Cold War and Decolonization

What was the Cold War?

A global rivalry between the capitalist nations led by the US, and the communist nations led by the USSR. The Yalta Conference was seen as the “unofficial start”

What was the Marshall Plan?

When the US sent billions of dollars to help rebuild European countries after WWII, hoping to restore their economies and prevent the spread of communism by making it less likely that struggling countries would turn communist

Was the Marshall Plan effective?

Yes, by reducing support for communism by stabilizing countries and it helped rebuild the European economy

What does the acronym M.A.D stand for?

Mutually Assured Destruction

What does the concept “Mutually Assured Destruction” mean?

It was the idea that if the US and the USSR ever used nuclear weapons against each other, both sides would be completely destroyed, so neither side would start a nuclear war

What was the domino theory?

The idea that if one country in a region became communist, nearby countries would also “fall” to communism

Who was Ho Chi Minh?

The communist leader of North Vietnam who fought to unify Vietnam under a communist government

Who was Vo Nguyen Giap?

The military strategist/mind behind the war and led North Vietnamese military forces

Who was Ngo Dinh Diem?

A candidate for leadership in South Vietnam, and with US support after elections were canceled, he became president and ruled in an authoritarian way

Who took over Cuba in 1959?

Fidel Castro

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

When the US found out that the USSR was placing nuclear missiles in Cuba and the US didn’t like it (seen as a threat), so both backed down to avoid nuclear war.

How was the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge?

The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, took control of Cambodia and tried to create a radical communist society by forcing people out of cities, making them work in the countryside, and killing or imprisoning anyone they saw as an enemy, which led to millions of deaths

What were some of the factors that led to the fall of the USSR?

Gorbachev’s policies, the Invasion of Afghanistan makes their government less powerful (Freedom Fighters help Afghan fighters and US is funding Afghanistan), the economic system in the USSR is poor (basic needs aren’t met), and USSR civilians view US capitalist system as better than communism

What was containment?

The US policy of trying to stop communism from spreading beyond where it already existed. The goal was to keep the USSR and communism “contained” within its current borders

What was NATO?

A military alliance of the US and Western European countries that agreed to defend each other if attacked

What was The Warsaw Pact?

A military alliance of the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries that agreed to defend each other if attacked

What was the Great Leap Forward?

A program started by Mao Zedong in 1958 to quickly modernize China through increased industry and collective farming.

What were the results of the Great Leap Forward?

The plan failed, wasted resources, lowered food production, and caused a famine that killed about 30 million people.

What was the Cultural Revolution?

A movement started by Mao Zedong from 1966-1969 to restore communist ideals in China. Millions of young people joined the Red Guards and targeted anyone seen as opposing Mao’s ideas.

What were the results of the Cultural Revolution?

It caused chaos and confusion. Many officials, teachers, and citizens were punished, jailed, or killed, while art, literature, and cultural traditions were destroyed

Who was Deng Xiaoping?

The dominant figure in China following the death of Mao Zedong. He moved away from strict control of the economy and allowed for more free market based approach. He also helped increase the Chinese population.

What atrocities does the article China’s Savage Secret discuss?

Some atrocities discussed include public beatings, torture, forced confessions, killing of “class enemies”, mutilation of bodies, and cannibalism.

Why did people participate in the atrocities discussed in China’s Savage Secret?

Mostly due to fear. The Communist Party encouraged people to attack anyone considered “anti-revolutionary.” Many feared that if they did not join or show loyalty to the government, they themselves would be accused and killed.

What did the people in China’s Savage Secret do (not say, but do) in order to feel less guilty?

People mixed human flesh with pork before eating it in order to feel less guilt

Who was Mobutu?

The military leader who took control of Zaire in 1965 and became its dictator.

What did Mobutu’s title mean?

It meant that he was the nation’s powerful and unbeatable leader, or “Father of the Nation” and “Savior of the People”

Who was Amin?

Uganda’s dictator from 1971-1979 who took power in a military coup and ruled through violence and fear

What did Amin’s title mean?

It meant that he saw himself as an all-powerful, lifelong ruler who was superior to everyone else

Who was Kenyatta?

A leader of the Kenya African Union and later became Kenya’s first president. He led the independence movement and helped unite different groups after independence

What was the Mau Mau rebellion?

A Kenyan resistance movement that used guerilla warfare in the 1950s to fight against British colonial rule and demand land and freedom.

How did the British respond to the Mau Mau rebellion?

By imprisoning the nationalist leader Kenyatta and violently suppressing the movement, leading to thousands of Kikuyu deaths

What was the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from the colonial powers and who was their leader?

Ghana, led by Nkrumah

Who was Ojukwu?

The leader of the breakaway state Biafra

What happened in the war with Biafra?

The civil war happened because Biafra tried to secede from Nigeria, but Nigeria won the war and Biafra was reintegrated into the country

What percentage of the world’s population lived under colonial rule when World War II started?

1/3 of the world’s population

What percentage of the world’s population live under colonial rule today?

Less than 1% of the world’s population

What are the three theories for what led to decolonization?

Domestic Interpretation, International Interpretation, Nationalist Interpretation

What was the Domestic Interpretation?

European countries thought colonies were becoming too expensive and not bringing enough wealth

What was the International Interpretation?

The USSR, US, and UN pressured lesser countries to free colonies

What was the Nationalist Interpretation?

People in colonies wanted freedom

What was the Interhamwe?

A Hutu extremist militia. It was trained, armed, and supported by parts of the government and played a major role in carrying out the killings

How many people were murdered during the Rwanda genocide?

Up to about one million people were killed?

What was the most common method of murder in the Rwanda genocide?

Machete Attacks

Who was the main victim group in the Rwanda genocide?

The Tutsis

Who was Habyarimana?

The Hutu president who came to power through this coup, and his government was corrupt and discriminated against Tutsis, and he also supported anti-tutsi propaganda and militias like the Interhamwe. He died in 1994 when his plane was shot down

What role did the UN play?

By having peacekeepers in Rwanda, but instead of reinforcing them, the UN reduced troop numbers during the genocide.

Why do scholars believe the genocide was largely preventable?

Because there were clear warning signs and opportunities to stop it before it spread

What is existentialism?

The philosophy that says there is no guiding force and no greater purpose to life other than existing. The universe is what you make out of it

What was the Optimistic Interpretation of Existentialism?

Says there is no set meaning to the world, so you can make it better

What was the Neutral Interpretation of Existentialism?

Says that people need to accept that the universe is a random, indifferent view/place

What was the Pessimistic Interpretation of Existentialism?

Says there is no guiding force, and humans make the universe worse

Who was Andy Warhol?

A Pop artist who was one of the last “household” name artists. He was personable, and was known for being able to mass produce art and recoloring celebrities.

Who was Roy Lichtenstein?

A Pop artists who was most known for comic book art/dotted art

What is Op Art?

Art based on optical illusions

Who was Bridget Riley?

An Op art who created art that gave the illusion of movement. She was not popular among art critics because they claimed it was more psychology than art