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the cold war Flashcards

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1
Q

what is communism

A

An ideology where everyone in a society shares the same economic resources. Means there is no hierarchy of social class and aims to avoid problems caused by differences in distribution of wealth in other economic systems
- created 1848 by Friedrich Engels & Karl Marx

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2
Q

what is capitalism

A

economic system where businesses and industries are owned privately

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3
Q

what is democracy

A

a form of government where people have the choice to choose their leaders through elections

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4
Q

when was the cold war

A

1945-1991

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5
Q

what was the cold war

A

a period of tensions between the USA and the USSR, former allies in WWII who became rivals due to ideological differences. Both sides built nuclear weapons and used containment strategies to limit the other’s influence. The cold war ended in 1991 when the USSR collapsed

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6
Q

how did different ideologies cause the cold war

A

The US and the Soviet Union had different ideas of the organisation of countries- US wanted capitalism and the USSR wanted communism. Distrust grew, especially after Stalin took control of Eastern Europe. Germany was split, with the West under capitalism and the East under communism.

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7
Q

which event marked the beginning of the cold war

A

the end of WWII and the subsequent division of Europe

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8
Q

was the cold war a military conflict

A

no, the cold war was characterised by political tension, ideological conflict and economic competition rather than direct military confrontation

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9
Q

what were the 2 main opposing blocs during the cold war

A

the western bloc (led by the United States) and the eastern bloc (led by the Soviet Union)

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10
Q

when was the USSR established

A

1922

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11
Q

what is an ideology

A

a set of shared beliefs

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12
Q

when was the yalta conference

A

february 1945

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13
Q

what was the yalta conference

A

meeting between the USA, Britain and the Soviet Union to discuss the organisation of Europe following the second world war. They agreed to split Germany into zones controlled by different countries and laid the groundwork for the establishment of the United Nations

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14
Q

when was the Potsdam conference

A

July 1945

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15
Q

what was the Potsdam conference

A

leaders from the US, UK and USSR met in Potsdam, Germany to discuss what to do with defeated Germany and how to rebuild Europe. Disagreements over how to manage post war Germany led to its division

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16
Q

when was the Truman doctrine announced

A

1947

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17
Q

what was the Truman doctrine

A

a foreign policy created by President Harry S. Truman to contain the spread of communism (1947). Truman believed communism posed threats to international peace and the national security of the US. This policy shifted US foreign policy from isolationism to active global intervention.

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18
Q

when was the Marshall Aid

A

1947

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19
Q

what was the Marshall aid

A

a plan to provide economic aid to rebuild Europe after WWII, proposed by George Marshall (1947)
-US pledged 13 billion dollars to Europe
-included money, food and machinery
-way to stop countries from turning into communist states

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20
Q

what is isolationism

A

a policy of remaining apart from the affairs/interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries

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21
Q

what is an atomic bomb

A

an extremely powerful weapon that uses nuclear reactions

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22
Q

what is a nuclear deterrence

A

a military strategy to prevent conflict by making everyone afraid of the damage of nuclear weapons

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23
Q

what is a destructive power

A

the ability of force or something to cause harm

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24
Q

what is military supremacy

A

makes a country/group the most powerful in defence and fighting capability, allowing domination or influence on global affairs

