Unit 9 (1900-Present) World War II Flashcards

Question

Cold War

Answer 1

-These conflicts marked the start of the Cold War -A cold war is a struggle over political differences without military action or war -In 1949, they used spying, propaganda, diplomacy, and secret operations -Much of the world allied with one side or the other

Answer 2

-North Atlantic Treaty Organization -Ten western European nations joined with US and Canada to form this defensive military alliance in 1949 -An attack on any NATO member would be met with armed force by all member nations

Answer 3

-After seeing NATO, this formed in 1955 -Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania -India and China (although China was communist) joined neither this nor NATO

Answer 4

-US already had atomic bombs, so Soviet Union made their own in 1949 -Truman authorized work on the H-bomb (hydrogen) in 1950, which was thousands of times more powerful than atomic. ---They tested their first in 1952, then soviets did the same in 1953

Answer 5

-When Eisenhower became president in 1953, he appointed anti-communist John Foster Dulles who threatened retaliation if the soviet union/supporters attacked US interests -This policy was the willingness to go to the brink of war -It required a reliable source of nuclear weapons and airplanes, so both the US and Soviet Union began to build up their forces, starting a four decade long arms race

Answer 6

-Soviets announced their development of the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) and Sputnik (unmanned satellite in space) in 1957 -Americans felt that they had fallen behind in science and tech so the gov poured money into education and launched their own satellite

Answer 7

-In 1955, Eisenhower proposed that the US and Soviet Union be able to fly over each other's territory to guard against surprise nuclear attacks, but the Soviets said no -In response, the CIA started sending U-2 planes to spy on Soviet territory -One was shot down and the pilot captured (Francis Gary Powers), which heightened tensions

Answer 8

-Split along the 38th parallel -North was set up by Soviets, communist industrial area -South was set up by Americans, rural area supported by western powers

Answer 9

-Soviets gave North Korea tanks, planes, and money to help then take the whole peninsula -North Koreans attacked South Korea in 1950, prompting Truman to adhere to his containment policy -UN also sent international force to Korea (couldn't be vetoed by Soviets bc they had refused to vote on a previous thing) -15 countries, including US and Britain went to Korea under General Douglas MacArthur

Answer 10

-Launched an attack in 1950 from the south in Pusan and more north in Inchon, causing half of North Koreans to surrender and the rest to retreat -UN troops went after those retreating, pushing them almost to the Yalu River at the Chinese border

Answer 11

-Felt threatened bc of presence of US troops, so sent 300,000 of their own troops into North Korea -Outnumber the UN troops, so they pushed then and South Korean troops out of N Korea -They then moved into S Korea and captured Seoul

Answer 12

-Called for a nuclear attack on China after they captured Seoul -Truman said this was reckless, MacArthur tried to go over his head and do it with Congress -Truman removed him for this

Answer 13

-UN drove Chinese and N Koreans back -By 1952, they regained control of S Korea -In 1953, UN forces and N Korea signed a cease fire agreement, settling a border near the 38th parallel to divide the two Koreas ---Meaning nothing changed but 4 mil people died for the war)

Answer 14

-Communist dictator Kim Il Sung established collective farms ,developed heavy industry, and built up the military -His son Kim Jong Il took power next and developed nuclear weapons, but had serious economic problems

Answer 15

-Prospered due to aid form the US and other countries -In the 1960s, S Korea focused on developing industry and expanding foreign trade -A succession of dictatorships ruled the country until 1987 when they adopted a democratic constitution and free elections -During the 1980s and 1990s, S Korea had one of the highest economic growth rates in the world -US still has troops there today

Answer 16

-France controlled most of SE Asia (French Indochina=Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) -Ho Chi Minh (Vietnamese nationalist) turned to communists for help, so in the 1930s, his Indochinese communist party led revolts and strikes against the French -French responded by jailing protestors and sentencing Ho to death (he fled but returned in 1941 after Japan seized Vietnam in WWII) -Founded the Vietminh (Independence) League -When Japan was forced out of Vietnam in 1945, Ho believed they would be independent, but France wanted them back

Answer 17

-Vietnamese Nationalists and Communists joined the fight against the French armies -France held major cities, but Vietminh had support in countryside and used hit and run tactics to keep French confined to cities -French withdrew from the fight after a bad defeat in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu, no longer believing the fight was worth it

Answer 18

-US was worried about Vietnam after France was defeated -Eisenhower's theory that if one SE Asian country fell to communism, more and more would -Justification for much of US foreign policy in Cold War and specifically in Vietnam

Answer 19

-After France defeated, an international peace conference in Geneva divided Vietnam at the 17 degree north latitude line -North of the line, Ho Chi Minh's communist forces goverened -South of it, US and France set up an anti-Communist gov under Ngo Dinh Diem

