American U2 spy plane carrying pilot Gary Powers flying over Soviet territory was shot down.
At the Paris summit, Eisenhower refused to apologise so Khrushchev stormed out of the meeting.
58
What happened at the Vienna Summit?
In June 1961, Khrushchev reissued the Berlin ultimatum because:
- Kennedy was now president and he was younger and less experienced
- Soviets were winning the space race
- Cuba, an island 165km from the US had become communist, humiliating Kennedy
However, Kennedy stuck to his promise of remaining tough on communism, rejected the ultimatum and instead increased US spending on defence to $3.5 billion.
59
What was Khrushchev’s reason for the Berlin Wall?
- the brain drain (on the 12th August 1961 alone, 2400 people crossed the border to West Berlin
- ‘security’ as, according to him, West Berlin was a base for American spies
60
When did the Berlin Wall begin to be built and what was it made of?
On 2:00am on 13th August 1961, barbed wire barriers were set up at the most frequent crossing points and after a few days stretched 43km around all of West Berlin
61
What was the Berlin Wall guarded by?
-> guards and guard dogs
-> electric wire fence with alarms
-> concrete wall
-> Berliners told anyone who tried to cross would be shot
62
What was the impact of the Berlin Wall?
- families were divided and wouldn’t see each other until 1989 when the wall came down (some families even lifted babies above the wall to show other family members)
- everybody had to accept living in communism, but some still tried to escape and 41 people were shot in the first year
63
What was the USA’s reaction to the Berlin Wall?
- worried about the security of West Berlin so sent the Vice President and former US commander in West Berlin there
- said it was better than a war as it decreased tension over Berlin
64
What were the events at Checkpoint Charlie?
- USA wanted to test how strict the communists would be about border crossings and sent troops and diplomats through Checkpoint Charlie on some occasions
- In October 1961, the USA placed troops and tanks on the West Berlin side of the checkpoint, and East Berlin did the same
- they stayed like this for several hours and were close to triggering a war, however it was resolved as Kennedy said they would withdraw the troops if Khrushchev did the same
65
What did Kennedy do in his visit to West Berlin?
- he made a speech criticising the Berlin Wall and communism, and 1.5 million West Berliners (2/3 of the population) came to listen
- he said ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ (I am a Berliner)
66
What was the case of Peter Fletcher?
- an 18 year old boy who tried to cross the border in August 1962 and was shot, screaming for help
- East Germans did nothing and West Berliners could not do anything, and he took an hour to die
67
What was Batista’s Cuba?
- before the revolution, Cuba was under Batista’s control
- he had a corrupt, undemocratic government that made huge amounts of money doing deals with American businesspeople and brutally dealt with opposition
- Cubans began to challenge this and it led to Castro’s revolution
68
What was Castro’s revolution?
- in 1956, Castro (a lawyer) and 81 supporters called the Los Barbudos (the bearded ones) began a two-year guerrilla war
- attacked important government sites and gained support from Cuban people
- on 1st January 1959 Batista’s government collapsed and he fled the country, so Castro took power
69
Why was Castro’s revolution beneficial to the USSR?
- Castro was firmly left-wing (communist) and, when in power, took over many industries
- he visited to USA in April 1959 to work with them but Eisenhower refused to meet him so he turned to the USSR who offered Cuba loans and oil
70
What was the USA’s response to the loans given to Cuba by the USSR?
Declared an embargo, banning any business or trade between Cuba and the USA, making Cuba reliant on the USSR
71
Why was Kennedy worried about Cuba being communist and what did this lead to?
The domino theory that, because Cuba turned to communism and support for communism was growing in South America, other countries in the area may do the same.
This led to the Bay of Pigs invasion.
72
What was the Bay of Pigs and what were the consequences?
- exiles had fled Cuba after Castro gained power and were to be trained by the CIA to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs alongside the US air force
- Kennedy changed his mind about using the US air force so the invasion (17th April 1961) failed as exiles were exposed and easily captured
- made Kennedy look weak, inexperienced and embarrassing and pushed Cuba into a closer alliance with the USSR which led to increased tension and the USSR installing missiles there
73
What triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis?
- the USSR transported nuclear missiles to Cuba in the summer of 1962 and a U2 spy plane photographed missile sites on the 14th October
74
What was Kennedy’s response to the photographed missile sites in Cuba?
- took some time with his advisors: the Hawks advise aggression and the Doves advise peace
- on the 21st October he introduced a quarantine on Cuba with US navy ships and on the 22nd October he declares DEFCON 3
75
How did the USSR respond to Kennedy’s response to the missile sites?
