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This is all the content you need to know for GCSE Edexcel History "Superpower Relationships and the Cold War"
Who was in the Grand Alliance?
USA, USSR, UK
Who was at what WWII conferences?
Stalin (USSR) was at all 3;
Churchill (UK) was at Tehran and Yalta but was replaced by Clement Attlee at Potsdam;
Roosevelt (USA) was at Tehran and Yalta but was replaced by Truman at Potsdam.
What was decided at Tehran?
New front to be opened in Normandy (not Balkans like Churchill wanted)
USSR would get a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe after WWII
What was decided at Yalta?
Free elections in Eastern Europe
Germany and Berlin to be split into 4, UK, USSR, USA & France get one piece each.
United Nations would replace the failed League of Nations
What was (and not) decided at Potsdam?
Exact borders Germany and Berlin would be split into.
Whether / When the zones could join together to form one nation again was not agreed
NSDAP leaders to be tried for War crimes
Whats causes tensions at Potsdam?
USA’s Atomic bomb
USSR had broken it’s free elections promise and installed pro-soviet governments in Eastern Europe
Communism aimed at world domination which the USA saw as threatening
Ideological differences USSR vs USA
USA | USSR |
Democratic | Autocratic |
Capitalist | Communist |
Liberal | Totalitarian |
Christian | Atheist |
What did Japan do?
It was Germany’s ally in WWII
What concerned the USSR about the USA & Japan?
USSR agreed to help the USA against the war in Japan
USA had developed the powerful A-Bomb without telling the USSR. It was used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
This created tensions over what the USA’s real intentions were as it had not informed the USSR about it’s weapon.
Furthermore, because of these bombs Japan surrendered and USSR’s help was not needed. Truman then refused for USSR’s troops to be involved in the occupation of Japan. This created a rift.
What actions of the USSR concern the USA after WWII (with 2 specific examples)?
USSR used its occupation of Eastern Europe during WWII to help it install puppet governments to make these countries (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia) “satellite” states from 1945 to 1948.
This was to create a buffer zone between itself and the USA, which it was becoming increasingly suspicious of.
Czechoslovakia held free elections, however, in 1945 which led to only a partial communist government. This made it seem it would not become a puppet state but in 1948, force and bullying was used to install a communist government into power.
Yugoslavia’s communist leader Tito rejected USSR’s influence and was more open to the West. Tito argued with Stalin which did not result in an invasion but the USSR cut of aid to the country.
What symbolically signalled the start of the Cold War?
Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech which claimed that Europe had been split by an “Iron Curtain” in 1946. This signalled rising tensions.
What report caused Truman to change his strategy?
Long Telegram (Feb. 1946)
This was issued to Truman about the USSR.
It claimed that Stalin had given a speech in favour of destruction of capitalism. It warned that the USSR was trying to divide the West and strengthen itself militarily.
This panicked the USA’s government and sped up the Cold War
What report caused Stalin to change his strategy?
Novikov Telegram (Sept. 1946)
This was issued to Stalin about the USSR.
It claimed that the USA was pursuing World domination and warned that the USA was aiming to limit the influence of the USSR in Europe.
This panicked the USSR’s government and sped up the Cold War.
What did Truman fear in WWII’s aftermath, and how did he respond?
He feared that the struggling after WWII would cause even more countries to turn communist so he decided to act.
In the Truman Doctrine (March 1947) he pledged to support any country threatened with a communist takeover. This could be diplomatically, militarily or financially.
Under this, he sent $400 million to Greece and Turkey to prevent a communist revolution.
When did Truman take the Truman Doctrine even further?
How?
Announced in 1947 and signed into law in 1948.
In the Marshall Plan he pledged $17 billion in aid to Europe to help rebuild their economies. West Germany benefited a lot.
How did Stalin respond to the Truman Doctrine?
In September 1947, he created Cominform
This combined all communist parties in Eastern Europe and placed then under firm control of the USSR.
How did Stalin respond to the Marshall Plan?
He ordered his puppet states to refuse economic aid from the Marshall plan.
In January 1949, he created Comecon.
This nationalised industry, collectivised agriculture and offered economic aid to the USSR’s satellite states.