Answer 20

-Southern Vietnamese leader -Ruled as a dictator, opposition grew -Communist guerrillas called Vietcong hated him and gained control of large land areas -Group of South Vietnamese generals had him assassinated, but they weren't popular either, so Vietcong takeover seemed inevitable

Answer 21

-Pres Lyndon Johnson told Congress that N Vietnamese boats attacked 2 US destroyers oin the Gulf of Tonkin, so they authorized him to send US troops to Vietnam ---Over 500,000 US soldiers by 1968 -Although US was best equipped army in the world, they faced difficulties bc they were fighting a guerrilla war in an unfamiliar jungle terrain ---Also difficulties in the fact that the S. Vietnamese gov that they were defending were becoming more unpopular, Vietcong gained support (Ho Chi Minh, Soviets, China) instead -US couldn't win decisively on land, so they bombed millions of acres of farmland and forest, only furthering S. Vietnamese gov's unpopularity with the peasants

Answer 22

-War becomes more unpopular in 1960s (youth protests) -Nixon started withdrawing in 1969 with his plan of Vietnamization (US troops pulling out while S. Vietnamese increased their combat role) -Authorized a massive bombing campaign against N Vietnamese bases and supply routes as well as in Laos and Cambodia to destroy Vietcong hiding places -Last US troops left in 1973, in 1975 the N Vietnamese overran S. Vietnam, eding the war ---1.5 Vietnamese and 58,000 US soldiers died

Answer 23

-In 1975, Communist rebels called the Khmer Rouge set up a communist gov under the leadership of Pol Pot ---Pol Pot killed 2 mil (almost 25% of pop) to try to make Cambodia a communist society -Vietnamese invaded in 1978, overthrew the Khmer Rouge and installed a less repressive gov ---Fighting continued and they pulled out in 1989 -In 1993, under UN supervision, Cambodia adopted a democratic constitution and held free elections

Answer 24

-After 1975, N Vietnamese tightly controlled the south : sending thousands to "reeducation camps" to be trained in Communist thought, nationalized industries and strictly controlled businesses -Renamed Saigon (south's former capital) to Ho Chi Minh city -Communist oppression caused 1.5 mil to flee, many escaping on dangerously crowded boats ---Over 200,000 died at sea, survivors went to refugee camps in SE Asia, 70,000 came to US and Canada -Communists still govern Vietnam, but they welcome foreign investment and the SU normalized relations with them in 1995

Answer 25

-Eisenhower built up arms with increased gov spending in the 1950s, led to the arms race -Despite this, they were reluctant to get into direct military conflict with the Soviets

Answer 26

-Began when Israel (supported by Britain) seized the Suez Canal from Egypt (supported by Soviets) -The Eisenhower administration made Israel give it back to Egypt to stay out of conflict with the Soviets

Answer 27

-Communists said imperialism was an evil of capitalism, so they gave support to communist groups and guerrilla armies in former imperialized areas -Nationalism was important in cold war because nations tried to gain autonomy from stronger nations

Answer 28

-90 miles off the coast of Florida -Ruled for many years by the Batista family -1950s leader was Fulgencio Batista, who was friendly with American planters and bussinessmen ---He received weapons from US in exchange for American business influence in Cuba -Italian American Mafia ran gambling and prostitution in Cuba, became an American vacation spot -Large gap between rich and poor (most were poor peasants, while a small ruling class owned most land and businesses and were connected to Batista)

Answer 29

-Cuban law student who became the leader of a Cuban Communist party supported by Soviets and other communists in Latin America -In 1953, led communist guerrillas in storming the Moncada Barracks (military barracks in Cuba) ----This failed, some killed, Castro put on trial -Batista exiled him to Mexico to not make him a martyr -Met up with Ernesto Che Guevara in Mexico

Answer 30

-Argentinian doctor and communist revolutionary who joined with Castro in Mexico -Grew up middle class, went to medical school -Went on a motorcycle trip and helped give poor people medical care, opened his eyes to poverty -Joined the Communist party, dedicated his life to the revolution

Answer 31

-Castro and Guevara went back to Cuba to raise an army (support from peasants and soviets) -In 1959, Castro took the capital Havana, causing Batista to flee the country and Castro to declare Cuba a Communist Republic -Agrarian Reform Act (land above 1000 acres seized by the state, angered US land holders) -Western businesses and land seized by state -Batista supporters jailed and killed -Communist bureaucracy based on Soviets's set up -Many middle class Cubans fled to Florida (Miami) -Guevara leaves to spread revolution in L. America ---With him gone, Castro becomes dictator of Communist Cuba until his death in 2016

Answer 32

-US passed trade embargo on Cuba in 1960 (no consumer goods traded) -USSR gave Castro funding and weapons in exchange for putting nuclear missile sites there bc so close to US