- On the 23rd October, a group of Soviet ships carrying more missiles approached Cuba and was stopped by the blockade
- He called it off on the 24th October after the Secretary General of the United Nations calls for calm and this makes the USA declare DEFCON 2
76
What happened after the USA declared DEFCON 2?
- on the 25th October, a Soviet ship entered the US quarantine zone and was allowed to pass as it was an oil ship
- on the 26th October Kennedy assembled 12,000 troops to prepare to possibly invade Cuba
- Khrushchev sent a telegram saying he would remove Cuba’s missiles if Kennedy didn’t invade Cuba
77
What happened after Khrushchev’s first telegram about Cuba?
- a Soviet submarine carrying nuclear missiles is detected and the captain, thinking war had begun, gave the order to launch one but was overruled by a senior officer
- Cubans shot down an American U2 spy plane carrying pilot Rudolf Anderson who is killed
78
What was Khrushchev’s second telegram?
He said he would remove the missiles from Cuba if Kennedy removed his secret missiles in Turkey. Kennedy accepted on the condition it was kept secret, and the crisis was over with Khrushchev looking weak.
79
What were the 4 consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
- Khrushchev looked weak as the removal of Turkish missiles was kept secret and was likely a reason to why he was removed from office in 1964
- Kennedy looked strong but was accused of nearly sparking nuclear war
- a hotline telephone link between the White House and the Kremlin so that the two leaders can speak directly to each other
- the Limited Test Ban Treaty was passed in 1963 where both sides agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons above ground
80
What was life like in Czechoslovakia before the Prague Spring?
- no opposition was allowed and media was restricted
- an economist named Ota Sik called for reforms but was rejected by the USSR
- however, others were inspired by him and, to prevent a revolt, Novotny (the country’s leader) was forced to resign in January 1968 and was replaced with Dubček.
81
What were Dubček’s reforms?
- he declared ‘socialism with a human face’ (still communism, but with compassion)
- promised people could run their own businesses, freedom of speech/no censorship and allowing people to travel to non-communist countries
82
What was the Soviet’s problem with responding to Dubček’s reforms?
Brezhnev, who was now leader, had to make a difficult choice - if he interfered, it showed the Warsaw Pact was not really an alliance but a way to control countries, but if he didn’t, it would lead to more reforms in other countries and less control.
83
How did the Soviets actually respond to Dubček’s reforms?
- in June 1968, the border of Czechoslovakia was chosen as a site for Warsaw Pact military exercises where many troops had gathered, intimidating Dubček
- In July 1968, the Warsaw Pact met without Czechoslovakia and issued the Warsaw Letter saying that whilst each country can make their own decisions, they cannot do anything to weaken communism
84
What did the Soviets do after Dubček did not change?
- after Brezhnev meeting with him and not being able to change his mind, Soviet tanks quickly entered and took control of the capital, Prague, on the 20th August 1968
- resistance was brutally dealt with and Dubček ordered the army to not fight back to try and save lives but 72 were killed
- Dubček was arrested and replaced with a new leader in 1969 who reversed all reforms and was fully loyal to the USSR
85
What were the consequences of the Prague Spring?
- Soviet army was angry with the USSR as they were told their actions were requested by the Czechoslovakian people but it was clearly not the case when they got there
- the Brezhnev Doctrine
86
When and what was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
- in November 1968 (3 months after the Prague Spring) Brezhnev said that the actions of any individual communist country affects all other communist countries and it’s the duty of those other countries to step in and stop those actions
- this meant all communist countries would be prevented from introducing reforms
87
What was the impact of the Brezhnev Doctrine?
- the USA initially called off all talks between the superpowers but changed this as the USA did not want to undo all the progress in relations after the Cuban Missile Crisis
- relations in China were strained as the Soviet government viewed it as a satellite state and China was worried they could be invaded and controlled
- this led to an opportunity for the USA to build a relationship with China
88
What does Détente mean and when did it start?
It means the relaxing of tensions and it started after the crises of the 1960s.
89
Why did the USSR want Détente? (4 reasons)
- 20% of their spending went towards the Arms Race and this was crippling the economy
- because of this, living standards were low which made communism look bad
- therefore they would benefit from trading with the West so needed to improve relations
- relations with China had also worsened so there was pressure to stay relatively friendly with the rest of the world
90
Why did the USA want Détente? (3 reasons)
- whilst living standards were much higher than in communist countries, the economy was slowing down and unemployment was rising
- therefore, the USA would also benefit from reducing how much spending went on the Arms Race
- they were heavily involved in the Vietnam War which was expensive and was causing protests and international disapproval, so reducing tension with the USSR would help the USA recover
91
What was the Nixon Doctrine?
A doctrine by the new 1969 president, Nixon, saying that the USA would remain part of NATO but would no longer support allies by sending troops during conflicts due to the economic cost of the Vietnam War and to reassure Brezhnev that the USA would intervene in less conflicts.