When was the first Berlin crisis?
June 1948
What led up to the first Berlin crisis (3 Points)?
In 1947, USA and UK combined their zones in Germany to form “Bizonia”. Then in 1948, France added their zone to form “Trizonia”
New western Zone had one Government and in June 1948, a new standard currency was introduced: the Deutschmark.
This made Germany stronger and boosted its recovery. Stalin was alarmed as Russia had been invaded twice by Germans so he wanted Germany to remain weak. Furthermore, the strong capitalist economy of West Germany made communist East Germany look bad.
What did Stalin do in the first Berlin crisis?
He cut off all Canal, Road and Rail links to West Berlin and demanded for the West to give up West Berlin to the USSR.
How did the West respond to the first Berlin crisis and why?
They were not going to give up West Berlin as that would be humiliating and would encourage further aggression from the USSR, which could result in an invasion of West Germany.
West Berlin only had 30 days of Food and 40 days of Coal for electricity left. So the West needed to act fast.
They flew in supplies for 318 days to feed Berlin. By 1949, 8000 tons were flown in daily. Tegel airport was built in Berlin to facilitate this.
How did Stalin react to the West’s response to the Berlin crisis?
In May 1949, he was forced to lift the Blockade and admit defeat.
What were the consequences of the first Berlin crisis (x3 points)?
Tensions increased because the 2 sides treated each other as enemies not allies any more.
In 1949, two seperate states were formed: capitalist West Germany became “Federal Republic of Germany” and communist East Germany became “German Democratic Republic”
NATO was formed in 1949 as the West realised it had to be united against the USSR to be prepared in the event of a conflict. All members pledged to respond together if any member of the alliance was attacked.
What caused the Warsaw Pact to form and who was in it?
When the Federal Republic of Germany entered NATO in May 1955, the Soviets feared the consequences of a strengthened NATO and a rearmed West Germany so they formed the Warsaw Pact aiming to counter NATO.
Also in May 1955, the Warsaw Pact was created.
It consisted of all the satellite states ( Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and the German Democratic Republic) but Yugoslavia.
What was the endless cycle of the Arms Race (4 steps)?
USA & USSR developed the most powerful weapons possible, these could be conventional, nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction.
Neither wanted to have to use them but feared that they could get “left behind” and the other side would gain such an advantage that it may decide to start a war to benefit their own interests
So instead a stand-off developed, where neither side would act against the other and dreaded getting “left behind” as well
This competition spilled into other areas such as when the USSR launched the first salittilet in 1961, the USA sent Astronauts to the moon in 1969
Timeline of the Arms race (x6 events)
1945: USA dropped it’s A-Bombs on Japan
1949: USSR detonated it’s own A-Bomb
1952: USA detonated the H-Bomb
1953: USSR detonated it’s own H-Bomb
1957: USSR launched the first ICBM
1959: USA launched it’s own ICBM
Consequence of the formation of NATO in 1949?
Communist China and the USSR signed a treaty of alliance, which confirmed the West’s fear that the USSR was planning in communist domination.
The major change in leadership in the 1950s?
What were his actions (x2 details)?
The consequence (x1 detail) on the Arms race?
In 1953, Stalin died and in 1956, Nikita Khrushchev succeeded him.
He claimed he wanted a peaceful coexistence with West which created hope for a “thaw” in the Cold War.
But Khrushchev remained very competitive with the USA, as he wanted to prove the communism was the way through technological competition. to demonstrate that the USSR was superior.
This meant that the Arms race did not slow down.
What did Khrushchev aim to do when he came into power?
How did he do this (x4 actions)?
Impact of this (x2 points)?
To “de-Stalinize” the USSR. He did this by:
This including abolishing the death penalty.
Freeing political prisoners
He abolished Cominform
He reduced censorship in the USSR
This gave the satellite states to have more freedom economically and politically causing tensions among the satellite states to rise as not all of them had chosen communism and saw this as a chance to loosen ties with the USSR
What caused the Hungarian Uprising?
Khrushchev’s new early policies encouraged revolt.
In 1956, there was an uprising in Poland. The USSR threatened to intervene but allowed a new government to follow their own version of communism. This made it look like other states were allowed to follow.
