AFP Midterm #2

What agreement was made at the Yalta Conference in 1945?

Roosevelt and Churchill ceded a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe to Stalin.

What was decided at the Potsdam Conference regarding Germany?

Germany was divided into western and eastern zones, with the western zone shared among the US, Britain, and France.

What were the main objectives agreed upon by the Allies after World War II?

De-nazification, demilitarization, and democratization of Germany.

What were the Nuremberg Trials?

War-crimes trials that led to the conviction of 24 Nazi leaders, with 12 executed.

What significant change occurred to Poland after World War II?

Poland was reconstituted but moved farther west, leading to the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Germans.

What phrase did Winston Churchill use to describe the division in Europe?

Iron Curtain.

What international organization was formed in 1945?

The United Nations.

Who was the first Secretary-General of the United Nations?

Trygve Lie from Norway.

What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?

To counter Soviet expansionism by force, starting in Greece and Turkey.

What policy did George Kennan advocate for regarding the Soviet Union?

Containment.

What was the Marshall Plan?

An American initiative to stimulate economic growth in Western Europe after WWII.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

A response to prevent a Soviet takeover of Berlin from 1948 to 1949.

What significant event occurred in 1949 regarding the Soviet Union?

The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb.

What was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

A military alliance founded in April 1949 for mutual protection among member countries.

Who was the first Chancellor of West Germany?

Konrad Adenauer.

What was the 'economic miracle' in West Germany?

A period of rapid economic recovery and growth after WWII.

What did Churchill's speech in Fulton, Missouri, highlight about Eastern Europe?

It emphasized the Soviet control and influence over Eastern European countries.

What did George Marshall identify as necessary for European recovery?

Restoring confidence in the economic future of European countries.

What was the main goal of American foreign policy post-WWII?

To assist in the return of normal economic health worldwide to ensure political stability.

What was the significance of the phrase 'Iron Curtain'?

It symbolized the division between the Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the Western democracies.

What was the impact of the National Security Act of 1947?

It reorganized the armed services and established the National Security Council and CIA.

What was the outcome of the Allies' agreement on the destruction of German industry?

The proposed destruction was abandoned.

What was the role of the United Nations Security Council?

To maintain international peace and security, consisting of permanent members and rotating members.

What was the primary concern of the United States regarding other governments after WWII?

Opposing any government that sought to perpetuate human misery for political gain.

What was the Korean War?

The Korean War (1950-53) was the first major conflict of the Cold War, occurring after Korea was partitioned into northern and southern zones post-World War II.

What led to the outbreak of the Korean War?

The rapid deterioration of US-USSR relations and the backing of local leaders by both superpowers prevented elections, leading to Kim Il Sung's invasion of South Korea in June 1950.

Who led the United Nations forces during the Korean War?

General Douglas MacArthur led the UN forces, including a significant invasion at Inchon in September 1950.

What was the significance of the Inchon invasion?

The Inchon invasion reversed the momentum of the war, forcing North Korean forces to retreat and allowing UN forces to advance toward the Yalu River.

What was Mao Zedong's role in the Korean War?

Mao intervened with Chinese troops in October 1950, forcing UN forces into retreat after they had advanced into North Korea.

What was the outcome of the Korean War by the winter of 1950-51?

UN forces recognized that victory was unattainable, leading to a stabilization of defensive lines and a shift in command to General Matthew Ridgway.

Why was General MacArthur dismissed?

President Truman dismissed General MacArthur for challenging political decisions and threatening the authority of the administration.

What historic decision was made regarding nuclear weapons during the Korean War?

The decision not to use nuclear weapons during the Korean War was of great historic significance.

What events facilitated a truce in Korea?

The election of President Eisenhower in 1952 and the death of Stalin in March 1953 facilitated a truce, although no peace treaty was signed.

What was Khrushchev's stance on Stalinism?

Nikita Khrushchev denounced the excesses of Stalinism at the 20th Soviet Party Congress in 1956.

How did the US respond to the Hungarian uprising in 1956?

American planners recognized the risks of intervention on behalf of the Hungarians were too great, leading to a lack of support.

What speculation arose among war planners regarding nuclear weapons?

War planners speculated on battlefield uses for nuclear weapons, despite severe health consequences.

What was the US nuclear triad developed in the 1950s?

The US developed a 'triad' of long-range bombers, ground-launched ICBMs, and submarine-based nuclear missiles.

What was the significance of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957?

The launch of Sputnik alarmed US planners, indicating a Soviet lead in space technology.

What concept emerged from the logic of targeting cities with nuclear weapons?

The concept of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) emerged, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of nuclear war.

What treaty was signed in 1963 regarding nuclear weapons?

The Atmospheric Test-Ban Treaty was signed in 1963, addressing the environmental consequences of nuclear weapons.

What political movement began in the 1890s to create a Jewish homeland?

Zionism

Who convened the first Zionist Congress in 1897?

Theodor Herzl

What was the title of Theodor Herzl's book published in 1896?

Der Judenstaat

What was the reaction of Zionists to recent Jewish urban history?

They embraced a cult of healthy outdoor rural life.

What event created instability in the Middle East after World War I?

The defeat of the Ottoman Empire

What significant military event occurred in December 1917 during World War I?

British troops led by General Allenby entered Jerusalem.

Who was T. E. Lawrence and what was his role during World War I?

He helped Arab tribes fight against the Turks.

What was the Balfour Declaration?

A statement by the British government supporting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Who persuaded President Wilson to endorse the Balfour Declaration?

Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice.

What was the impact of oil discoveries in the Middle East during the 20th century?

