Cold War II Reading Questions

What was the theme of the Helsinki conference in 1975 and what were the results?

Meeting between the East and the West in Finland in the spirit of détente, relaxation of tension in Cold War, symbolic that location is closer to the USSR.

Explain the Vietnam War as it relates to decolonization and the policy of containment.

After it gained independence from it colonial inhabitant, France, Vietnam splits into communist north and democratic south, example of the “domino theory” where the US feared that if one nation fell to communism the surrounding areas would, Us supports democratic south yet the war ends with the communist takeover of Vietnam.

What Eastern European Soviet satellite nation revolted in 1968, and what were the results?

Czechoslovakia, Prague Spring, period of liberalization and democratic reform, suppressed by Soviet Union.

What were the demands of the striking Polish workers of Gdansk in 1980? What were the results of the strikes? Explain how this movement spread beyond Polish workers, and the eventual response of the USSR.

Demanding improved workers conditions but would eventually demand political rights, results in formation of Solidarity under Lech Walesa which would resist soviet domination in Poland, Soviet Union does nothing about it.

The Soviet invasion of what nation in 1979 brought “détente” to an end?

Afghanistan.

Explain the policies of US President Ronald Reagan toward the USSR, and how they broke from the policies of détente.

Peace through strength, “guns and butter” = country with the strongest domestic economy and strong military which requires both nations to build up military while keeping stable economy (brings Soviets to negotiation table because not a strong enough economy), pushes development of missile defense system called SDI nicknamed Star Wars.

Compare Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika to Vladimir Lenin’s NEP.

Both allowed capitalism on a level to boost the economy.

Hungary’s decision to open its border with what nation in 1989, led to the destruction of the Berlin Wall? How and why?

Austria, it allows thousands to fell Eastern EU and increases protests and demonstrations against dictatorships which causes them to step down and allow free travel.

What was the only Eastern European Soviet satellite nation to experience significant violence in the revolutions of 1989? Why?

Romania, Ceausescu the dictator would not step down peacefully and was eventually captured and killed after his security forces lose to the army forces in a battle

Explain the problems and solutions to German “re”-unification in 1990.

Causes other non-Russian parts of USSR to want freedom too, hard to incorporate suppressed and les economically advanced East Germany into sophisticated West Germany. Reunites families.

Explain the political situation Mikhail Gorbachev faced in the USSR in 1991.

He is trapped between those on the left who want him to end the USSR and to democratize Russia and its republics but is also trapped by those on the right who want to go back to old Stalinist Russia. Knows he will be the last dictator, then Yeltsin took over and did the rebirth.

Who carried out an attempted coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991, and what were the results of this attempt?

Those wanting to return to an old soviet style communism, it failed a de-legitimizes the communist party in Russia which allows left Boris Yeltsin to become the president of republican Russia after Gorbachev resigned in 1991.

Explain the process which brought a formal end to the existence of the USSR.

The coup fails, Gorbachev resigns and the USSR breaks up, Boris Yeltsin already the president of Russia from USSR days remains president and continues democratization of Russia.