Cold War Review for Quiz
People's Republic of China
(PRC) , 1949; government on the mainland; communists had an alliance with the Soviets; expanded under Mao's reign
Bay of Pigs invasion
- Unsuccessful military invasion of Cuba by a CIA-sponsored group of Cuban exiles in 1961 - Intended to overthrow the communist government of Fidel Castro - Strengthened Castro's leadership and Cuban ties with the USSR - Eventually led to the Cuban Missile Crisis - Embarrassment for US foreign policy - JFK received a lot of criticism and this stained the rest of his presidency
SEATO
-Southeast Asia Treaty Organization -An international defense organization that formed in attempt to fight off communism in Southeast Asia. -Included America, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, France, The Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan. -Was formed after the Korean War in attempt to further contain communism and repel it from Southeast Asian nations.
Berlin Blockade
1948-1948 - Russia under Stalin blockaded Berlin completely in the hopes that the West would give the entire city to the Soviets to administer. To bring in food and supplies, the U.S. and Great Britain mounted air lifts which became so intense that, at their height, an airplane was landing in West Berlin every few minutes. West Germany was a republic under Franc, the U.S. and Great Britain. Berlin was located entirely within Soviet-controlled East Germany.
When was the first Taiwan Strait Crisis?
1954-1955
When/what was Khrushchev's secret speech?
1956- critical of Stalin and discussed process of De-Stalinization that would take place. Mao was upset by this (Mao didn't like how Stalin treated him, but he did admire his commitment to communism)
Explain the key features of the Bay of Pigs invasion 1961
A key feature of the Bay of Pigs invasion was that the Americans wanted to remove Castro from power but were not prepared to admit that they were involved. The Americans believed that they had a Communist ruler on their doorstep but they did not wish to be seen as the aggressor because they did not want world condemnation. This resulted in the CIA secretly training 1,200 Cuban refugees, who invaded Cuba but were beaten back after two days due to lack of American backup. Another key feature of the Bay of Pigs invasion was that it drove Castro into the arms of the Soviets. Castro rightly believed the USA had been behind the incident and he turned to the Soviets for support because he feared the Americans might try again. This then gave the Soviets the opportunity to offer protection in return for placing missiles on Cuba, directly threatening most of the USA with nuclear disaster.
Explain the key features of the Cuban Missile Crisis
A key feature of the Cuban missile crisis was that it was caused by Khrushchev's decision to place nuclear missiles on Cuba. He did this because the USSR did not have the capability to attack American soil with their medium range missiles when Castro approached Khrushchev for protection, following the failed invasion of the Bay of Pigs, Khrushchev saw major advantages in making use of Cuba as a missile base. Another feature of the crisis was that it nearly triggered a nuclear war . At the height of the crisis in October 1962 the American military was on the highest level of alert and both sides were preparing for war. The possibility of nuclear war loomed large when President Kennedy ordered the US navy to enforce a blockade of Cuba and Soviet ships only turned around at the last minute.
Briefly explain the key features of the refugee problem in Berlin in the late 1950s.
A key feature of the refugee problem in Berlin was the damage to the Eastern Bloc's image , having claimed to have established a 'Workers Paradise'. Between 1949 and 1961 almost 3 million refugees fled to the west looking for a better life. Many of them were young and highly skilled workers, the kind of people East Germany could least afford to lose. It was a propaganda disaster for the Soviet Union because people were voting with their feet and making capitalism look more attractive than communism. Another key feature was that it led to Khrushchev to search for a radical solution to the problem. At a summit meeting with the Americans in 1958 he failed to find a solution to the crisis because President Eisenhower refused his request to withdraw US troops from West Berlin. Lack of agreement made Berlin 'a fishbone in his throat' and Khrushchev began to consider the option of building a wall to stop the flow of refugees, a decision that would eventually be implemented in 1961.
Suez Canal Crisis
After Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956, Israel, France, and Britain secretly make a pact to get rid of Nasser so that they can maintain control in the region (Britain and France had economic investments in the canal). On October 29, 1956, Israel attacks and holds the canal while Britain and France bomb Egypt. This initiates the Sinai War. Arab nations cut off oil trade to Europe. On November 7, 1956, the US and USSR jointly back a UN resolution for Israel to withdraw and they impose economic sanctions on Israel. Israel, Britain, and France reluctantly agree. As a result, UNEF Peacekeepers are stationed at the Egypt-Israeli border.
Limited Test Ban Treaty
Created after the Cuban Missile Crisis-prohibits nuclear weapons tests "or any other nuclear explosion" in the atmosphere, in outer space, and under water
What steps were taken to improve relations between the U.S. and Soviet Union?
Creation of a hotline between the White House and the Kremlin. This meant there could be instant communication between the leaders of the USA and the USSR and avoid the slow process of giving letters to each other He agreed to a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
What was one reason Mao disliked Khrushchev?
