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Unit One: Cold War 1943-91

Zoha Naser History GCSE English 5.0Average rating 5.0 out of 5 (1 rating) 75 cards

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  1. 1Capitalism vs. CommunismCAPITALISM:
    *Individual rights
    *Individual freedom
    *Free trade
    *Democratic elections
    COMMUNISM:
    *Rights of the working class
    *Equality
    *Government planned economy
    *Communist party controls govt.
  2. 2The Tehran Conference: -When? -Who? -What?*28th November-1st December 1943
    *Stalin (USSR), Churchill (UK), Roosevelt (US)
    *Roosevelt supports the idea of opening a second front to help take some pressure off the USSR, was to start in June 1944
    *The USSR would declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated
    *Poland should be given more land from Germany, but lose some to the USSR
    Some disagreements e.g. Churchill wanting to begin an invasion of the Balkans.
  3. 3The Yalta Conference (part 1): -When? -Who?*4-11 February 1945
    *Stalin (USSR), Churchill (UK), Roosevelt (US)
  4. 4The Yalta Conference (part 2): -What? (because there's a LOT that happened)*Germany would have to be demilitarised, reduced in size and pay reparations when defeated.
    *Start of plans about how to split Germany.
    *Rebuilding of Europe to be done by the Atlantic Charter, countries decide their governments.
    *Nazi party would be banned and war criminals tried at court.
    *UN set up and would meet for the first time on 25th April 1945.
    *USSR would declare war on Japan 3 months after defeat of Germany.
    *Poland is Soviet 'sphere of influence' but run on a 'border democratic basis'.
  5. 5The Potsdam Conference: -When? -Who? -What?*17th July-2nd August 1945
    *Stalin (USSR), Truman (US), Churchill/Attlee (UK)
    *Council of foreign ministers to rebuild Europe.
    *Ban Nazis & try war criminals in Nuremberg Trials
    *Reduce the size of Germany
    *Divide Germany into UK Zone, US Zone, USSR Zone and France Zone.
    *Divide Berlin into four zones
    *Give USSR 1/4 of the industrial equipment from the 3 other zones in return, would provide other zones with raw materials e.g. coal
    Tensions because of US' atomic bombing of Japan and changes in leadership so therefore mistrust.
  6. 6The Nuclear Arms Race Timeline: 1945-1953*1945: US drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
    *1949: USSR tests its first atomic bomb
    *1952: US develops hydrogen bomb (H-bomb)
    *1953: USSR develops H-bomb
    Both sides now have nuclear weapons, leading to MAD (mutually assured destruction) and an avoiding of a hot war.
  7. 7The Situation in Poland*Apart of USSR's "sphere of influence" - a buffer to protect them from invasion.
    *A source of tension between the US and USSR.
    *USSR had agreed to set up a govt. that included both communists and capitalists.
    *Stalin went against his word.
    *Invited 16 non-Communist Polish leaders to Moscow and arrested them.
    *Communists won the 1947 Polish election.
  8. 8The Situation in Greece*Germans retreated in 1944.
    *Monarchists and Communists fought for power.
    *In 1945, Britain sent troops to support monarchists, said they were restoring order and supervising free elections.
    *USSR complained to UN and civil war began.
    *In 1947, US stepped in to help support the King's govt.
  9. 9The Long Telegram*22nd February, 1946
    *George Kennan, US ambassador to the USSR
    *Said USSR saw capitalism as a threat to be destroyed.
    *Said USSR was building military power
    *Said peace between communist USSR and capitalist US was impossible.
  10. 10Novikov's Telegram*September 1946
    *Nikolai Novikov, Soviet ambassador to the US.
    *Said US wants world domination and is building military.
    *Said only USSR can stand up to the US.
    *Said US was prepping citizens for war with USSR.
  11. 11Truman Doctrine*March 1947
    *Stated that the world as a choice between democratic freedom and communist oppression.
    *America had the responsibility to become involved wherever freedom was being threatened.
    *Communism should be contained.
    *US should give money and troops to help countries get rid of communism
    *Two countries under serious threat - Turkey and Greece
    *The basis for the US Policy Of Containment.
  12. 12Marshall Plan*June 1947
    *Set up after General George Marshall made a visit to Europe and thought people were too poor and living conditions were bad.
    *Truman and Marshall originally asked for $17 billion but congress was hesitant.
    *$13 billion was the settled price.
    *Countries in Europe trade with the US and in turn receive aid.
    *Helped build American economy and give them allies near the USSR.
    *USSR saw it as an attack and criticised it.
  13. 13What are the various Soviet Satellite States?*East Germany
    *Poland
    *Yugoslavia (Split from USSR in 1948, took Marshall Plan aid)
    *Albania
    *Bulgaria
    *Romania
    *Hungary
    *Czechoslovakia
    *Estonia
    *Latvia
    *Lithuania
  14. 14Cominform*Set up in 1947
    *"Communist Information Bureau"
    *All satellite communist parties followed Moscow's orders.
    *Removed opposition to the USSR's control of satellite states.
    *Encouraged communist parties in Western countries to ignore/block Marshall Aid e.g. 2 million workers striking in France, demanding Marshall Aid be rejected
  15. 15Comecon*Set up in 1949
    *"Council for Mutual Economic Assistance"
    *Alternative to the Marshall Plan that helped Eastern Europe.
    *Created trade links between communist countries.
    *Prevented comecon countries from joining Marshall Plan.
    *Included Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania. Albania and East Germany joined in 1950.
  16. 16Bizonia and Trizonia*Bizonia: British and American zones of Germany
    *Trizonia: British, American and French zones of Germany
    *1948: Allies in West Germany create a new German constitution.
    *Deutschmark becomes the official currency of Trizonia.
    *Stalin believed these to be the first steps towards a divided Germany.
  17. 17Berlin Blockade*June 1948-May 1949
    *Set up to prevent the establishment of a separate state in Western Germany.
    *Stalin hoped it would prove that a divided Germany would not work.
    *Set up around Western Berlin to cut it off from Western Germany.
    *Meant to prevented the new government in Berlin from controlling it's territory in Western Germany.
  18. 18Berlin Airlift*President Truman's response to the blockade.
    *Initially America sent 70 large cargo planes to airlift 600-700 tonnes of food and supplies.
    *Increased to 1000 tonnes/day within a few weeks
    *At the height of the lift, in Jan 1949, 170,000 tonnes of supplies were being lifted.
    *Truman's response appeared peaceful (propaganda success) to Stalin's hardline and aggressive approach.
  19. 19The creation of West and East Germany as independent states*September 1949: West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, FDR) officially created as an independent state.
    *October 1949: East Germany (German Democratic Republic, GDR) officially created as an independent state.
    *Soviet troops remained in East Germany and it became a satellite state.
  20. 20Formation of NATO*North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
    *Set up in April 1949
    *If one NATO country came under attack, all NATO countries would come to their aid.
    *Created due to the possibility of war with the USSR in Europe.
    *Included: USA, Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Greece (1952), West Germany (1955)
  21. 21Formation of the Warsaw Pact*A counter to NATO
    *Created in 1955.
    *Military alliance if Eastern European countries.
    *Included: USSR, Albania (until 1968), Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania.
    *USSR already had cominform but when West Germany joined, it became too significant to ignore.
  22. 22Death of Stalin and 'De-Stalinisation'*Stalin passed away in 1953.
    *Nikita Khrushchev took his place as leader.
    *The 'Stalinist' period was very oppressive and hardline with Stalin being responsible for an estimated 20 million deaths.
    *Khrushchev had a much more liberal approach.
    *Khrushchev's 1956 'Secret Speech' criticised Stalinism and this hope for 'de-Stalinisation' spread among the satellite states.
  23. 23The Hungarian Uprising: Background to the Revolution and Rakosi.*Matyas Rakosi was the dictator of Hungary from 1949-1956.
    *He called himself 'Stalin's best pupil' and was known as 'the bald butcher'.
    *He used 'salami tactics' by disposing of opponents bit by bit.
    *His regime saw 387,000 imprisoned and 2,000 dead.
    *After Stalin's death, people hoped this hardline approach to ruling would be stopped.
  24. 24The Hungarian Uprising: Imre Nagy and his programme of reform*Imre Nagy was Prime Minister from 1953-55, was thrown out of the party and replaced Rakosi again in 1956.
    *Nagy appointed by Khrushchev in 1956 after Hungarians overthrew Rakosi and were rioting due to shortages, creating mass conflict.
    *31st Oct 1956: Nagy wanted: to leave the Warsaw pact, UN protection from the USSR and to be a neutral country, Free elections and democracy, to stop USSR control of Hungary.
    *Country split and Janos Kadar created communist supporting govt. in east Hungary
  25. 25The Hungarian Uprising: Khrushchev's response and the aftermath*4th Nov 1956: 1,000 tanks and 200,000 soviet troops sent into Hungary.
    *2,500 people killed by Soviet troops and 20,000 wounded,
    *Almost 200,000 fled to the west.
    *About 650 Soviet troops killed and 1,250 wounded.
    *Nagy sought protection from Yugoslavian embassy but was caught and hanged in June 1958.
    *Kadar became the new leader of Hungary
  26. 26The Hungarian Uprising : The effects of the revolution*US offered food & medical aid worth $20 million to Hungary.
    *US allowed 80,000 Hungarian refugees to move to the country.
    *Eisenhower praised the Hungarian people for their bravery.
    *UN condemned USSR & launched investigation but did nothing more.
    *Thousands of people stopped supporting communist parties.
    *Spain, Netherlands and Sweden boycotted the 1956 Olympic games.
  27. 27The Berlin Crisis: Refugee problems and Khrushchev's ultimatum.*Between 1949-1961, 2.7 million East Germans, many of whom were very skilled, fled to the West.
    *The West seemed much more attractive and brought in many East Germans.
    *Berlin was the centre of this problem as it was easy to get to West Berlin and hence West Germany.
    *In Nov 1958, Khrushchev said all of Berlin belonged to East Germany
    *Khrushchev gave US troops 6 months to withdraw.
    *The aim was to humiliate the US and prevent East Germans from fleeing.
  28. 28The Geneva Summit*May 1959
    *Talks between foreign representatives from USSR and USA.
    *No solution for the Berlin Crisis agreed at the meeting.
    *Laid the foundation for Khrushchev to visit the US and talk face-to-face with Eisenhower.
  29. 29Camp David*September 1959.
    *Khrushchev and Eisenhower meet at the presidential country retreat, Camp David.
    *The two leaders spoke frankly and did not reach and agreement.
    *Another summit agreed for the following year.
    *Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the 6 month ultimatum.
  30. 30The Paris Summit*May 1960
    *Was an absolute disaster.
    *Just before the conference, the USSR shot down U2 spy plane of Francis Gary Powers in Soviet airspace, Powers was arrested.
    *Khrushchev walked out of the conference in protest when Eisenhower refused to apologise.
    (Extra tidbit of info: Powers was later exchanged for Soviet officer Rudolf Abel in February 1962)
  31. 31The Vienna Conference*June 1961
    *John F. Kennedy attended this conference as the new president of the USA.
    *Neither side were willing to back down.
    *Khrushchev saw Kennedy's lack of experience as something he could exploit.
    *He used it to re-introduce the 6 month ultimatum.
  32. 32Kennedy prepares for war*Kennedy refused to back down despite the ultimatum.
    *He increased US defence spending by $3.2 billion.
    *Spent an extra $207 million on building nuclear fallout shelters.
    *Increased the nuclear scare in the US
    *A stalemate had been reached between the two powers at this point.
  33. 33The Berlin Wall: Building the wall*On the night of 12th August 1961, East German soldiers secretly put up barbed wire around the whole of West Berlin.
    *Soviet tanks prevented western access to the east, causing a standoff between US and USSR tanks all through the 27th October.
    *The wall was completed on 13th August 1961.
    *Kennedy gave a speech in 1963 in West Berlin titled 'Ich bin ein Berliner".
  34. 34The Berlin Wall: Effects and impacts of the wall*Stopped East Germans from escaping to the west and therefore ended the refugee crisis.
    *Avoided war but allowed USSR to still look strong
    *Became a powerful symbol of division
    *Separated families
    *Quality of life decrease.
    *Many people died trying to escape over the wall.
    *'Death Strip' created terror amongst the citizens.
    *Exact number of those who died is unknown but estimates range from roughly 70-200 and perhaps more.
  35. 35The Cuban Missile Crisis: Background to the Crisis*Cuban Revolution of 1959, led by Fidel Castro, introduced communism into Cuba, a country only 145 km away from the US.
    *From July 1960 onwards, there was a trading ban placed by the US between the USA and Cuba.
    *Fidel improved relations with USSR and became their allies.
    *USSR influence in Cuba was a massive advantage to Khrushchev and Kennedy needed to take action.
  36. 36The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Bay of Pigs Incident*17th April 1961
    *Made to look like a Cuban revolt not US invasion.
    *The plan was to restore Batista's power over Cuba, unfortunately he was wildly unpopular there.
    *The first strike n 15th April, failed and US' involvement was made public, causing Kennedy to cancel the 2nd airstrike.
    *1400 Cuban-exiles invaded Cuba but were met by 20,000 Cuban troops.
    *Cuban exiles surrendered and plan failed.
  37. 37The Cuban Missile Crisis: 13 days1962
    16th Oct: Kennedy informed of missiles in Cuba
    20th Oct: Kennedy orders blockade of Cuba.
    24th Oct: USSR says they'll ignore blockade
    25th Oct: US & USSR prepare for nuclear attack.
    27th Oct: USSR offers to remove cuban missiles if US removes their's from Turkey. Robert Kennedy organises deal for secret nuke removal.
    28th Oct: Khrushchev accepts the deal that he would remove missiles in the US leaves Cuba alone and removes nukes from Italy & Turkey.
  38. 38The Cuban Missile Crisis: Consequences*Period of détente
    *Hotline set up between Washington and Moscow.
    *Limited Test Ban Treaty signed August 1963
    *MAD doctrine gave reason to avoid war in the future.
    *Khrushchev removed from power in 1964.
  39. 39The Prague Spring: Dubcek's rise to power and Czechoslovakian opposition to Soviet control*Czech economy was struggling in the 1960s and the secret police were 'running' the country.
    *Communist leader Novotny became unpopular and his leadership was challenged.
    *On 5th January 1968, Alexander Dubcek became the communist party leader and the most powerful man in the country.
  40. 40The Prague Spring: Dubcek and his reforms*Dubcek was popular with both the people and new leader of the USSR, Leonid Brezhnev.
    *He wanted 'socialism with a human face'.
    Dubcek's reforms included:
    *Relaxation of censorship
    *Allowing political opposition
    *Govt. tolerance of criticism
    *More power to the Czech parliament
    *More power to regional governments
    *Reintroduction of capitalist elements into the economy, 'market socialism'.
  41. 41The Prague Spring: Invasion of Czechoslovakia*Brezhnev did not agree with the reforms at all and feared this mindset would spread into other satellite states.
    *On the evening of 20th August 1968, Brezhnev sent tanks into the country
    *Dubcek told the people not to respond with violence so many protested non-violently.
    *Dubcek was arrested and forced to sign the Moscow Protocol which re-installed the harsh communist control over Czechoslovakia.
  42. 42The Prague Spring: The aftermath*Dubcek was replaced by Gustav Husak who was much stricter and a traditional communist.
    *America publicly condemned the invasion but were pre-occupied in Vietnam.
    *Communist parties in Italy and France separated themselves from the Soviet communist party.
    *Yugoslavia and Romania distanced themselves from the USSR.
    *East German & Polish govts. welcomed the Soviet response due to fear that these pro-Moscow govt. officials would lose their jobs if socialism spread.
  43. 43The Brezhnev Doctrine*Formed in the wake of the Prague Spring.
    *Stated that the USSR had the right to invade any country in Eastern Europe who's actions threatened the security of the whole Eastern Bloc.
    *Brezhnev claimed that Dubcek's actions had threatened the Warsaw pact and communist control in Eastern Europe, so the USSR had to invade.
  44. 44Détente: What was it?Détente is a french word that refers to the period of relaxation of tension between the US and USSR that lasted from 1967-1979. It was called 'razryadka' by the Russians.
  45. 45Détente: The Outer Space Treaty and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty*Outer Space Treaty (1967) stopped the arms race from spreading to space and pledged that neither superpower would place nuclear weapons in space.
    *Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968): Neither superpower would supply nuclear weapons to other states or help them develop nuclear weapons.
  46. 46Détente: SALT I & II*Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
    *SALT I (1972) imposed limits on the number of nuclear weapons each side possessed.
    *No further production of strategic ballistic missiles.
    *Submarines carrying nukes could only be introduced when existing intercontinental ballistic missiles became obsolete.
    *The ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) treaty was signed. ABMs could shoot down missiles. Both sides were limited to two ABMs per side.
    SALT II was introduced but not signed due to developments in Afghanistan.
  47. 47Détente: Helsinki Conference*1975
    *35 countries from Europe, except Andorra and Albania, attended as well as the US and Canada.
    *3 'baskets' were discussed including: Security, Co-operation and Human Rights
  48. 48Détente: Apollo-Soyuz MissionThe 1975 joint mission between the US and USSR. The American Apollo spacecraft and Russian Soyuz docked together high above earth. This was significant following the competitive space race during the 1960s.
  49. 49The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: The Kabul Revolution and introduction of socialism*Took place 27–28th April 1978.
    *New government wanted to 'build socialism in Afghanistan'.
    *New communist president was Nur Muhammad Taraki.
    *He quickly became an ally to the USSR.
    *This angered traditional muslim leaders in the country and led to a clear divide in opinion.
  50. 50The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: Amin establishes power*Anger between the communist government and Islamic fighters led a civil war to break out in Spring 1979.
    *Taraki was forced to accept Hafizullah Amin, head of the army, as the new leader.
    *In Oct 1979, Amin supporters assassinated Taraki.
    *Amin then claimed presidency of the country.
  51. 51The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: Why Brezhnev ordered an invasion*Amin was communist but Brezhnev didn't trust him. The Soviet Secret Police claimed he was an American spy.
    *He was unpopular with the muslims in the country and Brezhnev feared this would lead to them taking over.
    *USSR concerned that Afghanistan and other Soviet States nearby would become Islamic States.
    *Babrak Karmal argued that with enough power, he could take over.
    *Brezhnev believed America would tolerate the invasion like they did the Prague Spring.
  52. 52The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: The invasion itself*Took place in December 1979.
    *Soviet troops killed Amin and many of his supporters.
    *Karmal became president (he remained in this post until 1986)
    *The invasion proved to be a disaster as there were multiple casualties on either side:
    *1.5 million people died, including almost 15,000 Russian soldiers.
    *All in all, the invasion lasted ten years
  53. 53The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: The Carter Doctrine*Carter's response to the developments in Afghanistan.
    1. He formed an alliance with China and Israel to support Afghan rebels. The CIA provided weapons and funds to the Mujahideen (freedom fighters)
    2. Imposed economic sanctions that stopped virtually any trade with the USSR.
    *Ended diplomatic relations with the USSR.
  54. 54The end of détente: End of SALT II*Carter signed the SALT II treaty in June 1979.
    *In response to the invasion, the US Senate refused to ratify. the treaty.
    *This meant that it never became law.
  55. 55The end of détente: Increased defence spending and the army*Carter raised US defence spending by 5%
    *He also ordered the army come up with plans for surviving and winning a nuclear war with the USSR.
    *This indicated a more hard-line approach to the situation with the USSR and so a collapse in détente.
  56. 56The end of détente: Moscow Olympics60 countries including China, Malawi, West Germany and Zaire, boycotted the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games in protest.
    An alternate was set up in Philadelphia called the Olympic Boycott Games. American press called it the official Olympics and nicknames Misha Bear, the Moscow mascot, was nicknames 'Gulag bear'
  57. 57The end of détente: Los Angeles Olympic Games*1984
    *Was highly political.
    *In retaliation, the USSR and 14 communist countries refused to attend the games.
    *The USSR set up 'the Friendship Games' as a communist alternative.
    By this point superpower relations were their lowest since the Cuban Missile Crisis.
  58. 58The Second Cold WarThe phrase used to describe the period from 1979-85 and marked a new low in superpower relations.
    The public became extremely worried about the possibility of nuclear war.
  59. 59President Reagan*Reagan became president in 1981.
    *He was seen as inexperienced because he was an actor known for low-budget 1950s movies.
    *French and British commentators were worried by him as he stated he could imagine a 'limited nuclear war in Europe'.
    *He had very strong views and believed that détente had been a weakness for the US.
  60. 60'Evil Empire' Speech*He gave his famous speech in March 1983.
    *He delivered his speech at a Christian organisation's meeting and argued that America fought with God's blessing.
    *His point was that the Cold War was a moral war and America had a moral duty to defend liberty from the 'evil' Soviet Union.
    *To him, it was a fight between good & evil.
  61. 61SDI - Star Wars*March 1983
    *He proposed a 'nuclear umbrella' that would stop Soviet missiles from landing on US soil.
    *He wanted to launch an army of satellites with powerful lasers to intercept Soviet missiles in space and destroy them before they could do any harm.
    *It broke the terms of the Outer Space Treaty and became a turning point in the arms race.
  62. 62Soviet response to SDI*The Soviet's knew they could not compete with the US in space technology.
    *Their economy was also suffering which affected development of new weapons and space technology.
    *The USSR was also behind in computer technology, computers were crucial to the development of a 'Star Wars'-type programme.
  63. 63Gorbachev and the West*Gorbachev was the last leader of the USSR and served from 1985 to it's collapse in 1991.
    *He hoped to be the USSR's saviour.
    *He thought Reagan looked like a caveman and was 'mentally retarded'.
    *His efforts to hide the Chernobyl Crisis of 1986 became an international symbol of crisis in Soviet communism.
  64. 64Gorbachev's reforms*Perestroika (resurrecting): economic reforms that would make the Soviet economy more efficient.
    *Glasnost (openness): Censorship of the press was to be relaxed.
    He used these in hopes that the USSR could recover from the lack of faith in communism and the crippling economy.
  65. 65Problems with the USSR*The economy was struggling, it was not uncommon to have housewives queuing for a packet of sausages for 5 hours.
    *Many people were living in poverty and the economy was struggling greatly.
    *The USSR was fighting an expensive war in Afghanistan.
  66. 66Geneva Summit*November 1985
    *Reagan was hoping to persuade Gorbachev that he genuinely wanted peace while Gorbachev wanted to convince Reagan to drop SDI.
    *Face-to-face meeting meant it was a significant summit, they also developed a personal relationship
    *No formal agreement of arms control was reached.
    *Gorbachev had fired the Soviet foreign minister Gromyko, signifying an end to aggressive foreign policy.
  67. 67Reykjavik Summit*October 1986
    *Reagan proposed scrapping all ballistic nuclear missiles.
    *Gorbachev was not willing to agree because Reagan didn't want to get rid of his SDI plan.
    *These disagreements made the summit appear a failure as no agreement was reached.
  68. 68INF Treaty*Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty
    *December 1987
    *Signed in Washington
    *Eliminated all nuclear missiles with a range of 500-5500 km.
    *Significant as it was the first treaty to reduce the number of missiles either side had.
    *Was seen as a great breakthrough in the Cold War.
  69. 69Malta Summit*December 1989
    *Between Gorbachev and new president, George Bush.
    *Began work on the agreements for CFE (1990) and START I (1991)
  70. 70The CFE Agreement*Signed by Bush and Gorbachev
    *Set limits to the the non-nuclear forces that the Warsaw Pact and NATO could have in Europe.
    *Negotiations began in 1989 but the process became difficult as the USSR was beginning to break up.
  71. 71START I*Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
    *Signed July 1991
    *Signed by Bush and Gorbachev with pens made from scrapped nuclear missiles.
    *Reduced the number of arms each side had by 1/3.
  72. 72Breaking Up The Eastern BlocGorbachev believed the Eastern Bloc should be free to control itself.
    *East Germany revolution (1989): Fall of the Berlin Wall (Nov 1989)
    *Reunification of Germany (1990)
    *Czechoslovakia revolution (November 1989)
    *Hungary revolution (October 1989)
    *Poland revolution (June 1989)
    *Bulgaria revolution (December 1989)
    *Romania revolution (December 1989)
    Warsaw Pact ended in July 1991
  73. 73The Coup Against Gorbachev*Gorbachev was treated with cynicism by many in the USSR.
    *On 19th August 1991, a group of senior communist govt. officials known as the 'gang of eight' organised a coup to remove Gorbachev from power.
    *Gorbachev couldn't return to Moscow
    *The new anti-Gorbachev govt. lasted for three days.
    *Boris Yeltsin played a key role in defeating the coup
  74. 74The Fall of the Soviet Union*On the 25th December 1991, the USSR formally dissolved
    *Gorbachev stepped down and Yeltsin took power as the first president of Russia.
  75. 75Why did the Soviet Union dissolve?*The USSR didn't develop as America did in the 1970s & 80s and was left behind.
    *Trying to win the arms race harmed the economy.
    *The Afghan war cost a lot of lives and money.
    *Capitalism always appeared more appealing.
    *Soviet allies (eastern bloc) were only allied due to force and oppression from the USSR.

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Flashcards for the Cold War unit of edexcel history A 2009
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