92
When and what was SALT I?
SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) I was signed in 1972 by the USSR and the USA and was a 5-year freeze on ICBMs. Each side was only allowed anti-ballistic missile systems at 2 sites with each containing 100 missiles and each side was allowed to use satellites to check that the other was not breaking this.
93
What were some visible signs of Détente occurring?
In 1972, Nixon visited Moscow and the USSR signed a trade deal to buy American wheat, shortly followed by Soviet oil being exported to the West.
In 1974, Brezhnev visited Washington DC.
94
When were the Helsinki Accords?
1975
95
What were the Helsinki Accords?
An agreement between 35 countries (including the USSR and the USA) on human rights, involving:
- a commitment to improve human rights and allow freedom of speech, press and religion
- the West recognising the borders of Eastern Europe (what the USSR wanted)
- closer cooperation between East and West in terms of economy, scientific research and culture
96
Did the USSR adhere to these human rights agreements?
No - there was still not free speech, press or religion in the Eastern bloc and dissidents (people who objected to the government) were persecuted. For example, in 1977, a protest group in Czechoslovakia called Charter 77 were sacked, imprisoned and their children expelled from school.
97
Why was SALT I a failure?
Both sides were continuing to develop missiles and in 1978, President Carter increased funds spent on weapons again. In 1979, Brezhnev had 2000 Soviet troops in Cuba and members of NATO had positioned long-range missiles in Europe. The terms of SALT I were also outdated due to new weapon technology.
98
Why, when and what was SALT II?
- SALT II was needed because the terms of SALT I were outdated
- limited to 2400 strategic nuclear delivery vehicles per side, banned new land-based ICBM launchers and also restricted the use of missile launchers
- the terms were agreed in 1979, but the US Senate and Soviet leaders refused to officially approve it due to it being too ambitious; it was also about to be wrecked by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
99
Why was Afghanistan important to the USSR?
It supplies a lot of oil that countries rely on.
100
What happened in Iran in 1979?
In January 1979, fundamentalist Muslims seized power and put strict Islamic laws in place - there were around 30 million Muslims in the USSR, so the Soviets were worried they would try and overthrow communist governments.
101
What happened to Afghanistan’s government in 1979?
In September, an Afghan communist Amin took power - most Afghans were Muslim and hated communism as it went against their religion, so Amin was completely reliant on Soviet support due to his unpopularity. A small minority of Muslims declared war on his government and joined a guerrilla fighting force called the Mujahideen.
102
When and how did the Soviets invade Afghanistan?
On the 25th December 1979 (Christmas Day) Soviet soldiers invaded and captured the capital, Kabul, and the President’s palace. After a week, there were 50,000 troops and Amin was killed and replaced with Karmal, a former Afghanistan leader who was more pro-Soviet but equally as unpopular to Muslims. Many soldiers from the Afghan army left and joined the Mujahideen instead to fight against the Soviet invasion and 85,000 Soviet troops were needed to keep Karmal in power.
103
What was the USA’s response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
- Dètente was well and truly over and they stopped giving grain/technology to the USSR
- the Carter Doctrine in January 1980 (he saw the invasion as a threat to world peace) stating the USA would use military forces to defend its interests in the Persian Gulf Region (Afghanistan and the Middle East) and would offer support to all countries bordering Afghanistan
- USA gave funding and weapons to the Mujahideen
104
What was the Boycott of the Moscow Olympics?
Moscow was due to host the 1980 Olympics but Carter pressured the US Olympic Committee to withdraw its athletes and boycott it and was followed by 61 countries.
The USSR did the same in 1984 and boycotted the Los Angeles olympics but only 13 other Eastern bloc countries joined.
105
Why did Reagan beat Carter in US elections by such a wide margin?
- Carter was determined to maintain a positive relationship with the USSR, making him look weak
- Reagan criticised the USSR and promised to take a tougher stance and was elected in 1980, which made people refer to this period as the ‘Second Cold War’
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What was Reagan’s project ‘Star Wars’?
- Reagan increased US spending on weapons by 13% and began developing new weapons such as the neutron bomb (which would kill huge numbers of people yet would leave most buildings intact)
- the Arms Race had now restarted and, in 1983, Reagan made a speech calling the USSR an ‘evil empire’ (a Star Wars reference) and announced the SDI (known as the ‘Star Wars’ programme)
- it was a system that could detect and destroy missiles from space using laser technology before they could reach the USA and Reagan was aiming to end MAD (mutually assured destruction) but this project was never built
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When did Brezhnev die and when did Gorbachev come into power?
Brezhnev died in 1982 from illness and the next two leaders were both ill and died soon after. Gorbachev was chosen in 1985 and, at 54, was the youngest Soviet leader since Stalin.