After WWII, the USSR help put the brutal Stalinist Mátyás Rákosi in power. His regime was very unpopular so people wanted to revolt.
What happened in the Hungarian Uprising (x6 details)?
In October 1956, people of Budapest overthrew Mátyás Rákosi’s government and the liberal Imran Nagy took over as PM.
Khrushchev allowed this in hopes of a more popular regime in Hungary but it had to be communist and loyal to the USSR.
On 28th of October 1956, Nagy requested Khrushchev to withdraw Soviet tanks from Hungary to increase the regimes popularity, Khrushchev agreed.
On 3rd of November 1956, Nagy announced Hungary would hold free elections and withdraw from the Warsaw Pact, this would end communism there.
On the 4th of November 1956, Soviet tanks reentered Hungary and using force the USSR overthrew Hungary’s government, killing 20,000+ Hungarians in the process.
Imran Nagy was arrested and hanged with János Kádár succeeding him. This ensured loyalty to the USSR.
Why did Khrushchev act as he did in the Hungarian Uprising?
Khrushchev had only held power for 2 years and wanted to assert his authority in the crisis, gaining support from his own communist party (the USSR’s communist party).
He felt that if Hungary was allowed to leave the Warsaw Pact and ditch communism, the soviet policy of surrounding itself with friendly communist states would fail as other states would also leave the USSR, threatening the USSR’s national security.
He also wanted to make this into an example to prevent other countries attempting similar revolutions.
Consequences of the Hungarian Uprising?
It showed to the World that the USSR was in control and disloyalty from any satellite state would have dire consequences. So other satellite states were discouraged from revolt. Furthermore, it was proven if they did revolt the West would not help the.
It was a turning point for Khrushchev as he reasserted his authority; this dismissed any hope for a new “thaw” in the Cold War.
The lack of intervention from the West made them look weak. They actively encouraged satellite states to revolt, promising support but failed to help Hungary (fearing nuclear war). This brought down the West’s reputation as the defenders of democracy.
The UN seemed weak as it asked the USSR to withdraw from Hungary but it did not and Kádár refused to take part in discussions.
Who succeeded President Truman and when?
President Eisenhower in January 1953
What did Khrushchev do to actively decrease tensions with the West (x2 details)? When?
The USA and USSR met in Geneva in 1955 and agreed to communicate more openly.
In 1955, the USSR officially recognised the Federal Republic of Germany as a state.
State of West Germany?
State of East Germany?
Why this was an issue for Khrushchev (x3 points)?
After the first Berlin crisis in 1948, West Germany and West Berlin was unified and developed well economically, benefitting from Marshall Plan and a new currency.
But the USSR, however, had not invested in Germany and drained it of its resources and its economy was slow to grow. This meant people wanted to leave for a better life in West Germany.
By 1958, 3 million East Germans, more than 1/6 of the population had left for West Germany via West Berlin. Mainly skilled workers left knowing a better life and salary was waiting in the West.
This meant that East Germany’s economy was failing due to loss of skilled workers and the countries development slowed down.
It was also embarrassing as it suggested people preferred capitalism over communism.
How did Khrushchev to demand action on the tension over Berlin?
He issued the “Berlin Ultimatum” in 1958 demanding that the West withdrew its troops within 6 months. West Berlin would become a free city, with its own “independent” government.
Eisenhower refused but Khrushchev did not take any further physical action.
How was the USSR’s and USA’s relations improved by Eisenhower and Khrushchev?
In 1959 at Camp David, Khrushchev became the first communist leader to visit the USA. This proved there was a spirit of cooperation and communication between the superpowers.
At the meeting they did discuss Berlin. Although Eisenhower did not agree to Khrushchev’s demands, they agreed to discuss the matter further.
They decided to do this in Paris in 1960. There were no firm decisions but arrangement of another meeting provided optimism in reaching a solution.
When and what was the turning point in talks over Berlin (x2 summits)?
In the Paris Summit in 1960, talks broke down.
Before the summit the USSR shot down an American U2 spy plane over soviet territory.
Eisenhower at first denied it but when the pilot and the plane’s wreckage was produced as evidence, he admitted it. However, he refused to apologise so Khrushchev walked out of the meeting.