Increased the region's geo-strategic importance.

What prompted Britain to restrict Jewish immigration during the Arab Revolt?

The Arab Revolt (1936-1939)

When did Israel declare its independence?

In 1948

What shift in public opinion occurred after 1945 regarding Israel?

A wave of sympathy for Jews following the Holocaust.

What was the outcome of the United Nations Resolution 181?

It partitioned the land between Palestinian Arabs and Zionists.

What was the political character of Israel at its founding?

It was strongly secular and socialist.

What did the CIA do in Iran in 1953?

Promoted a coup to oust Mossadegh and install a pro-American Shah.

What was the purpose of the American-led Baghdad Pact of 1955?

To oppose Communism in the Middle East.

What marked the end of British and French independence from American policy priorities?

The Suez Crisis of 1956.

What did General Gamal Abdul Nasser do in 1956?

He nationalized the Suez Canal.

What were the main goals of the Basel Program established in 1897?

To promote Jewish settlement in Palestine, federate Jews, strengthen Jewish consciousness, and attain governmental grants.

What was the significance of the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948?

It established the State of Israel and opened the gates for Jewish immigration.

What principles did the State of Israel pledge to uphold in its Declaration of Independence?

Freedom, justice, peace, equality of rights, and safeguarding Holy Places.

What significant challenge did the Cuban Revolution pose to American interests?

It challenged the Monroe Doctrine and the security of American business interests in the Caribbean.

Who was the dictator of Cuba before Fidel Castro's revolution?

Fulgencio Batista.

What role did Fidel Castro play in the Cuban Revolution?

He led a successful guerrilla movement between 1956 and 1959.

Who was Ernesto 'Che' Guevara?

He was Fidel Castro's assistant and became the most iconic revolutionary of the 1960s.

What event soured the goodwill between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War thaw?

The U2 spy plane incident in May 1960.

What was the 'kitchen debate'?

A debate hosted by Vice-President Nixon with Khrushchev in Moscow in 1959.

What was the outcome of the U2 spy plane incident?

Francis Gary Powers was convicted of espionage in a Soviet show trial.

What did President Eisenhower warn about in his Farewell Address?

He warned that the 'military-industrial complex' threatened American freedom and democracy.

What was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro Cubans supported by the CIA.

What did Khrushchev criticize during the Vienna diplomatic summit in June 1961?

He criticized Kennedy regarding the issue of East Germans migrating to West Germany.

What was the Berlin Wall and when was it built?

A wall built by Soviet and East German forces in August 1961 to prevent East Germans from escaping to the West.

What was the Cuba Missile Crisis?

An October 1962 event where Khrushchev aimed to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a standoff with the US.

What was Kennedy's response to the threat of Soviet missiles in Cuba?

He ordered the US Navy to mark a 'quarantine' line that Soviet ships must not cross.

What was the outcome of the Cuba Missile Crisis?

The Soviets backed away, and Kennedy removed American missiles from Turkey as a quid pro quo.

What was the significance of the Geneva Conference in 1954?

It temporarily partitioned Vietnam into North and South as a prelude to elections.

Who was Ngo Dinh Diem?

The leader of South Vietnam backed by the US, despite his corruption and brutality.

What event in 1963 horrified world opinion regarding Diem's regime?

The Buddhist monks' protest against Diem's policies.

What happened to Ngo Dinh Diem?

He was assassinated in Saigon on November 2, 1963.

What was the role of Lyndon Johnson in Vietnam after Kennedy's assassination?

He sent American combat troops into Vietnam in 1965.

What did Khrushchev assert about the United States' actions in his speech at the United Nations?

He accused the US of violating international law and engaging in aggressive policies.

What did Eisenhower mean by 'American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords'?

He suggested that American industry could shift from peaceful production to military armament when necessary.

What commitment does Kennedy express regarding American support for liberty?

He pledges that the U.S. will pay any price, bear any burden, and support any friend to assure the survival and success of liberty.

What was the context of Kennedy's Bay of Pigs speech?

Kennedy addressed the failed invasion of Cuba, emphasizing the struggle of Cuban patriots against a dictator and the U.S. stance of non-intervention.

What was President Eisenhower's approach to sending troops to Vietnam?

He steadily resisted the temptation to send troops.

Which U.S. presidents sent troops to Vietnam despite the South Vietnamese regime's weakness?

John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution of 1964 based on?

A fabricated incident.

Which two senators voted against the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?

Gurening (Alaska) and Morse (Oregon).

What was the Viet Cong (VC) also known as?

The National Liberation Front (NLF).

What was the purpose of the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

To supply the Viet Cong with resources through Laos and Cambodia.

What chemical defoliant was used by American forces in Vietnam?

Agent Orange.

What was the public reaction to the use of napalm in Vietnam?

It horrified citizens back in the United States.

What was the Tet Offensive?

A military defeat for the Viet Cong but a propaganda success that briefly seized key points in Saigon.

What significant political event occurred in 1968 related to Lyndon Johnson?

He decided against running for reelection due to acute political polarization.

Which group began the anti-war movement among Quakers?

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

Who was Norman Morrison and what did he do in protest of the Vietnam War?

A Quaker who burned himself to death outside the Pentagon on November 2, 1965.

What did the 1967 March on the Pentagon signify?

It included celebrities willing to be arrested in protest of the Vietnam War.

What did the Pentagon Papers reveal about the Vietnam War?

The Defense Department had concluded that the war was unwinnable.

What was Richard Nixon's strategy regarding American forces in Vietnam?

To disengage without appearing to accept defeat.