Answer 33

-JFK had the CIA train Cuban exiles for this surprise assault on Cuba that was supposed to push Castro out of power -Spies told Castro about this, so he had his soldiers waiting on the beach -Huge embarrassment for the US

Answer 34

-1962 JFK sees U2 spy plane photos of nuclear missile sites in Cuba. Tells American public, Castro, and Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev that these were a threat of war to the US -US puts up a naval blockade around Cuba and Americans fear a nuclear attack (stores and schools closed, etc) -13 days of negotiations -US didn't want to invade, fearing nuclear war -Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy told JFK to only respond to the telegrams willing to negotiate, this tactic worked -Kruschev agreed to take nuclear missiles out of Cuba if the US took theirs out of Turkey

Answer 35

-Communist Eastern European countries -After Stalin died, Soviet Union wanted to continue their dominance of them

Answer 36

-Hungarian politician and Communist reformer -In 1956, led a revolt because he wanted more power over his country and tried to pass reforms without Soviet approval -Soviets responded by sending tanks and army to put down protests in Budapest -Thousands of protesters killed, Nagy arrested and killed in Soviet prison

Answer 37

-Reformer in Communist Czechoslobakia -Wanted to make more democratic reforms to the communist gov -Numerous protests in support of him in 1968 (movement called Prague Spring) -Soviets brought in tanks and armies, removed Dubcek from power, installed Czechoslovakian communists loyal to Moscow

Answer 38

-8 year period of cooling of cold war tensions starting in 1972 -Started with the SALT I Treaty (Strategic arms limitation talks) which limited nuclear weapon productions for both countries -Both signed the 1973 Helsinki Agreement (many nations committed to never using nuclear weapons) -Did joint space missions to an international space station in orbit

Answer 39

-Ended with the breakdown of SALT II talks in in 1979 when USSR invaded Afghanistan to take control against Muslim groups who took control of the area -Tensions continued to rose with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 ---He put pressure on Soviets by increasing gov spending on nuclear missile programs and other military projects

Answer 40

-After end of Korean War (1953), many countries met at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia to discuss the problem of the world being divided between US/Capitalist and Soviet/Communist/Socialist -Developing countries felt pressure to join one side, but wanted to stay out of it -Called 3rd world countries because not in either world (US was 1st, USSR 2nd) -Leaders were presidents Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), and Josef Tito (Yugoslavia) and 120 states eventually joined -Many of these states wanted independence from colonial powers -Still meet today, are anti nuclear weapons

Answer 41

-Leonid Brezhnev and the Politburo (ruling committee of the Communist party) crushed all political disagreement -Censorship, communist party restricted freedom of speech and religion -When Brezhnev died in 1982, the leadership of the party was aging and each of his successors died after only a year in office

Answer 42

-Praised for his youth, energy, and political skills -Politburo makes him the party's new general secretary, signaling their support for mild reform -54 when elected, youngest soviet leader since Stalin -Only a child during the Great Purge, not tied to following Stalin

Answer 43

-Soviet Union had previous issues bc silence was rewarded -Gorbachev thought economic and social reforms couldn't happen without the free flow of ideas and info -Glasnot means openness in 1985, encouraging citizens to discuss ways to improve society -Gov allowed churches to open, released dissidents from prison, allowed more free publishing, reporters could investigate social problems and criticize gov officials

Answer 44

-Economic problems: people had to stand in long lines to buy food, soap, basics -Gorbachev claimed those problems on inefficient central planning: party officials told farm and factory managers how much to. produce, what wages to pay, and what prices to change- ppl couldn't make more money from producing more, so no motivation to be more efficient -Perestroika introduced in 1985, means economic restructuring -Changes to revive economy: local managers gained greater authority over their farms and factories, people could have small private businesses -His goal wasn't to get rid of communism, but to make the system more efficient and productive

Answer 45

-Gorbachev knew that for the economy would thrive, communist party would have to loosen their grip on society and politics -This policy was the gradual opening of the political system -The plan called for the election of a new legislative body- many lesser known candidates and reformers chosen ---This happened bc votes could choose from a list of candidates for each office, not just approving communists picked ones (previous system)

Answer 46

-Economy couldn't sustain the arms race -"new thinking" of diplomacy>force -In 1987, him and Reagan signed the Intermediate range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which banned nuclear missiles with ranges of 300-3400 miles -Gorbachev urged Eastern European leaders to open up their economic and political systems, but they resisted reforms ---He said the soviet union wouldn't oppose reform, so more forces for democracy rose up in these countries

Answer 47

-1978- archbishop John Paul II supported the anti-communist movement -1980- workers at the Gdansk shipyard went on strike, demanding gov recognition of their union called Solidarity -Millions supported them, gov gave in to their demands, union leader Lech Walesa became a national hero -Banned Solidarity again and declared martial law -Military gov didn't fix the economy (production declined, foreign debt $40 billion, shortages, etc) -1988- workers striked, demanding raises and legalization of Solidarity -1989- Military leader General Jaruzelski legalized Solidarity and agreed to hold a free election -In the election, Polish voters got rid of communists, replaced them with Solidarity candidates and Walesa was made president (communist regime overturned peacefully)

