the cold war tensions and resolutions

• Who was sworn in as US President in January 1961?

  John F Kennedy
• What was the Cold War tension peak during Kennedy's presidency?

  It was a period of heightened superpower conflict
• What were the two opposing views on handling the Cold War in the US government?

  Brinkmanship (hawks) vs. negotiation (doves)
• How did Kennedy position himself in relation to Eisenhower's policies?

  He positioned himself as a hawk, criticizing Eisenhower
• What was one of the first challenges of Kennedy's presidency?

  A new crisis in Berlin
• What was the Berlin Wall constructed to do?

  Seal off East Berlin from the West
• What was the significance of the Yalta Conference in 1945 regarding Berlin?

  It divided Germany and Berlin into four zones
• Who pressured Khrushchev regarding the power dynamics in Berlin?

  The East German government led by Walter Ulbricht
• What did Khrushchev suggest regarding East Berlin?

  To sign a peace treaty with East Germany
• When was the Berlin Wall sealed off?

  On 13 August 1961
• What was the reason behind the construction of the Berlin Wall?

  To stop the Brain Drain from East to West
• What was the 'Brain Drain' in the context of East Germany?

  East Germans fleeing to the West for better opportunities
• What did East Germans see in the West that attracted them?

  Better housing, goods, and relative freedom
• Why was Berlin considered an ideal place for espionage?

  It was a Western island in a communist sea
• What did Khrushchev aim to achieve by pressuring Berlin?

  To balance the power in the Cold War
• Who did Kennedy send to Berlin in response to the Berlin Wall?

  Lyndon Baines Johnson and Lucius D Clay
• What was the purpose of Checkpoint Charlie?

  It was a guarded crossing point between East and West
• What happened on 27 October 1961 at Checkpoint Charlie?

  Red Army tanks blocked Americans from passing
• How long did the stand-off at Checkpoint Charlie last?

  18 hours
• What was the outcome of the Checkpoint Charlie crisis?

  Both sides backed down without military action
• What should students keep a record of regarding US-USSR relations?

  Various crises from 1948 to 1968
• What key factors should be recorded for each US-USSR crisis?

  • Risk of war in the crisis
  • Which side had the upper hand
  • Which side avoided provoking conflict
• What did Kennedy declare about Berlin on 26 June 1963?

  Berlin was a symbol of freedom
• What was the significance of Kennedy's speech in Berlin?

  It ended Soviet hopes of driving Allies out
• What phrase did Kennedy famously declare in Berlin?

  Ich bin ein Berliner
• What was the misinterpretation of Kennedy's declaration?

  He was thought to say he was a jam doughnut
• What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  A 13-day confrontation in October 1962
• Why was Cuba significant to the US before 1959?

  It was closely allied to the US
• Who overthrew Batista in Cuba?

  Fidel Castro
• What did Castro do after overthrowing Batista?

  He sought support from the Soviet Union
• What action did the US take in response to the Cuban Revolution?

  Imposed a trade embargo on Cuba
• What was the consequence of the US trade embargo on Cuba?

  Cuba turned to the USSR for support
• What was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

  A failed CIA-led invasion of Cuba
• What was the outcome of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

  Cuban rebels were easily defeated
• How did the Bay of Pigs invasion affect Kennedy's image?

  He appeared weak and aggressive simultaneously
• When did the US discover Soviet missiles in Cuba?

  On 14 October 1962
• What was the threat posed by the missiles in Cuba?

  They could reach major US cities
• Why did the USSR want to place missiles in Cuba?

  To close the missile gap with the USA
• What was one reason Khrushchev wanted to protect Cuba?

  To support the new communist government
• What options did Kennedy consider to deal with the missiles in Cuba?

  Blockade, invade, or ignore the missiles