Origins of the Cold War

Flashcards about the Origins of the Cold War.

Which countries were the dominant global powers after WWII?

The U.S. and Soviet Union.

What was the aim of the U.S. after WWII?

The U.S. aimed for global economic restructuring to ensure American prosperity, promoting a world based on American values.

What was the Soviet Union's priority after WWII?

The Soviet Union prioritized its security, having suffered 20 million casualties in the war against Hitler, and sought a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe.

How was Europe divided post-WWII?

Europe was divided into spheres of influence, primarily between NATO states and Warsaw Pact states, along with other communist and non-aligned states.

What was the ideological conflict during the Cold War?

The U.S. promoted free markets and representative democracies, while the Soviet Union advocated for a command economy and bureaucratic rule.

What did the technological conflict during the Cold War include?

An arms race, a space race, and competition regarding consumer goods.

What did the 'Hearts and Minds' conflict during the Cold War involve?

Efforts to gain alignment of the "Third World" through initiatives like the Peace Corps, Fulbright Program, and immigration reforms.

What was the containment policy during the Cold War?

The U.S. committed to preventing further Soviet expansion of power and influence.

What did the Truman Doctrine of 1947 commit the U.S. to?

The U.S. committed to supporting the monarchy in Greece and preventing Soviet involvement in Turkey.

What was the Marshall Plan?

Secretary of State George Marshall announced a plan to provide billions in aid to rebuild Western Europe in June 1947.

What was the Marshall Plan driven by?

Concerns about economic chaos, inflation, and starvation, and the fear of a slide toward communism.

What was the aim of the Marshall Plan?

To shore up support for and faith in capitalism and create markets for American goods.

What happened in China in 1949?

Communists secured control of China in 1949.

What event started the Korean War?

North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950 in an effort to unify the country.

What was the result of the Korean War?

A stalemate, with an armistice in 1953, returning the border to the 38th parallel.

What was the impact of the Korean War?

It became a global conflict with a huge human toll.

What was French Indochina?

The region was under French colonial rule, leading to the rise of underground independence movements.

Who did the U.S. support in French Indochina during WWII?

The United States collaborated with Ho Chi Minh’s forces, known as the Viet Minh, who were fighting for independence.

What happened in Indochina between 1945-1954?

The French returned to Indochina and established a puppet government, with the U.S. providing millions of dollars to support the French effort.

What was the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?

A significant military defeat for the French, leading to their withdrawal from Indochina in 1954.

What was the result of Geneva Conference (1954)?

A temporary boundary was established at the 17th parallel, dividing Vietnam into North and South, and national elections were planned for 1956 to reunify the country.

How did the U.S. interfere in Vietnam after the Geneva Conference?

The U.S. intervened by installing Ngo Dinh Diem as the leader of South Vietnam.

What was the National Liberation Front?

The Viet Minh formed the National Liberation Front (NLF), also known as the Vietcong, and waged war against Diem’s regime in South Vietnam.

Why did Buddhists rebel against Ngo Dinh Diem?

Buddhists rebelled against Diem’s discriminatory policies, with some engaging in acts of self-immolation to protest.

What happened to Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963?

Diem was overthrown and killed in a coup orchestrated by the CIA in 1963.

What did the U.S. government claim in 1968 regarding the situation in Vietnam?

The U.S. government asserted that Victory [was] in sight

What was the Tet Offensive?

A major military offensive by the Vietcong and North Vietnamese forces, which exposed the U.S. government's false claims.

What was the My Lai Massacre?

A mass killing of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers in 1968.

What happened at Kent State and Jackson State in 1970?

Students were shot and killed during anti-war protests at Kent State University and Jackson State University.

What were the Paris Peace Accords of January 1973?

A ceasefire agreement was reached, leading to U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam and Nixon ended the military draft.

What happened in Vietnam in 1975?

North Vietnam launched a final offensive, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule in 1975.

What was the Era of Détente?

A period of reduced tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

What was Nixon's diplomacy during the Détente?

Normalization of relations with China and the first presidential visit to the Soviet Union by Nixon.

What was the SALT Treaty?

The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty was signed, freezing the number of nuclear missiles and limiting the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems in 1972.

What happened in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s?

By the late 1980s, popular protest movements emerged in Eastern Europe, challenging communist regimes.

What symbolized the end of the Cold War?

The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War, and Germany was reunified in 1990.

When did the Soviet union end?

Gorbachev resigned as President of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, marking the official end of the Soviet Union.

How does the Cold War affect us today?

Conflicts persist with Russia in the 21st century.