Critical of improved relations with America- felt that peaceful coexistence was weak
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Fearing that the U.S. would attempt another invasion, Castro quickly complied with a Soviet request to be allowed to construct nuclear missile sites in Cuba. The resulting crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in 1962.
What was the USSR's reaction to Mao attempting to take Taiwan?
Khrushchev publicly agreed to retaliate against the US if they invaded Taiwan, but in private, Khrushchev did not want to be involved. Mao was upset by the lack of actual support from the Soviets.
Fidel Castro
Leader of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Explain the impact of the Berlin Wall in the years 1961-63
One impact of the Berlin Wall is that it increased tensions between the superpowers and could have sparked World War Three. When Red Army and American tanks, fully loaded and with engines running, squared up to each other at Checkpoint Charlie, two months after the wall was built, an accidental triggering of cannon might have escalated into a full-scale shoot-out. The danger led to the start of a nuclear bunker building programme to accommodate all West Berliners. Another impact of the Berlin Wall is that the refugee crisis was resolved. The gap in the iron curtain was filled, preventing any further loss of young and skilled people. Many families and friends also suddenly found themselves torn apart. This proved to be a propaganda disaster for the government of East Germany, which could be accused by President Kennedy, in his 1963 'I am a Berliner' speech, of imprisoning its own people. The Wall became a powerful symbol of communist oppression.
John F. Kennedy
President during Bay of Pigs, and Cuban Missile Crisis.
Nationalization
Process of transforming private assets into public assets by bringing them under the public ownership of government - Expand economic resource and power - Castro came to power and nationalized US companies in Cuba. - Made them property of Cuba and he could use them as he wished - US decided to break off economic relations with Cuba and stopped foreign aid and stopped buying their sugar - Disastrous for Castro because he lost major economic ally but the Soviets swooped in and helped.
Taiwan is also known as
Republic of China
Nikita Khrushchev
Soviet leader during Cuban Missile Crisis-lessened government control of soviet citizens; sought peaceful coexistence with the West instead of confrontation
After the Civil War, where did the Nationalists flee to?
Taiwan
Explain the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was important to international relations because this was the closest the superpowers came to starting World War Three. By stationing Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, Khrushchev was committing a highly provocative act since his missiles would be within range of most American cities. This drove the superpowers very close to nuclear war. Also, the crisis was important because it strengthened Kennedy's position and reputation , while effectively ending Khrushchev's leadership of the Soviet Union (replaced in 1964 by Leonid Brezhnev). The effectiveness of the naval blockade and withdrawal of Soviet missiles in Cuba resulted in a significant victory for the USA in the Cold War, and Kennedy was praised for his calm and decisive leadership (especially because the general public didn't know the U.S. removed their missiles in Turkey). Finally, the Cuban Missile Crisis was important because it resulted in a new era of negotiations (calming of tensions aka Detente). Both sides realized the danger of brinkmanship (M.A.D.) and nuclear war and introduced changes like the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 to make it less likely in the future
Eisenhower Doctrine
The Eisenhower Doctrine was a speech given to Congress on January 5, 1957 in which Eisenhower addressed the possible threat of communism in the Middle East. He declared that any Middle Eastern country could request financial or military aid from the US if they were facing hostility from another country. This was created to protect the Middle East from a communist invasion.
What was the USA's reaction to Mao attempting to take Taiwan?
The US and Taiwan sign a Mutual Defense Treaty guaranteeing Taiwan's independence.
Explain the importance of the construction of the Berlin Wall, 1961
The construction of the Berlin Wall was important to international relations because it symbolised, in stark physical form, the deep division between the capitalist West and the communist East. By plugging the gap in the iron curtain, the wall halted any further mass exodus of East Germans, almost 3 million of whom had used Berlin as an escape route for a better life in the West. The wall demonstrated that the Communists were willing to imprison their own people and enforce their power by brute force - dozens of people were killed trying to overcome the barrier. Cold War relations grew worse as a result of the wall and this was shown in a dangerous confrontation of Soviet and American tanks at Checkpoint Charlie (each tank ended up backing off) an incident that might have triggered World War Three as neither side wanted to lose face by backing down.
Personal animosities leading to Sino-Soviet tension/split
This was one of the causes of the Sino-Soviet Split. There were various sources of friction: - Mao was offended by the superior air adopted by Stalin when Mao visited the USSR in 1950. He also felt the Chinese guests were treated in an offhand, disrespectful manner. - When Khrushchev visited Mao in 1958 to try to patch things up, Mao arranged for his delegation to be put up in a hotel without air conditioning.
What was the Berlin Wall?
a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin.
What was the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance? When was it signed?
a military alliance between China and the Soviet Union that required one to come to the other's aid if they were attacked. More important to China were the treaty's economic benefits, including a $300 million loan and the provision of Soviet technical advisors. During the 1950s thousands of scientists, industry experts and technicians from the Soviet Union lived and worked in China. Their advice and leadership played an important role in the industrialization of China. Signed in 1950
