Cold War

• Why was there tension between the USA and Cuba after the Cuban Revolution in January 1949?

  Fidel Castro was a Nationalist

  The Cuban government took over all foreign-owned land

  In 1960 Castro made a deal with the USSR
• What did Castro agree with the USSR?

  Khrushchev would buy Cuban sugar

  The USSR would provide economic aid (originally refused by the USA)

  The secret clause - Cuba would receive weaponry from the USSR
• In 1961 the USA attempted a coup with Cuban exiles. What was the name of this coup?

  The Bay of Pigs incident (17th April)
• As a result of the 'Bay of Pigs' incident the USA were humiliated and portrayed as weak. However, the USSR saw this as a victory. Why?

  Increased Soviet influence in Cuba

  Threatening to the USA as they had an enemy close to home (90 miles away)
• What decision did the USA make on the 22nd of October?

  they would not launch an attack but would set up a naval blockade instead
• What did Khrushchev propose via telegram in response to this?

  He would remove missiles if the USA promised not to invade Cuba
• What happened on the 28th of October 1962?

  Khrushchev sent his agreement to Kennedy about the proposed agreement on the 26th. Kennedy's brother, Robert, promised that US missiles in Turkey would be removed the day before.
• What were the consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  1963 - the hotline between Washington and Moscow was set up

  1963 - the Test Ban Treaty was signed (no testing nuclear weapons in space, underwater, or in the atmosphere)

  1967 - the Outer Space Treaty was signed

  1968 - the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed

  Kennedy presented as a strong leader

  Khrushchev dismissed in 1964
• What were the causes of Prague Spring, 1968?

  Impact of Soviet rule: exploited economy, censored media, fewer goods for the Czech

  Unpopular leader - Novotny
• What were the events of Prague Spring?

  1. 1968 - Dubcek elected as new leader
  2. April '68 - 'Prague Spring' = censorship relaxed, increased trade with the West, trade unions given greater power
  3. Czech very enthusiastic, Brezhnev disapproved of the reforms
  4. 20th August - Soviet invasion with 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops, ending the Prague Spring
• What were the consequences of the Prague Spring?

  Czechoslovakia - reforms reversed, Brezhnev Doctrine to maintain control of satellite states

  Internationally - condemned the invasion, Eurocommunism

  Cold War - condemn the invasion, send no help, worsened relations

  Other communist countries - send no aid
• When were the Helsinki Accords?

  1975
• What were the Helsinki Accords?

  An agreement signed by 33 countries fixing the European borders, establishing international cooperation through trade and technology exchanges, and agreeing to respect human rights
• When was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

  1979
• What were the causes of the invasion of Afghanistan?

  - Iran's shah deposed in favour of a Muslim fundamentalist government

  - Afghanistan became a buffer zone between the USSR and Muslim fundamentalism so the USSR sought to ensure Afghanistan had a pro-Soviet government
• What were the events of the invasion of Afghanistan?

  April 1978 - a pro-Soviet government took control

  September 1979 - Amin staged a popular coup supported by USSR but his government became unpopular, Brezhnev decided to take action

  24th Dec 1979 - Soviet forces invade Afghanistan, claiming Amin invited them to help against terrorists

  25th Dec 1979 - Amin assassinated, replaced by pro-Soviet Kamal and USSR stay in Afghanistan for 10 years
• What were the consequences of the invasion of Afghanistan - USA reaction?

  USA withdrew from SALT 2 proposal

  Carter Doctrine (USA will use force to repel any threat to USA interests in the Persian Gulf)

  Imposed economic sanctions on USSR
• What were the consequences of the invasion of Afghanistan - Reagan's policies?

  Reagan Doctrine - USA would support any communist overthrows

  1983 - 'Evil Empire'

  SDI a.k.a 'Star Wars'
• What were the consequences of the invasion of Afghanistan - USA-Soviet relations?

  Tense and hostile

  USA now wanted to stand up to communism

  Final straw in the already fracturing Détente
• What were the consequences of the invasion of Afghanistan - Olympics?

  1980 Moscow Olympics - USA boycott in protest (supported by 60 nations)

  1984 LA Olympics - USSR boycott in retaliation (joined by 15 communist countries)
• When did Gorbachev take over?

  1985
• What is Glasnost?

  Openness or transparency in government policies and foreign relations
• What was Perestroika?

  Russian for 'reconstruction' it was his programme for reorganising and reconstructing the soviet state
• What was the Sinatra Doctrine?

  Gorbachev's policy that the USSR would not intervene in the affairs of other communist countries, allowing the member states of the Soviet Union to determine their own affairs.
• What was signed by both the USA and Russia in 1987?

  Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
• What did both countries sign in 1990?

  The CFE Agreement which limited non-nuclear forces
• What did both countries sign in 1991 in Moscow?

  Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
• What were the causes of the Berlin Wall?

  East Germans fled to West Germany

  Khrushchev's ultimatum

  U2 spy plane incident

  Khrushchev declares all of Berlin belongs to East Germany
• What were the events of the Berlin Wall?

  12th August 1961 - started as a barbed wire fence

  soon became a 165km concrete wall cutting through streets and buildings

  Along the 27-mile section cutting through Berlin there were two walls one east-facing the other west-facing separated by 'No man's land' which was a booby-trapped area guarded by troops and searchlights
• Consequences of the Berlin Wall.

  Deaths from people trying to cross (estimated 130)

  Families separated

  USSR forced to accept Western control in West Berlin

  Reduced tensions between USA and USSR because of closed borders
• When was the fall of the Berlin Wall?

  9th November 1989
• Where did protests begin in September 1989?

  Leipzig which eventually led to other protests in Berlin and other East German cities