In the Vienna summit in 1961, talks got worse. Now Kennedy as the USA’s president, he was young and Khrushchev believed him to be inexperienced (shown by the early Bay of Pigs incident). So he reissued the Berlin Ultimatum.
Kennedy took a tough stance and refused to compromise so the talks went nowhere.
The issue?
How did Khrushchev resolve the second Berlin crisis (x4 points)?
In 1961, 2000 Germans left East for West daily. After no result with negotiations, Khrushchev decided to construct the Berlin Wall.
On 13th of August 1961, a 27-mile barrier was built overnight dividing Berlin.
It was fortified with barbed wire and machine gun posts. Later it was strengthened into a more permanent barrier. Military checkpoints policed movement into or out of East Berlin.
Before the wall, East Berliners had entered West Berlin freely to work and meet friends and family. This was stopped instantly.
Citizens from East and West Berlin were rarely allowed through the barrier and anyone who tried to escape was shot.
Consequences of Khrushchev’s solution in Berlin (x4 details)?
Short term tensions: Immediately after the Berlin Wall appeared troops were placed on both sides but later both powers agreed to back down.
Long term relief: The USA condemned the building of the wall but took no military action, Kennedy was relieved as he had been expecting a confrontation.
It stopped mass emigration to West Berlin. It gave East Germany the chance to strengthen itself and its economy.
In the West, the wall was a symbol of oppression and failure of communism but in the USSR it was a symbol of strength.
What was the Cuban revolution and why did it happen (x3 points)?
Since 1952, Cuba had been ruled by a military dictator Batista who allowed America and the Mafie to make huge profits whilst most still lived in poverty.
In 1956, a rebel called Fidel Castro began a guerrilla war.
By 1959, he was able to take over Cuba’s capital (Havana) and overthrew the government
Why was the USA concerned about the Cuban revolution?
The USA had invested heavily in Cuba and owned half the land in Cuba along with most of the shares in Cuban industry.
This made the USA feel it had a right to be involved in Cuba’s affairs but Cubans were growing to resent American influence as Cuba did not feel like an independent state.
What did Castro do to anger the USA?
What did the USA do?
What was Castro’s solution?
End result?
In 1959, he nationalised US companies and increased tax on American goods. This made the USA angry.
Eisenhower interpreted this to belief that Castro was becoming a communist. (Collective ownership was a key feature of communism). So he threatened to stop importing Cuba’s sugar.
Sugar was Cuba’s main source of wealth so the USA believed Castro would back down but instead Castro signed a trade agreement with the USSR who pledged to buy all of Cuba’s sugar.
In January 1961, Eisenhower cut off all diplomatic relations with Cuba.
How did Kennedy react to the Castro’s actions in Cuba?
What did he do (x2 details)?
Result?
He refused to recognise the Cuban government as a real one.
In 1961, he authorizes the invasion of Cuba by Cuban anti-Castro rebels.
In April 1961, the rebels land in the Bay of Pigs but are easily defeated by the Cuban Revolutionary Army.
The USA is humiliated.
How did Castro react to Kennedy’s actions (x2) and why (x1)?
In September 1961, Castro requested military help from the USSR because he felt insecure after the Kennedy’s actions.
In December 1961, he announced that he was a communist, confirming the USA’s fears.
How did Khrushchev react to Castro’s request and why?
What did he do?
Why?
What could be argued to be cause for this?
He was delighted to have an ally so near to the USA.
By July 1962, Khrushchev decided to put nuclear missiles on Cuba to help secure Cuba from a US invasion.
Although he already had missiles that could reach the USA, by having missiles in Cuba, he could launch a nuclear attack on all of central and eastern USA with little warning.
This could be argued to be a response to the USA placing nuclear missiles in Turkey earlier in the same year in April.
How did Kennedy react to Khrushchev’s military decision regarding Cuba?
In October 1962, a American U2 spy plane spotted the nuclear missile bases in Cuba and American intelligence that the soviet ships on their way to Cuba carrying the missiles.
Kennedy demanded for the USSR to dismantle the missile silos in Cuba.
