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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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8
Q

List 3 impacts of the Cold War on the Presidency.

A
  1. 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.
  2. The National Security Act created the Central Intelligence Unit (CIA) and the National Security Council - both reported to the White House.
  3. 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.
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