Why did the 20th century see an unprecedented rise in genocides?

Centralized, coercive power of the state, nationalism, modern media and propaganda, effects of war and imperialism, and ideological commitment.

What was the historical context of the Armenian Genocide?

Armenians were ruled by Ottoman monarchs since the 15th century and were a minority Christian population governed by Muslim rulers.

What occurred during the 1915 Armenian Genocide?

Systematic killing of the male Armenian population and arrests, deportations, and death marches of women, the elderly, and the sick were carried out.

What was the Armenian Diaspora?

Communities formed throughout Europe and the U.S.

What is the Republic of Turkey's position on the Armenian Genocide?

The Republic of Turkey refuses to acknowledge the genocide throughout the 20th century.

Who were the Khmer Rouge?

The Khmer Rouge came to power in Cambodia in 1975 and attempted to create an "agrarian paradise" for four years.

How many people died during the Killing Fields of Cambodia?

1.5 to 3 million people died, representing about 25% of the population, from 1975 to 1979.

How did Europeans contribute to the Rwandan genocide?

Europeans favored Tutsis over the Hutu majority, considering them more Caucasian and ruling through the Tutsi monarchy.

What happened during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide?

From April to July 1994, 500,000 to 1 million Tutsis were slaughtered at the direction of the Hutu-led military.

China in Early 20th Century was characterized by rule by aristocrats (mandarins) and a landed elite, a large, impoverished peasant population, weakness and victimization by Western imperialism.

China in Early 20th Century

What was traditional Chinese society characterized by in the early 20th century?

Traditional Chinese society was characterized by rule by aristocrats (mandarins) and a landed elite, a large, impoverished peasant population, weakness and victimization by Western imperialism.

Who was Sun Yat Sen?

Sun Yat Sen was born into peasantry, educated in Hawaii and Hong Kong, dedicated to revolution and establishing a liberal republic, and developed a secret society and attracted young army officers.

What was the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) committed to?

Mao Zedong's Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was committed to Marxist principles; considered the "True party of the people."

What was proclaimed by Mao Zedong in 1949?

The People's Republic of China was proclaimed by Mao Zedong in 1949 and Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan, forming a Nationalist Chinese government.

War against foreign pollution of revolutionary ethic

The Cultural Revolution, initiated by Mao Zedong in 1965 against “experts”, campaign against capitalism, bureaucracy, and hierarchy in the Chinese state, and employed the Red Guard against enemies of the state.

How has China changed in the contemporary era?

Since 1980, China has been led by “experts” focused on pragmatic, economic policy, now permit some capitalism, private ownership of land, and foreign investment but maintains one-party rule, no democracy, repression against dissidents, and suppression of civil liberties.

What was the Muslim League?

The Muslim League was formed in 1906, aimed to advance the political causes of the Muslim minority, and eventually called for a separate Muslim state.

What was India's role in WWI?

Indians fought for the British during WWI but massive casualties and injury to the Indian economy due to inflation caused resentment because self-determination was denied after the war.

What was the Amritsar Massacre?

British army opened fire at a peaceful protest of 10,000 Indians in April 1919, resulting in 376 deaths and thousands wounded, galvanizing Indian resistance to British rule.

Who was Mohandas Gandhi?

Gandhi was born in 1869, English educated, led civil rights efforts in South Africa, emerged as a leader after the Amritsar Massacre, advocated for non-violence and civil disobedience

What was the British Partition of India?

British withdrew from India in 1947, leading to its partition into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan, resulting in a population transfer of 12 million people and hundreds of thousands of deaths due to violence and chaos.

How do decolonization efforts in India and China differ?

Both India and China had huge populations, were poor, peasant societies, experienced foreign control, aimed for nationalism and modernization, influenced by foreign ideas but India differed with religious and liberal leaders, religious divisions, non-violent movement, democratic result whereas China differed with radical vs. liberals, war and violent revolution, communist dictatorship.

What was the population of Algeria like during French Colonialism?

Poor rural Muslims, French-speaking urban Muslims and Catholics, and French colons (control wealth, land, and resources.

Who was Frantz Fanon?

Algerian Frantz Fanon wrote of psychological trauma of colonialism in Wretched of the Earth (1961) and revolutionary violence by colonial people is justified because dehumanized; subject to violence; necessary for psychological and political decolonization.

The legacies of imperialism in Algeria, Congo, and Nigeria are

Violent revolutions led to dictatorships

Imperialism in Africa in 20th century a disaster for Africans because

Exploitation; wealth extracted to powers and Little or no political reforms; “civilizing mission”