Answer 48

-Inspired by Poland, launched reform programs that encouraged private enterprise and small stock market, new constitution allowing multi party system and free parliamentary elections -1989- radical reformers took over a Communist Party congress, deposed the party's leaders and dissolved the party itself, replaced the gov with non-communists -1994- socialist party (mainly former communists) won a majority of the parliament's seats ----Socialist and democratic parties formed a coalition to rule, improved economy by raising taxes and cutting back on gov services

Answer 49

-Conservative leader of East Germany -Opposed reforms -Hungary allowed vacationing East German tourists to cross the border into Austria (became an escape route to W. Germany) -He closed E. Germany's borders in response, leading to demonstrations where people demanded rights to travel freely and have free elections -Tried to regain control by ordering police to break up a demonstration in Lepzig, police refused, Honecker lost all authority and resigned

Answer 50

-New E. German leader -Boldly thought stability would come from opening the Berlin wall, did so in 1989 -People celebrated, thousands of East Germans went to West Germany -Failed to save communism, resigned when corruption was revealed -East German Communist Party went away in 1989

Answer 51

-Some were worried that a united Germnay would try to dominate Europe again -W. German chancellor Helmut Kohl assured others that Germany had learned from the past and was now committed to democracy and human rights -Officially reunited Oct 3 1989, 45 years after the defeat in WWII

Answer 52

-E. Germany in ruins after Communist rule: railroads, highways, telephones not modern, many industries made low quality goods that wouldn't compete in the global market -Kohl had to raise taxes to pay for rebuilding, unemployment when inefficient factories closed -Voters replaced Kohl in 1998 with Gerhard Scroeder of the Social Democratic party because of all this economic turmoil -Germany was now central Europe's largest country and had more global responsibility, but not a permanent member of he UN Security Council

Answer 53

-Memories over crackdown against reform in 1968 made Czechs cautious -Conservative gov leader Milos Jakes resisted all change -Police arrested dissidents in 1989, including famous playwright Vaclav Havel -Protests in Wenceslas Square and throughout Prague (especially after Berlin Wall fell, thousands protested) -Huge protest on Nov 24, 500,000 went -Milos Jakes and whole politburo resigned, Vaclav Havel made new pres

Answer 54

-Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu used secret police to enforce orders and gave people a false idea of their prosperity and freedom (neither were true) -Protest movement began, Ceausescu ordered the army to fire on demonstrators (massacre of timisoara) -Started an uprising, the army joined the people and defeated the secret police and overthrew the ruler (captured and killed him on Christmas 1989) -General elections held in 1990s, economic reforms (capitalist ideas)

Answer 55

*choose containment Context: post WWII, different goals for each major power, Truman, containment vs buffer zone Evidence: Berlin Airlift, Marshall Plan, Korean War, and Vietnam War

Answer 56

Context: post WWII, Potsdam and Yalta, buffer satellite countries Evidence: Poland, reuniting Germany, Hungary, Romania

Answer 57

Context: soldiers fought in WWI, expected reforms and freedoms, Rowlatt act and Amritsar massacre Evidence: boycotts (textiles), salt march, eventually Gov of India Act (address limitations)

Answer 58

Context: Great Depression, lack of faith in democracy, rise in fascism (eg Mussolini) Political: takeover of Nazis in Germany, banned all other parties, made a totalitarian state Economic: banned strikes, public works, manufacturing war stuff, forced labor Social: conform to nazi ideology (book burnings, censorship, etc), children ( hitler youth)

Answer 59

Context: Lenin’s death, rose through communist ranks, general vibe of Russia (Lenin takeover, civil war, bolsheviks) Political: old bolsheviks and other opponents killed in great purge, show trials, totalitarian state Social: censorship, propaganda, religious people persecuted, new social benefits (education, healthcare, women) Economic: five year plans, industrialization, collective farms

Answer 60

Context: Batista, good relationship with US, gap between rich and poor, rise of Castro (started communist part there, USSR support) -overthrow of Batista, makes it a communist republic -agrarian reform act -western businesses and land seized -Cuban missile crisis and bay of pigs

Answer 61

Context: previous policy of being harsh on satellite countries (Hungary and Czechoslovakia), Gorbachev eases up Poland: -Pope John Paul II -Solidarity and Lech Walesa -Voted communists out in free election East Germany: -route to get to w Germany through Hungary -Krenz opened the wall nov 9 1989 -reunified 1990

Unit 9 (1900-Present) World War II Flashcards

(85 cards)