Flashcards
Crises; Berlin, Czech and Cuba
Cards in this deck (63)
- 1What was the refugee problem in Eastern Germany?E German gov was v unpopular so many fled to West. In west there was greater freedom and wealth.
Between 1949-1961 2.7 million E Germans fled, many of them were highly skilled.
Berlin was the centre of the crisis bc people could easily get from E Germany>E Berlin> W Berlin>W Germany - 2Why did Khrushchev declare that the whole of Berlin belonged to E Germany, in 1958?The refugee problem had been a propaganda disaster for Khrush bc it proved how unpopular the communist East was.
- 3When and why did Khrushchev issue and ultimatum?1958
Gave US troops 6 months to withdraw. His plan was to prevent E Germans fleeing, and humiliate the West. - 4When was the Geneva Summit?May 1959
- 5What happened at Geneva?Attended by representatives from USA and USSR. No solution was reached, but it lay groundwork for Khrush to visit USA and hold face to face talks with Eisenhower.
- 6When was Camp David?September 1959
- 7What happened at Camp David?Two leaders spoke frankly. No solution reached, but it was agreed that there would be another summit the following year. Khrush agreed to withdraw his ultimatum.
- 8When was the Paris Summit?May 1960
- 9Why was the Paris Summit a disaster?Before the conference, the USSR had shot down a US spy plane and captured its pilot. Eisenhower refused to apologise for incident so Khrush walked out of conference.
- 10When was the Vienna Conference?June 1961
- 11What happened at the Vienna Conference?JFK was the new president. Neither side was willing to back down over the US presence in Berlin. Khrush exploited JFKs inexperience, and once again issued a 6 month ultimatum.
- 12What was Kennedy's response to the ultimatum?-Started preparing America for war
-gave US $3.2 billion more in defence spending
-extra $207 million on building nuclear fallout shelters
-stalemate had been reached - 13When was the Wall built?Night of 12 August 1961
- 14Why did Khrush build the wall?Kennedy wouldn't retreat, and American nuclear weapons could reach the USSR while the USA couldn't be reached by the Soviet missiles. Khrush had to back down, but still didn't want E Germans to flee.
- 15Main points about the wall:-started as a barbed wire fence
-was then reinforced with bricks and heavily guarded
-tanks were sent to block access to the west, causing a day long standoff with US tanks on 27th October.
-Kennedy 'it's not a very nice situation but a wall is better than a war' - 16What happened when Kennedy visited Berlin in 1963?he expressed his feelings of solidarity with the crowd.
People lined the streets shouting
'Kenne-dy'
made a famous speech 'ich bin ein Berliner'
West Berlin had become a symbol of freedom - 17The developing arms race:-USA had early lead and dropped bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima
-by 1949 USSR had atomic bombs too
-in USA schools had reg 'duck and cover' drills
-neither side trusted each other to stop the race, so both feared an attack - 18What were the stats about nuclear weapons published by both sides? (thought that USSR overestimated)-
- 19Why were the USA concerned about USSR's nuclear stockpiles?USSR were building up weapons at a fast rate, and the size of the weapons. The Tsar Bomba detonated in 1961 and was the most powerful and destructive bomb ever made.
- 20Why were the USSR concerned about USA's nuclear stockpiles?USAs missiles were my closer to them than theirs were to the USA.
1958 the USA had missile bases in the UK
1961 they had bases in Italy, Turkey
-the proxemics of the USAs missiles meant they were more accurate and could have specific targets
-USA had B52 Bomber that could drop weapons on Soviets. USSR had little missiles and no way of dropping them - 21What was the Soviet Union's space technology?-in 1957, Russia launched Sputnik 1, the world's first man made space craft
-1960 they had landed a robotic spacecraft on the moon
-Khrush boasted that America were sleeping under a red moon
-people believed they could launch missiles from space
-weren't wealthy enough to mass-produce - 22Points about Cuba:-traditionally been allies with USA
-their friendship was important bc only 90 miles away so in US sphere of influence - 23most of land in Cuba was owned by American businesses:90% phone and electric supply
50% of all railways
40% of all sugar production
owned and supplied all the oil refineries - 24What happened in the 1959 Cuban revolution?Cuba's pro-American gov was overthrown and new leader, Fidel Castro wanted more independence from the US. Castro's gov took over US property in Cuba so US banned the import of Cuban sugar; this threatened to bankrupt Cuba's economy
- 25What happened in Jan 1959Castro went to USA. Eisenhower refused to see him bc he didn't see his gov as the rightful gov of Cuba
- 26What happened in May1959Castro's Land Reform Act banned foureign ownership of land. Other countries accepted payment for this, but the USA did not as they said Castro's gov didn't have the right to pass laws.
- 27What happened in Jan 1960Castro took the land the USA wouldn't take payments for
- 28What happened in Feb 1960Castro agreed with Ussr that they would trade sugar for oil
- 29What happened in March 1960Oil from USSR arrived but US refineries refused to take it. Castro nationalised all oil refineries.
- 30What happened in July 1960USA banned all trade with Cuba
all US businesses were nationalised
USSR bought more sugar and loans - 31When did JFK become president?January 1961
- 32Why did the CIA launch an invasion of Cuba? Bay of Pigs-didn't want com country on doorstep
-Cuba had ties with USSR
-wanted Batista back in power - 33what did the CIA assure JFK of?-Castro's hold on Cuba was weak
-could make it look like a Cuban revolt and disguise old planes to look Cuban
-most Cubans would join invasion - 34Why was the plan a disaster?-the 'secret' plan was known to the Cuban gov
-most Cubans didn't want Batista back
-the disguised planes missed most of their targets
-planes photographed and US involvement made public
-cancelled second air strike - 35What were the events of the Bay of Pigs?Cuban-exile army of 1400 invaded BofP on 17 April. Soon they faced air attacks and 20,000 of Castro's troops. Kennedy's planes were too late. The Cuban-exiles surrendered
- 36What were the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion?-Ended any chance of a friendly relationship bt USA and USSR
-Castro declared himself communist
-USA made fresh plans to overthrow Castro
-USSR negotiated to provide Cuba with military protection with bases close to USA - 37How did missile bases change as a result of the invasion?Castro feared another attack so asked Khrush for help. August 1961 Khrush planned to put Russian nuclear weapons of Cuban soil. This would balance US nuclear presence in Turkey. Khrush could attack USA without pending ££ on intercontinental ballistic missiles.
- 38What happened on 16th October 1962?Kennedy is informed of Khrush plans to put nuclear bases in Cuba
- 39What happened on 20th October 1962?Kennedy imposes naval blockade around Cuba to prevent missiles reaching Cuba
- 40What happened on 22th October 1962?JFK addresses public declaring blockade and calling on Khrush to recall his ships
- 41What happened on 23th October 1962?Khrush sends letter to JFK saying Soviet ships will break through the blockade
- 42What happened on 24th October 1962?Soviet ships approach blockade. 10:32 closest ship suddenly turns. K issues statement that USSR will launch nuclear weapons is USA goes to war
- 43What happened on 25th October 1962?Both armed forces on highest level of alert
told to prepare for war
JFK asks K to withdraw missiles from Cuba - 44What happened on 26th October 1962?Khrush responded and said he'd withdraw if USA promised not to invade Cuba
- 45What happened on 27th October 1962?Soviets receive intelligence that USA plan to invade within 24hrs. DEAL: USSR will withdraw if USA don't invade Cuba, and withdraw missiles in Turkey
US spy plane shot down over Cuba - 46What happened on 28th October 1962?Khrush accepts secret deal
- 47Results of Cuban Missile crisis?-K lost authority; secret plan looked like he'd betrayed
-highlighted fragility of international peace and how difficult relationships are in time of crisis - 48What was the Hotline?June 1963
A direct communication link bt Washington and Moscow - 49What was the Limited Test Ban Treaty?August 1963
USA and USSR agreed to ba testing of nuclear in sea, space and above ground.
first step to control weapons. - 50What were long term consequence of CMC?-Soviets wouldn't be pushed around again- tried to catch up in nuclear weapons. -Greater stability when they were equal in arms race.
-MAD (mutually assured destruction) made them avoid war.
-French left NATO -1966 French president appalled that France could be destroyed in this way. - 51Background to Czech-Soviet satellite state
-Mid-60s still run by secret police that crushed political opposition
-declining standard of living in 60s due to struggling economy
-comm leader Antonin Novotny highly unpopular - 52When did Alexander Dubcek become the Communist Party leader?5th January 1968
- 53What were Dubcek's aims?-To create a genuinely popular form of communism
-Socialism with a human face
-Reform economy and allow cultural freedom
-revitalise Czechoslovakia - 54What was the 'Prague Springs'phrase used to describe the liberal changes brought about by Dubcek in April 1968. Named after capital city
- 55What reforms were introduced in the Prague Springs?-relaxation of press censorship
-legalise political opposition groups
-government to tolerate criticism
-more power to regional gov
-more power to Czech parliament
-'market socialism' introduce capitalist elements to economy - 56How did people respond to his reforms?-Welcomed by students,intellectuals and workers.
-Older Czech communists were shocked, and their horror was shared with Russian premier Brezhnev and allies in E Europe - 57What was Brezhnev's dilemma?He regarded Dub as a friend, and he'd made no effort to damage USSR or leave Warsaw Pact. Intelligence reports suggested the reforms would lead to weakening of Soviet control over Czech and break up the Eastern Bloc.
April-July they were in constant contact. Dub took little action to control opposition in Czech so B invaded to overthrow Dub. - 58What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?USSR had right to fight in any country whose actions threatened the security of the Eastern Bloc. B argued that Dub's actions undermined Warsaw Pact and Comm control in E Europe
- 59When was the invasion of Czechoslovakia?Evening of 20 August 1968
- 60What happened during the Soviet invasion of Czech?When tanks rolled in, dub urged people not to respond with violence.
Dub arrested> Moscow> forced to sign Moscow Protocol> reintroduce censorship and removal of opposition - 61America's response to invasion:Publically condemned invasion but didn't offer military support against it. Already fighting in Vietnam.
- 62W Europe's response to invasion:Publically condemned invasion but didn't offer military support against it. Comm parties in Italy and France declared themselves independent of Soviet Comm Party and created rival communist forms: Eurocommunism. Showed how Sov comm lost authority and support as a result.
- 63E Europe's response to invasion:Yugo and Romanian govs distanced themselves and condemned the invasion. After 1968 they made alliances with China, further dividing communism. E German and Polish govs supported invasion bc they were concerned Czech was too liberal.
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- GCSE History (Cold War) Flashcards on Crises; Berlin, Czech and Cuba, created by Liv Young on 29/05/2016.
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