He ordered a naval blockade of Cuba and only searched Soviet ships would be allowed to pass without being searched for nuclear missiles.
As tensions rose nuclear bombers with nuclear bombs were put airborne and the USA prepared to invade Cuba.
What final agreement was made during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
On the 27th of October 1962, Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missile bases in Cuba and ordered the ships to turn around, in exchange the USA lifted the blockade and promised not to invade Cuba (and secretly to remove their missiles in Turkey).
4 short term consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
It led to a temporary diffusion of tensions as people were forced to see how easily a tense situation could turn into absolute catastrophe.
In 1963, a telephone “hotline” was established between Washington and Moscow. This allowed easy communication in the event of a crisis.
All nuclear missiles were removed from Cuba then Turkey.
Kennedy became a hero, as he had stood up to communism whilst Khrushchev was discredited as the Turkey deal was kept a secret so the public believed he failed. Khrushchev resign in 1964.
Long term consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
New measures were brought in to bring nuclear weapons under control:
Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963): Banned nuclear test in air or underwater to reduce nuclear radiation.
Outer Space Treaty (1967): This forbade countries to put weapons of mass destruction in space.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1970): Both sides agreed to not provide nuclear weapons, related technology or information to countries which did not already have nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament was encouraged. But peaceful uses were allowed.
What led up to the Prague Spring (x3 details)?
Tension had been building up in Czechoslovakia. It had become a communist state in 1948 and its policies were heavily influenced by the USSR.
Soviet policies such as collectivisation and centralisation slowed economic progress in the country.
There was discontent about the huge external control over Czechoslovakia. In 1956, students and writers protested at the lack of free speech and movement in the country.
Who led the movement?
When did he get into power
What did he do (x5 details)?
Alexander Dubcek became the leader of the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia in January 1968.
In April 1968, he introduced reforms against the Soviet-style of communism:
Travel to West made available for all
The border with West Germany was reopened
All industry become decentralised: workers and authorities got more power
Trade unions and workers were given more power
Freedom of speech and opposition parties were allowed
What was the aim of the Prague Spring’s reforms (x2 aims)?
To improve the performance of Czechoslovakia’s economy - partly by trading with the West.
Reduce tensions in the country to make communism more appealing to the population by granting them freedom.
What was the USSR’s initial reaction to the Prague Spring?
What did Czechoslovakia do about this?
The result?
Brezhen was worried as he did not want any Western involvement in the Eastern Bloc.
Dubeck promised that Czechoslovakia would remain in the Warsaw Pact and remain a loyal ally to Moscow.
For 4 months, Dubcek’s reforms were tolerated by the USSR and the country enjoyed relative freedom in the “Prague Spring”.
What was the USSR’s concerns over Czechoslovakia?
What prompted action towards Czechoslovakia (x2 points)? When?
USSR was still worried as it had less control over the country due to the reforms.
Soviet response was triggered in August 1968 when:
President Tito of Yugoslavia visited Prague. Him and his country refused to accept USSR’s version of communism. His visit signalled Czechoslovakia’s loyalties were changing.
The USSR received a letter form the communists in Czechoslovakia asking for help.
Why did the USSR act as it did during the Prague Spring?
Because if it let Czechoslovakia pull away other countries may do so as well. And the USSR would lose its safety buffer zone between itself and the West.
What was the Soviet response during the Prague Spring (x2 details)?
On the 21st of August 1968, 500,000 Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia to seize control of the country by force.
Dubcek was forced to undo his reforms before being removed from power in April 1969. He was replaced by hardline communist Gustáv Husák, who was loyal to USSR’s style of communism and would ensure Czechoslovakia remain close the USSR.
How did Czechoslovakians respond (x2 details)?
They took to the street to protest in non-violent demonstrations with anti-invasion banners.
In January 1969, a student burned himself alive in the street in protest.
How did the World react to the Prague Spring (x4 details)?
UN denounced the invasion and proposed a resolution to the situation by requesting the USSR to withdraw its troops. The USSR refused.
Many countries condemned but did not take any action, because they worried of war if interfering within the USSR’s sphere of influence.
Communist parties in the West criticised Brezhnev’s reaction and distanced themselves from Soviet influence.