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What were Gorbachev’s problems?
- the East had started to trade more with the West during Dètente but was now in debt to capitalist countries, unable to pay back the debts
- most industries were using outdated equipment and slow production methods so living standards were very low
- dissident groups like Charter 77 in Czechoslovakia were still publishing leaflets and making radio broadcasts criticising the Soviet system
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How did Chernobyl become a symbol of Soviet failure?
In 1986, the nuclear power station exploded and killed at least 4000 people. The building was poorly maintained and the staff not properly trained so it made Soviets look careless.
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What two policies were Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’?
- glasnost (openness)
- perestroika (restructuring)
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What was glasnost?
Meaning ‘openness’, it aimed to end government corruption and allow free speech and ideas. Gorbachev hoped it would restore faith in communism as previous leaders punished those who spoke out in opposition.
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What was perestroika?
Meaning ‘restructuring’, it aimed to make the economy stronger by allowing more foreign trade. Businesses would have more flexibility and respond to public demand instead of being in full control of the government.
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What else did Gorbachev do within the USSR and what was the effect?
- abandoned the Brezhnev doctrine meaning Soviet control of satellite states loosened
- planned to end the Afghanistan war and withdraw troops
This convinced Reagan that he could work with Gorbachev and both saw the benefit of cutting spending on armaments.
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What were the three summits between Gorbachev and Reagan?
1985 Geneva - both agreed to reduce supplies of armaments by 50%
1986 Reykjavik - Gorbachev would begin removing troops from Afghanistan and weapon tests would be limited for both sides but Reagan refused to give up the SDI (Star Wars) so it ended badly.
1987 Washington DC - INF treaty: removal of all nuclear missiles with a range between 500-5500 km.
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What was the Sinatra Doctrine?
In 1989, during Gorbachev, the USSR said individual governments in Eastern Europe can make their own decisions about their countries. He did this to strengthen communism by giving people more freedom.
116
How did the Soviet Union lose its grip on Hungary?
In 1988, Hungary introduced reforms like trade unions and press freedom. In 1989, Hungary held free elections and opened the border with Austria.
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How did the Soviet Union lose its grip on East Germany?
In 1989, there was a Pan-European Picnic where people crossed the Hungarian-Austrian border. After the Soviet Union didn’t stop this, thousands of East Germans escaped through Austria into West Germany. There were many demonstrations of protest and in November thousands smashed the Berlin Wall with hammers and axes, crossing into West Berlin.
118
How did the Soviet Union lose its grip on Poland?
In 1988, there were many strikes and workers even formed their own trade union called Solidarity. This union grew and won every seat it was allowed to stand in elections in 1989 and Poland soon became a non-communist country.
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How did the Soviet Union lose its grip on Czechoslovakia?
Huge demonstrations in November 1989 made the government lose control of its people and so in November the communist government gave up all power and allowed free elections. This was called the Velvet Revolution.
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How did the Soviet Union lose its grip on Romania?
The government was brutal in 1989 and the army often shot protestors. However, in December, the military forces joined the revolution and the Communist Party headquarters were taken over by rebels. The leader and his wife were executed and over 1000 died in this revolution.
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What happened with the Fall of the Berlin Wall and Schabowski?
On the 9th November, there was a press conference where changes that limited travel would be allowed between East and West Germany were announced to the media in response to protests by Schabowski. However, before he spoke he was handed a note saying that some permanent emigration would be allowed. He misunderstood and instead said that all permanent emigration would be allowed and, when asked when the changes would come into effect, answered ‘immediately’.
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What happened after Schabowski’s broadcast?
On the 9th November, thousands of East Germans demanded to get through the wall and the guards simply let them pass as they were not willing to open fire. Many climbed over or began demolishing it and in December the communist leader resigned which showed the USSR had officially lost control of East Germany.
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What led to the end of the Cold War?
A summit in December 1989 between Gorbachev and President George Bush Senior took place where they discussed peaceful cooperation. Many countries began to leave the USSR such as Lithuania in 1990 following the Sinatra Doctrine that countries can choose for themselves.
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What and when was the attempted coup against Gorbachev?
In 1991, a group of politicians, Soviet army leaders and members of the KGB attempted to seize control of the USSR in a coup. They held Gorbachev prisoner in Crimea and claimed he was ill whilst trying to take control of the government. It did not have much support and instead people went on strike and protested and the coup failed. Gorbachev was returned but now appeared weak.
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When did Gorbachev resign?
In August 1991, he resigned and closed down all government communist organisations. At the same time, Ukraine announced its plans to become independent. The new President of Russia (not the USSR) announced that the USSR no longer existed in December 1991.
