Topic 3: The Cold War in the 1950s

What was the domino effect?

The idea that if one country became communist others would too

Why was the domino effect feared by Truman?

The Americans were already trying to prevent the spread of communism in Europe and feared that if South Korea fell communist, other countries would too.

What was the 38th parallel?

The border between N&S Korea after ww2

How was Korea split after being freed from Japanese control in 1945?

Soviet forces entered the north, and USA forces entered the South with the division being along the 38th parallel

When did North Korea invade South Korea?

June 1950

What did the UN do as a result of the invasion of South Korea?

• security council met and told North Korea to withdraw, but they failed to do so

• A UN force of 16 countries was put together

What did General Douglas MacArthur do in the Korean War?

Pushed North Korea back across the 38th parallel and continued the advance until they were nearly at China

How did the communist Chinese respond to South Korean forces advances?

Entered the war and pushed UN forces out of North Korea

Why did the Communist Chinese forces enter the Korean War?

Mao wasn’t prepared to see American forces defeat the communists

What happened to MacArthur in April 1951 and how long was the war fought on for afterwards?

• disagreed with Truman on how the war should be fought and was dismissed

• War continued for 2 years

Where was the border left at the end of the Korean War?

Final peace left at the 38th parallel

What impact did the Korean War have on the USA?

• now committed to supporting other countries in Asia that we’re trying to resist communism

• They strengthened land forces in Europe and encouraged Greece and Turkey to join NATO

• Defence budget tripled

What was the Southeast Asia Treaty and when was it formed?

• September 1954

• To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia

What impact did the Korean War have on the USSR?

• worried about the USA strengthening ar,ed forces and so took steps to increase the size of their own armed forces

• From 1950-55 the Red Army grew 2.8 million

• When West-Germany joined NATO in 1955, the USSR responded by creating the Warsaw Pact

What is an arms race?

Competition between nations for superiority in development of weapons

What were the causes of the nuclear arms race?

After the Korean War, the suspicion and distrust that the USA and USSR had for each other increased and so both sides increased the size of their armed forces in case the Cold War developed into direct military confrontation

What is a deterrent?

A force that prevents something from happening. In the Cold War, politicians believed in a ‘nuclear deterrent’

Why did politicians believe in a nuclear deterrent?

They thought that a country could be deterred from using nuclear weapons if there was a danger that the enemy would reply with an equally as destructive attack

What were the key features of the arms race in the 1950s?

• USA develops the atomic bomb

• USSR develops the atomic bomb

• USA tests the atomic bomb

• USA tests hydrogen bomb

• USSR tests hydrogen bomb

• USA tests inter-continental ballistic missile

• USSR makes first successful ICBM launch

What effect did the leadership change to Eisenhower have on superpower relations?

• presidential campaign was focused on defeating communism and he was determined to block any attempt at communist expansion but was also aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons

When did Eisenhower take office?

January 1953

When did Khrushchev come to power?

1956

What effect did the leadership change to Khrushchev have on relations?

He publicly criticised Stalin’s policies and suggested peaceful coexistence with the West.

What was ‘peaceful co-existence’?

Living side by side in peace

What was the positive impact of peaceful co-existence?

• both reduced spending on armed forces

• Agreement about Austria in 1955

• Geneva summit in July 1955

Why did peaceful co-existence not last?

• west Germany joined NATO in may 1955, so the USSR set up the Warsaw pact

• The arms race continued, in 1957 both USA and USSR successfully tested ICBMs

• There was now a real danger of an armed and powerful Germany on the borders or Soviet-controlled Eastern-Europe

• Warsaw pact was a communist defensive military alliance

What was the impact of Soviet rule on Hungary?

• non-communist political parties were banned and key officials in the government, police and army were chosen by Stalin

Who was Rakosi and how did he rule Hungary?

• leader of Hungary

• Strong supporter of Stalin

• Dealt strongly with opponents of communist rule

• 1949-56, 300,000 were sent to prison and 2000 were executed

Why did the people of Hungary begin to protest for de-stalinisation?

Khrushchev’s speech in 1959 criticising Stalin’s repressive regime gave the satellite states the opportunity to push for the relaxation of Soviet control in their own countries

What happened in Budapest during desalinisation?

• riots over lack of political freedom, problems created by fuel shortages and poor harvests

What did Khrushchev think that desalinisation was causing and what did he do about it in Budapest?

• looked like it was a threat to the Warsaw pact

• Sent in the Red Army

• However did agree to replace Rakosi with Imre Nagy

Who was Imre Nagy?

A communist but thought that within a communist regime there could be more political freedoms

What did Imre Nagy announce in October 1956?

• set of proposed reforms, including Hungary leaving the Warsaw Pact and becoming a neutral country as well as a degree power sharing with non-communist groups

What happened on the 4th of November in Budapest?

• tanks rolled in

• It is believed that 20,000 Hungarians were killed

• A pro-communist government was set up under Janos Kadar and Nagy was later executed

Why was the Soviet response to Nagy to send in the tanks?

• if Hungary broke away from the Warsaw Pact, other Eastern-European countries may follow, meaning that the whole strategy of achieving security for the USSR by surrounding it with pro-communist governments would be under threat

Why didn’t Eisenhower offer military support to the Hungarians?

• the US policy of containment meant that while the USA would take military action to prevent the USSR from spreading communism beyond the satellite states, it wasn’t prepared to interfere in the affairs of an already communist country

• A military attack on the USSR’s satellite states could start a nuclear war

What was the impact of the Hungarian Uprising on relations?

• strengthened Khrushchev’s position in the USSR and also the Warsaw pact as members now knew they must do as they were told and couldn’t expect help from the USA

• Khrushchev also became more confident in dealing with the USA

• reflected badly on the West, as they encouraged rebel against the USSR but wouldn’t back up their words with military support

• Even though the USA didn’t take military action, they strongly opposed the invasion and Khruschev’s tough policy damaged relations