The Cold War Flashcards
1
Q
What was the Cold War?
A
When the marriage of convienence between the USA and the USSR was over as they began to compete for economic influence across the world.
2
Q
How did the Cold War increase the political powers of the government?
A
- The government needed to be tough.
- The federal government managed to gain more power to deal with the supposed communist threat, at home and abroad.
3
Q
What sort of policy did the US need? And what would it do?
A
A policy of ‘containment’ - stopping communist influence spreading by helping countries that might otherwise end up in communist hands.
4
Q
What was the USA a member of? And what did that mean for them?
A
NATO - North Altantic Treaty Organisations.
Members all agreed to respond to an attack on any one of them.
5
Q
Summarise nuclear defence.
A
- The government had to be seen preparing for a nuclear attack one it was clear that the USSR had nucelar capacity.
- Early 1950s; Federal Defence Adminsitration was set up to organise evacuations and give out pamphlets with advice.
6
Q
What was the arms race?
A
- Between June 1947 and June 1948, the US holdings of atomic bombs rose from 13 to 50.
- When the USSR also began to make atomic weapons, it started an arms race that cost both countries huge amounts of money.
7
Q
What was the arms service?
A
- The creation of a large, permanent military force.
- The military cost money to run BUT also provided jobs.
8
Q
List 3 impacts of the Cold War on the Presidency.
A
- The power of the PResident to go to war or make treaties without Congress grew with the USA’s involvement with NATO and the UN.
- The National Security Act created the Central Intelligence Unit (CIA) and the National Security Council - both reported to the White House.
- The existence of nucelar weapons meant a nucelar war could happen without warning - the president had to have the power to react at one; not wait for Congress’ permission.