The relationship between the USSR and USA became strained even though of recent moves to reduce the nuclear threat.
The consequences of the Prague Spring to the USSR (x2 details).
The USSR succeeded in returning Czechoslovakia to Soviet-style communism.
It proved Brezhnev to be a strong leader who used the opportunity to establish his authority in the Eastern Bloc. It proved that he was willing to risk conflict with a friendly satellite state to withhold communism in the Eastern Bloc.
What was the Brezhnev doctrine and the message it sent?
Brezhnev announced that actions of one communist state affected all the states. So if actions in one state threatened the communist movement as a whole, the other states would take steps to stop those actions (militarily).
The message sent to the satellite states was that giving up communism was not a option and the USSR would respond with force.
What was Détente?
Why was it done (x3 reasons)?
A period of easing of tensions in the cold war.
Because of the crises in the 1960s. USSR & USA wanted to avoid those near misses.
Boosting military power had not helped in reducing tensions and was in fact bad for both sides as it was expensive and led to a fall in the standard of living.
The USSR was concerned about the fall in the standard of living in the Eastern Bloc. In 1970, there were riots in Poland about this.
What was a symbol of a new relationship?
In 1975, Soviet and American spacecraft docked together in space.
What did SALT stand for?
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
When was SALT I signed?
What was in SALT I (x3 points)?
What did it aim to do?
1972
Limits on SLBMs and ICBMs were placed for both superpowers.
Limits on ABMs were placed, 2 sites with a maximum of 100 missiles for each of the superpowers.
Basic Principle agreements also laid down rules for nuclear warfare such as banning of placement of warheads on the seabed.
It aimed to slow down the arms race and preserve the idea of MAD as ABMs could upset this balance by removing the threat of retaliation from the other side as the retaliatory missiles could be shot down by ABMs.
What were the drawbacks to SALT I (x3 drawbacks)?
It was only valid for 5 years.
Some conditions were disregarded, both sides nuclear arsenal increased during those 5 years.
There were no limits on the dangerous new type of MIRVs which allowed multiple warheads to be carried on one missile.
When was the Helsinki Agreement?
What was in it (x3 things)?
1975
These could be split into 3 “baskets”:
Borders: A country’s border is to be respected and not to be altered using force and the internal affairs of a country are not to be messed with by outsiders. (The borders of the 2 Germanys were recognised)
Cooperation: This was the agreement to work together on technology, trade agreements and a joint space mission.
Human Rights: This is the agreement to allow free expression, movement, religion among others.
Who was happy with what “basket” (x2 points)?
USA was happy with the USSR agreeing on Human Rights which was progress for the totalitarianistic regime.
USSR was happy with the borders clause as USA now had to respect the internal affairs of the eastern Bloc satellite states and their borders.
What caused tensions with the Helsinki Accords (x2 points)?
Soviet politicians did not like the human rights clause as they felt like it was against the communist ideology.
American politicians saw the borders clause as the USA approving the USSR’s actions in Eastern Europe and a sign of weakness.
When was SALT II?
What was in it (x3 details)?
It’s fate?
1979
Testing or deploying of new ICBMs were banned
Limits on MIRVs and strategic bombers were placed
Plus SALT I clauses.
It was never ratified in the Senate in the USA because Jimmy Carter withdrew it from debate due to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
What caused the USSR to invade Afghanistan (x2 points)?
In 1978, civil war in Afghanistan broke out in protest to radical reforms brought in by the Afghan communist government, which was close to the USSR.
The USSR used the Brezhnev Doctrine to justify invading the country in December 1979 because of the fear of an anti-soviet government as the countries shares a border.
What happened in the Afghanistan war (x4 points)?
The USSR could not win so it turned out to be a disaster.
It had to fight against a determined enemy who were supplied with weapons from the USA.
The enemy had good knowledge of the mountainous terrain so the USSR had a disadvantage.
15,000 Soviet troops died and the government spent huge amounts of money.
What was the consequences of the War (x4 points)?
It led to a loss of public support for the communist regime because of living standards falling as a direct result of high spending in Afghanistan. So people got angry.
It was an embarrassment for the USSR on the world stage as it undermined the USSR’s strong military reputation, which was needed to keep it’s puppet states under control.
In January 1980, UN drafted a resolution demanding soviet withdrawal which was rejected by the USSR.
In 1980, the USA long with 50+ other countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics in protest.
How did the USA react to the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan?
SALT II was withdrawn for debate in the US Senate by President Carter so it was never signed into law.
President Carter also called for an increase in the defense budget.
The Carter doctrine was issued.
What was the Carter Doctrine?
Why was it issued?
This was the declaration that the USA would use any means necessary to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf including military force.
This is because the Gulf was close to the Afghan border, this area was rich in oil and formed close ties with the USA. So Carter felt USA’s interests were being threatened and need to be protected.
What was the second Cold War?
Who led the USA in it for the majority of the time? Since when?
These were the reignition of tensions during the 1980s because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Ronald Reagan succeeded President Carter in January 1981.
What were Ronald Reagan’s beliefs?
He believed the USSR was an “evil empire” and he was a hardline anti-communist who did not belief in Détente.
What did Reagan do to follow his beliefs (x4 points)?
He increased defence spending to $550 billion a year because American intelligence suggested that the USSR’s powers had been underestimated and the USA needed to catch up.
Reagan authorised the development of abandoned weapon programs to continue such as the development of the neutron bomb which was designed to maximise loss of life and minimise damage to property.
Reagan also announced the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI).
The Reagan Doctrine was issued.
What was in the Reagan doctrine?
How was it used?
The USA pledged to not only support anti-communist governments but also help ant-communist groups in overthrowing communist governments.
The USA invaded the island of Grenada to topple the communist regime there and funded insurgent groups in central America such as in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
When was the SDI announced?
What was the SDI?
What was the impact of such a system?
March 1983
The program would develop weapons to be deployed in space to destroy nuclear missiles after they had been launched. This would be the best defence system as even launched nuclear missiles could be stopped.
The threat of MAD would be over and the USA could attack the USSR without fear from retaliation.
How did the USSR see the developments under Reagan (x3 points)?
They were worried as they could not match the USA’s spending.
The announcement of SDI was seen as aggression because the USA could attack the USSR without fear of retaliation.
The USSR was further worried as they could not match a system like SDI because they were behind the USA in computer technology which was needed in such a system and US sanctions prevented them acquiring them.
What happened to Reagan’s attitude after 1985?
Why (x4 points)?
It changed.
Because Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the USSR in March 1985.
He proposed radical reforms and was more open to the West than previous leaders and Reagan saw that the USSR was being turned towards a new direction.
The two leaders got on well and this improved the relations between the superpowers.
Therefore, Reagan saw negotiation the best path forwards to protect American interests.
What did the USSR face by 1985?
Why (x3 reasons)?
By the 1980s, Soviet citizens were becoming increasingly more discontent with the communist regime.
Arms race and war in Afghanistan were very expensive and the economy could not support this level of funding.
Soviet goods were poor quality and farming was inefficient, there was a food shortage so millions of tonnes of grain had to be imported from the USA.
The government was becoming increasingly corrupt and not able to give the Soviet people the same high living standards as people had in the West.
What were the 2 internal reforms in the USSR under Gorbachev?
Perestroika (“restructuring”):
This was aimed to make the Soviet economy more efficient.
It decentralised industry, so government did not tell businesses what to produce.
He also allowed private business ownership and Soviet businesses to trade with the West.
Glasnost (“openness”):
Gorbachev gave the people new rights.
Thousands of political prisoners were freed.
Free speech was allowed and censorship relaxed.
In 1989, Gorbachev created the USSR’s first elected parliament, Communist Party officials were chosen by the public for the first time.
How did Gorbachev reduce tensions with the West (x4 ways)?
He met Reagan several times such as at Geneva in 1985.
In 1987, a disarmament treaty was signed: the INF treaty
In 1988, Gorbachev withdrew the USSR from Afghanistan.
In the same year, the USSR’s weapons stockpile was reduced and number of troops in the military.
What did Gorbachev abandon? When?
How did he action this?
How did this and one other factor lead to the USSR losing its satellite states?
