Alliances and ​Shifts​

What was the purpose of Cold War alliance systems?

To consolidate power blocs, deter the opponent, and extend influence globally.

What was NATO and when was it formed?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (1949), a US-led defence alliance for Western Europe.

What was the significance of West Germany joining NATO (1955)?

It strengthened Western Europe’s defences and prompted the Soviet response (Warsaw Pact).

What was the Warsaw Pact and why was it created?

A Soviet-led military alliance formed in 1955 in response to NATO expanding.

How did SEATO (1954) and CENTO (1955) expand US influence?

They created a chain of alliances around the Soviet Union and China, extending containment to Asia and the Middle East.

What was Eisenhower’s general approach to the Cold War?

“New Look” policy—more reliance on nuclear deterrence, lower conventional spending, and global containment.

Who was John Foster Dulles?

Eisenhower’s Secretary of State and architect of many 1950s Cold War strategies.

What is 'brinkmanship'?

The policy of pushing dangerous situations to the edge (“the brink”) to force the opponent to back down due to fear of nuclear retaliation.

Why was brinkmanship appealing to Eisenhower and Dulles?

Nuclear weapons were cheaper than conventional forces—offering “massive retaliation” while reducing defence costs.

What criticism is often made of brinkmanship?

It increased Cold War tensions and risked accidental nuclear war.

What was the Domino Theory?

The idea that if one country fell to communism, neighbouring states would follow like falling dominos.

Who introduced the Domino Theory and when?

President Eisenhower, 1954, in reference to Southeast Asia.

Why was Indochina important to US strategy?

It was seen as the key domino in Southeast Asia; losing Vietnam could trigger regional communist expansion.

How did the USA support French efforts in Indochina?

By providing financial aid (up to 75–80% of French war costs by 1954) and political backing against the Viet Minh.

Why did the US refuse direct military intervention at Dien Bien Phu?

Fear of another land war in Asia and lack of allied support (e.g., Britain refused).

Why was the Geneva Conference held?

To settle the conflict in Indochina and address tensions in Korea and Southeast Asia.

What happened at Dien Bien Phu before Geneva?

The French were decisively defeated by the Viet Minh (May 1954), forcing negotiations.

What were the outcomes for Vietnam?

Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th Parallel; elections were planned for 1956 to reunify the country.

Why did the US not sign the Geneva Accords?

It rejected the temporary division of Vietnam and feared a communist victory in elections.

What was the significance of Geneva?

It ended French colonial rule in Indochina and marked the start of greater US involvement in Vietnam.

What overall trend took place in the 1950s Cold War?

Formation and expansion of structured alliance systems that divided the world into clear blocs.

How did US strategy shift under Eisenhower?

From Truman’s conventional containment to nuclear-based “New Look” containment and brinkmanship.

Why did Southeast Asia become a major focus for the US?

The Domino Theory suggested communist expansion there would threaten global balance.

What did the Geneva Conference reveal about Cold War diplomacy?

Negotiated settlements were possible but fragile, often widening US commitments rather than resolving tensions.