IN THE SHADOW OF THE BOMB



National 5 History - European and World

REVISION NOTES

THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR KP1

BACKGROUND

After 1945, America and Russia emerged as the world’s SUPERPOWERS. During the war, the allies had put aside their differences and worked together to defeat Germany and Japan. However, this situation ended when the war was over. The political differences between communism and capitalism quickly came to the surface. The British and Americans did not trust Stalin and believed he wanted to take over the whole of Europe. Stalin believed the Americans intended to use their new weapon, the Atomic Bomb, to force Russia to agree to American policies. This distrust soon developed in to a cold war, which lasted until 1989. Russia successfully exploded an atom bomb in 1949 and relations between the superpowers took a more dangerous turn. Both sides now lived in fear of a nuclear attack and were ready to strike back. The cold war took many forms – creating satellite states, building alliances, small scale wars, propaganda and testing the nerve of the enemy to stand up to provocation – but without doubt the most dangerous aspect of the cold war was the nuclear arms race. As the Soviets and the Americans competed to build bigger bombs and better missiles, the whole world was concerned because this threatened the survival of the entire human race.

• The Russians believed America wanted to destroy communism and the Americans believed Russia wanted to spread communism all over the world. The US President Truman and the Soviet leader Stalin did not trust each other.

• The Russians were suspicious because the USA developed the A-Bomb secretly and would not share it with Russia as the terms of the wartime alliance had stated.

• Stalin forced communist governments on countries in Eastern Europe. By 1948 Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Albania and Romania were ‘satellite states’ in the Eastern Bloc controlled by Moscow. In 1949, they were joined by the new state of East Germany.

• The USA was furious at Stalin’s actions in Eastern Europe but the Red Army was too strong for military action. They decided on a policy of ‘containment’ to prevent the spread of communism

• In 1947, President Truman offered military and political aid to any country threatened by communism. In the same year, the USA offered financial aid to the non-communist countries of Europe under the Marshall Plan.

• The future of Germany and the status of Berlin caused serious disagreement at the end of the war. The USA saw the Germans as a valuable ally and the Russians wanted Germany kept weak and divided. Relations worsened when Stalin tried to force the Western powers out of Berlin by blockading the city.

• In 1949 Germany was divided into two separate states the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

• In 1949, the division of Europe was hardened when the Western Powers formed the NATO Alliance. In 1955, the Eastern Bloc countries formed the Warsaw Pact Alliance.

• The two sides in the cold war were-

NATO - USA, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Denmark Iceland, Luxembourg (Greece, Turkey, West Germany and Spain joined later).

WARSAW PACT – USSR, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Albania, Romania, East Germany.

HOMEWORK HELPSHEET / REVISION FILE

THE BERLIN AIRLIFT KP2

BACKGROUND

At the Yalta Conference in February 1945 the Allied Powers decided that at the end of World War II Germany would be divided into four occupation zones controlled by the USA, the USSR, Britain and France. This was a temporary arrangement and would end as soon as a peace treaty was signed. Since Berlin, the capital of Germany was in the Soviet zone the four powers decided to split up the city in the same way as Germany itself. Each of the powers had a zone of occupation in Berlin and a Control Commission made up of representatives of the four powers would govern the city. All decisions about the future of Germany and Berlin were to be taken jointly. By 1948 the USA, Britain and France had merged their zones to form West Germany. Stalin complained that this broke the terms of the Yalta Agreement. The Cold War had begun and the Western Powers and the Russians were deeply suspicious of each other. Agreement on a peace treaty had become impossible. Stalin believed the US wanted to reunite Germany and make the country strong again as a threat to the Soviet Union. Truman thought that Stalin planned to take over the whole of Germany.

• In 1948, the British, French and American sectors of Berlin were united and adopted a common currency. The Russians were opposed to this, as it would weaken their control in the city. They complained that this had been decided at secret meetings and they were not consulted.

• The USA was pouring millions of dollars into the rebuilding of West Berlin. It became a small outpost of capitalism surrounded by communism. Many Germans in the Soviet zone used Berlin as an escape route to the West.

• In June 1948, Stalin ordered all rail and road links to Berlin through East German territory to be closed. He believed this would stop people leaving and force the Western Powers to withdraw their troops from the city.

• Stalin’s action was against international law and the Western Powers were determined to remain. Berlin gave the West a military foothold in East Germany that they would not give up. The Americans wanted to demonstrate that they would support people who resisted communism.

• The Western Powers could not force their way through the blockade as this would risk all out war and they were greatly outnumbered by Soviet forces. The only way to beat the blockade without risking war was to supply the city by air.

• The Berlin Air Lift lasted for 8 months. British and American Cargo planes flew into the city at a rate of one every two minutes. Millions of tons of food, fuel and other supplies were delivered.

• Despite this massive effort, the city still suffered from shortages and rationing had to be introduced. Electricity could only be switched on for a few hours each day.

• After eight months, it was clear that the Western Powers would not leave and Stalin ended the blockade. This was a defeat for the Soviets and a propaganda victory for the West.

• The Americans convinced the world that Stalin aimed to take over the whole of Germany and then the rest of Western Europe.

THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION KP3

BACKGROUND

By 1949, the Cold War was intensifying. Stalin had imposed communist governments on the countries of Eastern Europe and the Red Army continued to occupy the whole region. This was seen by the western powers as a major threat to their security and there was growing concern about a possible Soviet invasion of Western Europe. Stalin on the other hand believed the America was trying to dominate Europe using Marshall Aid and that the Truman Doctrine was an open threat to Soviet security. In 1948 the Soviet blockade of Berlin convinced the West that Stalin intended to expand Soviet control to Western Europe. In terms of the balance of military power, the Red Army had far more troops, tanks and aircraft than the west, but America had the Atomic Bomb. The mutual fear and distrust of the two sides led to an alliance system and an arms race, which continued until the 1980s.

• The Truman Doctrine of containment of communism required a united front against the Soviets. The USA needed bases for military forces and nuclear weapons in Europe. The West European countries needed American support against a possible Soviet invasion.

• The USA would only help Europe if the American Senate agreed to military action. NATO meant American troops would be based in all NATO countries. If US soldiers were killed it was more likely the Senate would go to war.

• In 1949 the Soviets exploded an atomic bomb. No country in Western Europe had atomic weapons and this left them open to threats and NATO gave European countries protection under the American ‘nuclear umbrella’.

• In 1949, the Western nations formed the NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION. Its members were the USA, Canada, Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Italy and Portugal (Greece, Turkey, West Germany and Spain joined later).

• NATO members agreed to help each other if attacked. Its most important effect was to make it clear that America was committed to defend Western Europe against Soviet expansion.

• NATO members carried out joint military planning and exercises in preparation for war. NATO provided a joint command to coordinate the forces of member states.

• NATO membership allowed European states could borrow money from the USA for defence spending. European members of NATO could buy American weapons and military equipment.

• Large American forces were permanently based in Europe, mainly in West Germany. The USA also had air force and nuclear submarine bases in Britain.

• In 1953 Britain became the second member of NATO to develop an Atomic Bomb. France followed soon after. In 1960 the US sold the Polaris submarine launched missile system to Britain.

• Although the purpose of the NATO Alliance was mutual-self defence it was seen by the Soviet Union as a very threatening development. They were particularly worried when West Germany joined NATO in 1955 and planned to increase their army to 500,000 troops.

• The NATO Alliance outlived the cold war and still exists today. Many people believe that it saved Europe from being taken over by the Soviets. Others take the view that the Russians had never planned to take over Europe and that NATO was unnecessary and simply increased cold war tensions.

THE WARSAW PACT KP4

BACKGROUND

By the time of his death in 1953 Stalin had tightened the Soviet grip on Eastern Europe. Communist governments had been imposed on all of the states behind the iron curtain and they were still occupied by the Red Army. In 1947 COMINFORM was set up to spread communist ideas, but it was used to give Stalin more control over Eastern Europe and prevent contact with the West. This was followed in 1949 by COMECON, an economic and trading partnership between the communist states. Again it was dominated by the Soviets and gave them control over the economies of their satellite states. Stalin was succeeded by Khrushchev. He condemned Stalin’s methods and called for ‘peaceful coexistence’ with the West. This seemed to point to a desire to ease tensions and improve relations with the west. It was also thought Khrushchev would relax Soviet control in Eastern Europe. However, by 1956 these hopes were dashed.

• In 1955 West Germany became a member of NATO and began to expand their armed forces. This was encouraged and approved by the USA despite Soviet protests.

• Khrushchev believed the enlargement of NATO and the rearming of West Germany was a threat to the Eastern Bloc countries. He thought NATO policies were warlike and a threat to Soviet security

• The Soviets were also concerned about growing opposition to their policies within their satellite states. Protests had broken out in Poland and there was growing discontent in Hungary.

• In May 1955 at the insistence of Khrushchev the WARSAW PACT alliance was formed. The members were The Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and East Germany. Soviet troops and bases in Eastern Europe became permanent.

• Warsaw Pact members agreed to help each other if attacked. Its most important effect was to make it clear that the Soviets were committed to defend their satellite states.

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• The Warsaw Pact would provide the Soviets with a unified and more effective fighting force. The states of Eastern Europe would become the first line of defence for the Soviet Union.

• The Soviets would have overall command of all the military forces in Eastern Europe. The satellite states would become dependent on the Soviets for defence and military equipment. The Soviet weapons industry would make economic gains by supplying all Warsaw Pact forces.

• The Warsaw Pact gave the Soviets much more control over their satellite states. Soviet troops based in the satellite states could support communist governments and put down any rebellion.

• Members of the Warsaw Pact were not allowed to leave. In 1956, Hungary tried to leave the Warsaw Pact and declare themselves neutral. However, Red Army tanks entered Hungary and smashed the resistance in two weeks.

• Warsaw Pact forces were only sent into action on one occasion. They invaded Czechoslovakia to put down the democratic reforms of Alexander Dubcek’s government.

THE ARMS RACE KP5

BACKGROUND

In 1945 only the USA had the atomic bomb and this gave them a big advantage over Russia. Stalin ordered the rapid development of a Soviet A-Bomb, which was successfully tested in 1949. Both sides believed they needed more bombs with greater power in order to be safe from attack. The arms race was based on deterrence – a nuclear attack would lead to massive retaliation. The policy of deterrence later came to be called Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). MAD was the belief that if either superpower launched an attack the other would fire its missiles. Once they were launched there was no defence possible against a missile attack. Any attempt at a nuclear strike would guarantee the destruction of both superpowers. If deterrence was to work it was important not to allow the enemy to gain an advantage. In the 1950s the USA had more A-Bombs and the Soviets tried to catch up. The Americans were determined to maintain their advantage and this led to a nuclear arms race.

• The USA was the only nuclear power at the end of WW2 but it was only a matter of time before the USSR developed an Atomic Bomb. The West was shocked when the Soviets successfully tested a nuclear weapon in 1949.

• The first stage of the arms race was the development of the much more powerful Hydrogen Bomb. The USA tested the first in 1952 followed by the Soviets in 1953. In 1961 the Soviets exploded the first 50-megaton hydrogen bomb. This had more explosive power than all the bombs dropped during World War II.

• In the 1940 and 1950s nuclear bombs were carried on long-range bomber aircraft. They were kept on constant alert ready to attack enemy targets at short notice. Both sides developed early warning radar systems that could detect enemy bombers as soon as they took off.

• In 1957, the USSR launched the first satellite ‘SPUTNIK’ which triggered the space race. Soon satellites were used to guide missiles and give warning of an attack. In 1961 the USSR sent the first man in to space and in 1969 the USA made a successful moon landing.

• The space race was important to the super powers not only because it led to missile technology and early warning systems but also as a matter of pride and prestige.

• The 1960s saw both sides develop Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and the strategy of Mutually Assured Destruction. Both sides knew that to launch a nuclear attack would result in a massive counter strike. Both the USA and the USSR would be destroyed.

• The USA based missiles in NATO countries - Britain, Italy, Germany, and Turkey. In 1962 the Soviets secretly tried to put missiles on Cuba – this almost led to war. The USA developed submarine launched Polaris missiles, - Soviets did the same. By the late 1960s the Soviets caught up with the USA –both sides had enough bombs to destroy the world many times.

• In the 1970s, attempts to limit nuclear weapons seemed to be making progress until the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979. In 1980, President Reagan began a massive expansion of America’s nuclear weapons and deployed thousands of Cruise and Pershing missiles in Europe. He also began the STAR WARS programme to protect the USA from missile attack.

• The USSR responded by deploying SS20 missiles but the strain of this new arms race on the Soviet economy was too great and by 1991, the Communist system in Russia and Eastern Europe collapsed bringing the arms race to an end.

THE BERLIN WALL KP6

BACKGROUND

West Germany was NATO's front line along the Iron Curtain. In 1955 West Germany joined NATO and the Americans began to train and equip a new West German army. Some thought that this could eventually lead to German access to nuclear weapons .The Russians and the East Germans were alarmed by this development but their protests were ignored. Berlin was deep in East German territory and was under the joint occupation of the British, French, Americans and the Soviets. There were 12,000 British, American and French soldiers in the city surrounded by half a million Soviet and East German troops. Western access was protected by a four-power agreement. Each day thousands moved freely between the Soviet and Western sectors. Berlin's open border gave over three million East Germans an escape route to the West. Soviet and East German leaders wanted to end this embarrassing situation.

• By 1961, the Russians were worried by the growth of West Germany’s armed forces, which the Americans were helping to build up. Berlin was still seen as a threat to Russian domination of Eastern Europe. It was also an important route for spies entering eastern Europe

• West Germans were much better off and people in the East wanted to move there. Every day thousands were escaping to the West through Berlin. Many of the people who escaped to the West were highly skilled and this was damaging the East German economy.

• In 1960 John F Kennedy became the American President. At 43 he was the youngest man to hold this powerful position. In June 1961 Khrushchev and Kennedy met and the Soviet leader demanded that the Western powers withdraw from Berlin – Kennedy refused and threatened war to defend Berlin.

• On August 13 1961, the East German Government took everyone by surprise when they began to build a wall to divide the city. At first the Berlin wall was made of barbed wire and tank obstacles. Stone, concrete and bricks later replaced this.

• The Soviets began to move troops and tanks into Berlin. An American troop convoy was sent to Berlin to test East German reaction, and to exercise allied rights. The Americans were stopped and counted by East German forces and then allowed to proceed. Tension between the superpowers increased.

• The East Germans (probably under Soviet orders) calculated that the Western Powers would not risk a war to stop them putting up the Berlin Wall. They now had complete control over their sector of the city and could stop people leaving or entering.

• In 1963, President Kennedy visited Berlin to reassure the people of Berlin that America would not abandon them. (‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech). However, the Western Powers did nothing more than protest. The Wall remained until the collapse of communism in 1989.

• The Berlin Wall gave the communists the security they wanted for their sector but it was propaganda victory for the Western Powers who claimed that the communists system needed to keep their people as prisoners.

• Armed soldiers patrolled the Wall and would shoot anyone attempting to escape. There were ditches, barbed wire, guard dogs, powerful searchlights and minefields to prevent escapes. Buildings overlooking the Wall were demolished or had their windows bricked up so that people could not jump from them. At least 260 people died trying to escape.

THE COLD WAR 1945-1985

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS KP7

BACKGROUND

The island of Cuba lies 90 miles off the coast of Florida. From 1933 to 1959, it was governed by the corrupt dictator Fulgencio Batista who was backed by the American government. The USA had a large military base on the island and the Cuban economy was dominated by American businessmen who owned Cuba’s oil, railways, mines, water and electricity supplies and many hotels and casinos. Cuba’s main export was sugar and most of this was sold to America.

In 1959, Fidel Castro and his guerilla army overthrew the Batista government and set up a communist regime. Castro asked the USA for economic aid but they refused. Castro confiscated all American assets and brought them under government control. The Americans retaliated by placing a trade embargo on all Cuban exports. The Russians saw an opportunity to increase their influence, provided Castro with loans, and agreed to buy Cuban sugar at a high price.

• In 1961 Cuban exiles backed by the American government attempted to invade Cuba (Bay of Pigs). This was a total failure and a great embarrassment to President Kennedy

• In the autumn of 1962, the Russians led by President Khrushchev secretly began to construct nuclear missile bases on Cuba.

• In October 1962, American spy planes photographed the missile bases. These missiles could reach every major city on the east coast within 30 minutes of their launch.

• The American public and political leaders demanded that strong action should be taken to end this threat to American security. