1 - Increased Tension between East and West

When was Eisenhower president?

1953-61

When was Kennedy president?

1961-63

When was Johnson president?

1963-69

When was Nixon president?

1969-74

What was Eisenhower president during?

1958 - berlin ultimatum

1959 - Khrushchev visits USA / Cuban revolution

1960 - Planned paris summit / U-2 spy plane crisis

What was Kennedy president during?

1961 - Vienna summit / Berlin wall built / bay of pigs

What was Johnson president during?

1968 - Prague spring / Soviet invasion / Brezhnev doctrine

What was Nixon president during?

1969 - Czech anti-soviet demonstrations continue

When was the berlin crisis?

1961

When was the Cuban missile crisis?

1962

How were people able to move in and out of Berlin during the Berlin Crisis? (1961)

USSR is a dictatorship, freedom of movement from east to West Germany was limited.

This was different in Berlin as it was one place, and people in West (ally ruled) Berlin, were flourishing compared to east berliners.

Over 3 million people (around 1/2) fled east Berlin through West Berlin.

Allies allow West berliners to have a visa to move to West germany.

What was the refugee problem in Berlin?

Between 1949 and 1961, about 3-4 million germans fled to the west through Berlin because they were dissatisfied with with economic and political conditions in east Berlin.

The forced collectivism of agriculture and the end of private trading weren't popular among people of east germany.

There were also shortages of consumer goods that could be bought cheaply in West Berlin.

From January 1961, he amount of refugees leaving east Berlin for the West increased rapidly to over 20,000 a month.

What was the problem with so many people leaving east Berlin for the West?

Increased to over 20,000 a month.

Large numbers of the refugees were professional people (for example, one one day the entire Mathematics department of the university of Leipzig defected).

There were also many skilled craftesmen among them.

This drain of labour and economic output threatened to bring the economic collapse of germany.

Summit meetings, 1959-61: What were the key details of Geneva, May 1959?

Eisenhower met with Khrushchev in Geneva, Switzerland.

Meeting held to discuss ways to ease tension between the 2 countries and try to find a common ground on issues such as arms control and the cold war.

Both leaders agreed they wanted to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world.

Main issue was the situatin in Berlin.

Opened door for future talks which occured later that year.

Summit Meetings: What were areas of tension at Geneva, May 1959?

They disagreed on how to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world.

Khrushchev insisted western countries give up control on West Berlin, but eisenhower refused to do so.

Overall unsuccessful - leaders unable to reach agreements and tensions remained high.

Summit meetings, 1959-61: What were the key details of Camp David, USA, September 1959?

Main topic of discussion was situation in Berlin.

Eisenhower hoped to convince Khrushchev to take a less hostile approach.

They discussed the possibility of a peace treaty between the east and west, but no agreement was reached.

One significant breakthrough was that Khrushchev took away his Berlin ultimatum, removing some urgency of the crisis.

Eisenhower seemed open to Khrushchev’s suggestion of a ‘free city’ of Berlin.

Summit Meetings: What were areas of tension at Camp David, September, 1959?

Khrushchev again demanded that western powers withdraw from West Berlin and turned it over to east German control.

Eisenhower rejected this and emphasized the importance of maintaining the city’s freedom and access to the West.

Summit meetings, 1959-61: What happened before the planned Paris Summit, May 1960?

Khrushchev and Eisenhower were due to meet in Paris, in May 1960.

9 days before the meeting, a US spy plane was shot down over the USSR, creating a major diplomatic incident between the 2 powers.

The pilot was captured and put on trial and Khrushchev demanded all such spying to stop, and Eisenhower to issue an apology.

Eisenhower agreed to stop flights but refused to apologize.

Khrushchev and Eisenhower had very heated discussions during a preliminary meeting, and Khrushchev stormed out, threatening the US and German representatives.

Summit talks didn't take place and Eisenhower cancelled a planned visit to Moscow.

Summit Meetings: What were areas of tension at the Vienna Summit, June 1961?

Khrushchev again demanded that western forces leave Berlin, threatening to make an agreement with east germany to end all access and occupation rights.

Kennedy wouldn't budge and refused to withdraw troops, he also increased US defense budget by more than 30%.

Summit meetings, 1959-61: What were the key details of the Vienna Summit, June 1961?

Eisenhower replaced by Kennedy. Khrushchev thought due to Kennedy’s youth and inexperience, he could be pushed around.

However, at his inauguration, Kennedy reaffirmed his commitment to the Truman Doctrine, meaning making a breakthrough over Berlin would be hard.

What was Khrushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum?

He issued this in 1958.

He accused the allies of breaking the Potsdam agreement, telling them they should leave Berlin within 6 months, and suggesting it should become a neutral, free city.

Eisenhower seemed prepared to negotiate and didn't want to risk a war over Berlin.

Khrushchev's visit to the USA in 1959 seemed to be successful and it was hoped a summit meeting could be held the following year.

How was Fulgencio Batista a cause of the 1959 Cuban Revolution?

A dictator - murders his own people

Allied to America as he’s not a communist

Unpopular in Cuba and reliant on USA (as USA profit from Cuban industries and resources at the expense of Cuban people, eg. 90% of phone and electric supply profits go to USA.)

How was US influence a cause of the 1959 Cuban Revolution?

Batista was allied to the USA and very unpopular.

American presidents believed Cuba’s friendship was important as it was only 145kms from the US mainland.

The USA had strong economic interests in the island.

How were socio-economic problems a cause of the 1959 Cuban Revolution?

Most children didn't attend school

25% of the population was illiterate

Over 40% were unemployed

Only 10% of rural homes had electricity.

Cubans wanted a better way of living and believed they had a chance of this if they had a different leader.

What happened during the Cuban revolution?

1959

Batista was overthrown by Fidel Castro.

Castro wanted greater independence from America and took control of all American property that was located in Cuba.

Castro’s removal of US capitalist companies and his desire to to help the ordinary citizens of Cuba seemed to be the USA’s worst nightmare.

What was the impact on Cuban relationships with the USA as a result of the Cuban revolution?

In response to Castro’s rule angering the USA,, the USA banned the import of Cuban sugar, which threatened to bankrupt the Cuban economy.

The USA was also aware Castro had some connections to communism.

The USA refused to acknowledge Castro’s government.

This led to Castro turning to the USSR for assistance.

How did the Cuban revolution influence Cuba's relationship with the Soviet Union?

Khrushchev, delighted at the prospect of having an ally very close to American soil, offered to buy the Cuban sugar.

He also sent weapons to Cuba at the end of 1959, and in 1960 senior Soviet diplomats visited Fidel Castro.

In September 1960, Khrushchev openly promised to send Castro military assistance, which pushed Castro more closely to the Soviet camp.

When was the bay of pigs incident?

April 1961

What was the scheme Eisenhower organized before the end of his presidency?

Where Cuban exiles living in the USA (had exiled when Castro came into power in 1959 due to fear of communism) would be trained in preparation for an invasion of Cuba.

When Kennedy succeeded Eisenhower in January 1961, he accepted this scheme.

What was Kennedy trying to achieve, and how did he prepare the exiles for the Cuban invasion, 1961? (Bay of pigs)

Following Eisenhower's scheme, Kennedy decided to go along with the invasion of Cuba.

The aim of the invasion was to remove Castro.

The fully equipped exiles would land in Cuba and create a national uprising against Castro.

The exiles were trained by the US central intelligence agency (CIA) in florida and guatemala.

The whole operation had a budget of around 45 million.

There were around 1500 exiles (who called themselves La Brigada 2506) by the time training was completed.

What happened during the bay of pigs invasion, 1961?

15 April - US planes bombed part of the Cuban airforce

16 April - planned 2nd wave of bombing called off. Remenants of Cuban airforce were able to regroup and fight the next day.

17 April - la brigada 2506 laned at Bahia de Cochinos (bay of pigs) and encountered about 20,000 men from Castro's army.

19 April - fighting ended. About 100 of a brigada were killed and 1100 imprisoned.

What happened to La Brigada in december 1962?

In December, La Brigada prisoners were released after $53 million worth of food and medicines were given to Cuba by orginisations and ordinary people in the USA.

Why did the bay of pigs fail?

CIA was convinced when the exiles landed, the Cuban people would rise up and remove Castro, but were wrong.

They failed to understand Castro was very popular.

Castro was aware an invasion was imminent because some of the exiles had been overheard discussing the plans in Miami.

USA’s decision not to attack on 16 April was critical to the failed outcome.

Cuban forces outnumbered and out powered La Brigada.

What were the consequences of the bay of pigs for the USA?

It was an embarassment for Kennedy and made him more determined than ever to remove Castro.

He set up operation mongoose, secret operations organized by the American CIA to remove Castro.

The USA looked like an international bully attacking an independent country.

How did the bay of pigs 1961 influence Soviet relations with Cuba?

US involvement in the bay of pigs pushed Castro closer to the USSR.

At the end of 1961, Castro felt confident enough to declare his conversion to communism, and began to draw closer to the Soviet Union.

By the end of 1961, there were Soviet military advisers and combat units stationed on the island of Cuba.

Khrushchev saw this as the beginnings of the spread of issiles bases in latin america.

He was concerned by US missile bases in Italy and Turkey, and thus thought Soviet bases in Cuba would restore the balance of power.

Prague Spring: what is the Prague spring? (Summarised)

A term that refers to a series of reforms introduced by Dubcek in the spring of 1968.

Prague is the capital of Czechoslovakia.

The czechs called it ‘socialism with a human face’

Dubcek remeanined a devoted communist, but he wanted to win support for the communist regime by removing its worst features.

Prague Spring,1968: what were some of Dubcek’s policies?

Greater political freedom

Free spech

Abolition of press censorship

A 10-year programme for political change which would bring about democratic elections, a multi-party state, and create a new form of democratic socialism.

A reduction in the powers of the secret police to imprison people without trial.

Removal of travel restrictions and fresh contact with the West, such as trade with West Germany.

How did people react to Dubcek's Prague spring reforms in 1968?

Dubcek's reforms encouraged oponents of communism and led to demands for more radical reforms.

For example, in June 1968, the social Democrats began to form a separate party as a rival to the communists.

Around the same time, leading journalist ludvik vaculik published a manifesto where he called for the czechoslovakian people to force even more extreme reform.

Why why the soviet's worried about the Prague spring and Czechoslovakia in 1968?

Czechoslovakia was one of the most important countries in the Warsaw pact and was centrally placed.

Brezhnev was worried it might leave the Warsaw pact, allowing NATO to move in.

This outcome would split the eastern bloc into two and advance NATO’s frontier 700km further to the east so it bordered the USSR itself.

The soviet's were worried new ideas in Czechoslovakia might spread to other satellite states.

Brezhnev came under pressure from easter germ leader Ulbricht and polish leader Gomulka to stop reform in Czechoslovakia.