In 1988, Gorbachev abandoned the Brezhnev Doctrine:
He withdrew Soviet troops, tanks and aircraft from Eastern Europe.
It was the fear of Soviet military intervention that kept opposition movements under control: they now had a chance to act.
It was harder to govern from Moscow because of splits within the Soviet Communist Party. Some believed Gorbachev’s reforms were not radical enough, some believed that they were too radical.
When did the Berlin Wall fall?
What led up to this point (x4 points)?
November 1989
In May 1989, communist Hungary opened its border with capitalist Austria. East Germans used the route from Hungary to Austria to reach West Germany.
Between August and September 1989, thousands left East Germany for West Germany. The East German government could not control the situation.
In October 1989, there were mass protests against the East German government, and without any help from the USSR, the Government was forced to open the border between East and West Berlin in November.
Free election were promised and the wall was torn down.
Timeline of the fall of other states in the Eastern Bloc (x4 points)
In June 1989, free elections were held in Poland. In 1990, a new non-communist government came into power.
In December 1989, communist governments collapsed in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania.
In March 1990, Hungary’s Communist Party suffered a large defeat in the free elections.
In October 1990, communist East Germany and capitalist West Germany re-joined to form a single state again.
What did the decline of communism in the Eastern Bloc indicate?
The fall of the Berlin Wall showed that the relationship between the East and West was changing.
The formation of one single Germany again indicated the communist experiment was over.
The inaction from the USSR to support its fellow communist governments strengthened movements and caused further breaking up…
What was the USSR made up of?
15 republics, each with their own parliament but it was centrally controlled by Moscow.
What did republics within the USSR demand and what ones?
Why did they demand this (x2 details)?
In early 1990, some regions, especially the Baltic republics, demanded independence.
They were inspired by the revolutions in Eastern Europe
And also by Gorbachev’s policy of “glasnost” (openness), these granted greater power to individuals and encouraged constructive criticism of Soviet policy.
What was Gorbachev’s reaction to the demands of the republics?
Gorbachev did not want to lose these regions so he granted them more power but this was not enough.
What was the end result with the republics?
Gorbachev’s response?
Why?
Lithuania declared itself independent in March 1990.
Troops were sent to the capital Vilnius in January 1991, several civilians were killed in the violence. But this only strengthened the independence movement.
In April 1991, Georgia declared itself independent and in August 1991, Ukraine followed.
Gorbachev lacked the authority to make the Soviet republics comply with his wishes.
Did Gorbachev’s economic reforms work (x3 points) and why (x1 reason)?
No
The economy had not improved and in 1990, one quarter of the population lived below the poverty line.
Economic corruption was still rife.
Inflation was high and basic goods were in short supply.
The cost of the arms race and Afghanistan war hindered reforms as well.
Were the people in the USSR happy?
Who was not happy?
Why?
No
Gorbachev faced opposition from the public and from within his own party.
Some wanted the reforms to go even further whilst others wanted to return to former Soviet policies.
How was the unrest within the USSR’s own party acted on (x6 points)?
More traditional Soviet communists worried that the Communist Party was so divided that it was going to split up.
They thought Gorbachev’s reforms were too radical and plotted a coup in August 1991.
They arrested Gorbachev, tried to force him to resign and sent tanks on to the streets of Moscow to deter protests.
The coup did not go to plan because Boris Yeltsin, a Soviet politician condemned it, he wanted the USSR to adopt capitalism
Yeltsin went onto the streets to rally opposition against the coup. There were mass protests in major cities, showing that the Soviet people rejected communist.
So the coup failed.
When did Gorbachev resign?
Why?
When did the USSR fall?
On Christmas Day 1991, Gorbachev resigned.
He no longer had support of the people or his own Party.
On Boxing Day 1991, the USSR was dissolved.
What happened with different parts of the USSR?
The republics within the USSR became independent, these included Lithuania, Georgia, Ukraine and others.
The biggest of the states was Russia and Yeltsin was elected the leader and Russia adopted capitalism.
When did the Warsaw Pact end?
Why?
July 1991
As more countries declared independence from the USSR and pulled out of the Warsaw Pact, it became weaker and so was dissolved.
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Flashcard (33)