Cold War: Key Conferences, Crises, and End of Soviet Control

Which countries were in the Grand Alliance?

The USA, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.

What were two aims of Stalin?

To create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe and spread communism.

What were two aims of Truman?

To contain communism and promote capitalism and democracy.

What were two aims of Churchill?

To defend the British Empire and promote democracy.

What were two outcomes of the Tehran Conference (1943)?

Agreement to open a Second Front in Europe and to continue cooperation against Nazi Germany.

What were two outcomes of the Yalta Conference (1945)?

Germany and Berlin would be divided into four zones and free elections were promised in Eastern Europe.

What were two outcomes of the Potsdam Conference (1945)?

Germany was divided into zones and reparations would be taken from each zone.

Why had distrust increased by Potsdam?

The USA had developed the atomic bomb and the USSR was not allowing free elections in Eastern Europe.

How did the atomic bomb increase tension?

It started an arms race and increased mistrust between the superpowers.

Give 3 Soviet satellite states.

Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia.

What was the message of the Long Telegram?

The USSR was expansionist but could be contained with firm opposition.

What was the message of the Novikov Telegram?

The USA wanted to dominate globally through military strength.

What were two aims of the Truman Doctrine?

Contain communism and support countries resisting it.

How much aid was given in the Marshall Plan?

$12.7 billion.

Give 2 consequences of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan.

Increased tensions and division between East and West.

When was Cominform set up and what did it do?

1947; coordinated communist parties in Eastern Europe.

When was Comecon set up and what did it do?

1949; provided economic cooperation in the Soviet Bloc.

When was NATO set up and what was its aim?

1949; a military alliance to defend against communism.

How did the Berlin Crisis begin?

The USSR blockaded West Berlin in June 1948.

How did the West respond?

The Berlin Airlift supplied the city by air.

Give two causes of the Berlin Crisis.

Disagreements over Germany and introduction of a new currency in the West.

Give two consequences of the Berlin Crisis.

Germany split into East and West and NATO was formed.

When was the Warsaw Pact formed and what was its aim?

1955; a military alliance of communist countries.

Give 2 examples of the arms race.

Atomic bomb (USA 1945, USSR 1949) and hydrogen bomb (USA 1952, USSR 1953).

What caused the Hungarian Uprising (1956)?

Poor living conditions and resentment of Soviet control.

Who was Imre Nagy?

A reformist leader of Hungary.

What reforms did Nagy introduce?

Multi-party system and leaving the Warsaw Pact.

How did the USSR respond?

Sent troops, crushed the uprising, and replaced Nagy.

What was the international response?

The USA did not intervene to avoid war.

How many East Germans fled by 1961 and why was it a problem?

Around 3 million; loss of skilled workers damaged the economy.

What was Khrushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum (1958)?

Demanded Western forces leave Berlin.

What were the aims of the summits 1959–61?

Reduce tensions and resolve the Berlin issue.

Outcome of Geneva Summit 1959?

No major agreements but tensions eased slightly.

Outcome of Paris Summit 1960?

Collapsed after the U-2 spy plane incident.

Outcome of Vienna Summit 1961?

Tensions increased and no agreement was reached.

Why was the Berlin Wall built (1961)?

To stop East Germans fleeing to the West.

Positive impact for the USA?

Reduced risk of conflict over Berlin.

Negative impact for the USA?

Confirmed division of Europe.

Positive impact for USSR?

Stopped emigration.

Negative impact for USSR?

Showed weakness of communism.

When did John F. Kennedy visit Berlin and why?

1963; to show support for West Berlin.

When was the Cuban Revolution and who led it?

1959; Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

What was the Bay of Pigs?

A failed US-backed invasion of Cuba in 1961.

How did Castro respond?

Declared Cuba communist and allied with the USSR.

Why did the USA feel threatened by Cuba?

It was close enough for nuclear missiles.

Why did Nikita Khrushchev place missiles in Cuba?

To counter US missiles in Turkey and protect Cuba.

What did Kennedy do?

Ordered a naval blockade of Cuba.

When were the 13 days?

16–28 October 1962.

How did the crisis end?

The USSR removed missiles from Cuba and the USA secretly removed missiles from Turkey.

What was agreed in the Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963)?

Banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, space, and underwater.

What was agreed in the Outer Space Treaty (1967)?

Banned nuclear weapons in space.

What was agreed in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968)?

Limited spread of nuclear weapons.

Why was there opposition in Czechoslovakia?

Poor living standards and lack of freedom.

Who was Alexander Dubček?

A reformist leader.

What reforms did he introduce?

Less censorship and more freedoms.

How did the USSR respond?

Invaded with 500,000 troops in 1968.

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

The USSR would use force to maintain communism.

What was détente?

A period of reduced tension in the 1970s.

Why did the USA want détente?

To reduce military costs and focus on domestic issues.

Why did the USSR want détente?

Economic problems and desire for stability.

What was SALT I (1972)?

A treaty limiting nuclear weapons.

What did SALT I include?

Limits on ABMs and freezing of some nuclear weapons.

What were the Helsinki Accords (1975)?

Agreements on borders, cooperation, and human rights.

What was SALT II (1979)?

Limits on nuclear weapons, though never fully ratified.

How did Ronald Reagan change US policy?

Increased military spending and took a hardline stance.

Why did Mikhail Gorbachev want change?

Economic problems and pressure for reform.

What was Solidarity?

A Polish trade union opposing communist rule.

What was Glasnost?

Openness and freedom of speech.

What was Perestroika?

Economic restructuring.

What was the INF Treaty (1987)?

Eliminated intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan (1979)?

To support a communist government.

How did the USA respond?

Boycott of Olympics and support for Afghan fighters.

What were two consequences?

End of détente and increased tensions.

What was the Carter Doctrine?

USA would defend the Persian Gulf.

What were the Olympic boycotts?

USA boycotted 1980 Moscow; USSR boycotted 1984 Los Angeles.

What was the Second Cold War?

A period of renewed tension in the 1980s.

What was the Strategic Defense Initiative?

A US missile defence system proposal.

What was its impact?

Increased pressure on the USSR economically.

What doctrine did Gorbachev abandon?

The Brezhnev Doctrine.

How did Eastern Europe respond?

Increased protests and demands for reform.

When did the Berlin Wall fall?

9 November 1989.

Why was it significant?

It symbolised the collapse of communist control in Europe.

Why did the Warsaw Pact end?

Communist governments collapsed in member states.

When did it end?

1991.

Why was it significant?

It marked the end of Soviet control in Eastern Europe.

What happened to satellite states 1989–91?

They became independent and adopted democratic governments.