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25
what was the arms race
a period of intense competition between the US and the USSR during the Cold War where each side competed to develop the most powerful weapons and superior military capabilities
26
when was the atomic bomb first introduced
in 1945 by the USA, giving it military supremacy by making it the only country in the world with such a powerful weapon
27
when did the USSR develop an atomic bomb
in 1949
28
what did the USA do in response to Stalin's development of an atomic bomb
they developed a hydrogen bomb in 1950 which was 1000 times more harmful than the atomic bomb and restored the American advantage
29
how much powerful was the hydrogen bomb in comparison to the atomic bomb
1000 times more harmful/powerful
30
when did the USSR develop a hydrogen bomb
1953
31
how did the arms race act as a deterrent
The weapons were being developed to try and stop the other side from going to war at all as both sides understood the risks involved using nuclear weapons
32
when was the first satellite put into orbit
1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik 1
33
when was America's first satellite put into orbit
1958, launch of Explorer I A year following the Soviet's launch of Sputnik 1
34
Who was Yuri Gagarin
a soviet hero who became the first man in space on the 12th of April 1961
35
Who was Alan Shepard
the 1st American in space (5 May 1961), 3 weeks after Gagarin
36
When did JFK promise the US would be the 1st to land a man on the moon before 1970, launching the Apollo programme
25th May, 1961
37
when did Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the moon
July 20th 1969
38
what was the space race
period from the late 1950s to the early 1970s during which the USA and the USSR competed to achieve 'firsts' in space/superiority in space exploration
39
what was the SDI
The strategic defence initiative- President Ronald Reagan's plan to use powerful satellites to destroy Soviet missiles from space. Announced March 1983 -Also known as 'Star Wars' -Plan included the proposal of a nuclear umbrella to stop USSR bombs reaching American soils and launching satellites with powerful lasers to intercept Soviet missiles and destroy them
40
what was the detente
a period of improved relations and eased tensions between the Soviet Union and the US during late 1960s and 1970s
41
what was the Outer Space Treaty
policy announced in 1967 that stated that no nuclear weapons could be placed in space
42
what was the Apollo-Soyuz joint space mission
the first joint US-USSR space mission in 1975. It symbolised cooperation and trust
43
when did the detente fall apart
when the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979
44
when did Ronald Reagan become president of the US
1981, he was determined to win the Cold war
45
Why was the SDI a turning point
It broke the 1967 Outer Space Treaty terms, which re-established tensions between the superpowers and meant that the USSR leaders couldn't compete with Reagan's plan due to a failing economy that couldn't fund the development of new space weapons
46
what was McCarthyism
a campaign in 1950s America to expose suspected communists, particularly in the Federal Governments
47
what would make someone suspicious of being a communist in America
- having a multi-racial social circle - signing petitions against nuclear weapons - homosexuality accusations (Lavender Scare) -Left of centre political views - Having modern art hung on walls
48
what happened to Congressmen that didn't cooperate with anti-communist investigations
They would be jailed for contempt or fired and blacklisted, meaning nobody would hire them
49
what turned public opinion against McCarthy
his investigation of the US army
50
when did Stalin rule as a dictator
Stalin ruled the USSR from 1924 until his death in 1953
51
What was the USSR like under Stalin's rule
- no personal freedom -political oppression -state assigned jobs and housing -scarce consumer goods -basic living standards -secret police monitored private conversations/letters -suspected anti communists were arrested at night -Gulags used to imprison political enemies -no legal way to challenge his authority
52
what were Gulags
Harsh forced labour camps in the Soviet Union
53
how was communism initially responded to in Eastern Europe
some countries initially welcomed communism following WWII after seeing that the USSR had achieved impressive industrial growth. Many countries hoped it would bring economic recovery and stability
54
what was Eastern Europe like under Soviet control
- lost rights of free speech and democracy -criticism banned -censored newspapers -arrested opponents -travel to Western Europe strictly forbidden -served Soviet interests rather than the interests of the countries (e.g goods were produced for the USSR instead of consumer products) which led to necessities in short supply and rare modern conveniences like radios/televisions -protests responded with force
55
Who replaced Stalin after 1953
Nikita Krushchev
56
how did Krushchev give hope to the people of Eastern Europe
Krushchev criticised Stalin's harsh policies and spoke of a peaceful coexistence with the West, giving hope to the Eastern opposition groups which believed they could push for reforms
57
When were the Polish oppositions to Soviet Rule
protests erupted in the summer of 1956 after the government raised food prices. Krushchev moved the Soviet troops to the Polish border, prepared to intervene but new leader Wladyslaw Gomulka took power and led to the withdrawal of these troops, allowing Poland some authority
58
What was the Hungarian Uprising
October 23, 1956- revolt against Soviet control in Hungary, staged by students in Budapest who demanded for political and economic reforms, the withdrawal of Soviet troops and called for the reformist communist leader Imre Nagy to become prime minister. It escalated into a rebellion following security forces opening fire on unarmed protesters and it seemed like Hungary would break free from Soviet control but the USSR responded with overwhelming military force and thousands of Hungarians were killed and wounded
59
what were the consequences of the Hungarian Uprising
- thousands of Hungarians were killed and wounded - intensified Cold War tensions by demonstrating ruthlessness of the USSR - resulted in a refugee crisis and many Hungarians were forced to flee the country
60
what are satellite states
countries that depend on and follow the lead of a more powerful nation
61
who was Mikhail Gorbachev
the last president of the Soviet Union (from 1985). He believed change was necessary unlike his predecessors and wanted to improve relations with the West in order for the country to survive
62
What were Gorbachev's policies
Perestroika (reconstruction) and Glasnost (openness)
63
what did Gorbachev's policies lead to
The end of the Cold War, the breakup of the USSR and the demise of communism across central and eastern Europe
64
What was Perestroika
Gorbachev's 'reconstruction' policy. It included the reformation of the Soviet State through fixing the economy (giving businesses more freedom to make the country richer) and giving people freedom of speech
65
what was Glasnost
Gorbachev's 'openness policy' that aimed to remove corruption and introduce a more open form of government and foreign relations through allowing people to speak freely which would allow the government to be informed of problems
66
what did Gorbachev want
- more freedom - removed corruption of the communist party - a more open form of government and foreign relations
67
How did Gorbachev help ease tensions
through his willingness to negotiate with Western leaders
68
What led to the end of the cold war
- Gorbachev - The fall of the Berlin Wall - The Hotline - The breakup of the Satellite States
69
what was the Berlin Wall
a fortified barrier built in 1961 by the communist party that separated East and West Berlin. It stood as a symbol of division, separating families and forbidding the crossing into the democratic West from the communist East.
70
what was the fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989, East German officials mistakenly announced citizens could cross into West Berlin. In a moment of unity, thousands tore down the wall using hammers and pickaxes. Gorbachev chose to not intervene and the collapse of the wall signalled the collapse of the communist regimes
71
what was the hotline
a form of direct communication established between the USA and the USSR, 1963
72
how did the hotline contribute to the end of the cold war and ease tensions
It prevented misunderstandings between the superpowers, maintained communication and helped build trust, leading to a more open dialogue between the 2 nations
73
why were satellite states created
Stalin was reluctant to give up control of the countries the Soviet Union had freed from the Nazis after the second world war had ended and turned them into satellite states that were expected to follow Soviet policies and had little political freedom
74
how did the satellite states break free
dissatisfaction was growing by the 1980's as people wanted democracy, better living conditions and the right to govern themselves. Protests started erupting, which Gorbachev refused to intervene with using military force, leading to the freedom of the satellite states and the collapse of communist rule across eastern europe
75
How did Hungary break free of communism
Hungary started moving away from communism in 1956 following protests - saw economic changes in 60's and 70's - in 1989 more than one political party was introduced - in 1989 the border to Austria opened - the first free elections in 1990
76
how did East Germany break free of communism
- On the 10th of November 1989 the Berlin Wall was pulled down, which signalled the collapse of communist regimes - First free election held March 1990 - East and West Germany were united in October 1990
77
How did Czechoslovakia break free of communism
Czechoslovakia broke away from communism through peaceful protests known as the Velvet Revolution. The communist government gave way and Czechoslovakia transitioned to democracy- first free elections held 1997
78
How did Yugoslavia break free of communism
The republic of Yugoslavia fell due to political and economic crises and communism collapsed in January 1990
79
how did Romania break free of communism
Harsh dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were executed in December 1989 - revolution ended a 42 year communist rule - saw developments towards becoming a democracy - first elections in 1990 - joined NATO in 2004 - Joined the EU in 2007
80
how did Albania break free of communism
After the death of ruler Enver Hoxha in 1985 protests rose (1990) which resulted in the end of communist rule. -first free elections were held in 1992 - democratic constitution introduced in 1998
81
what was the Brezhnev Doctrine
a policy established in 1968 following issues in Czechoslovakia which allowed the USSR to intervene in satellite states if communist rule was at risk
82
What did Gorbachev do to the Brezhnev Doctrine
Gorbachev ended this doctrine, allowing more freedom for the satellite states although thinking it would strengthen communist governments.

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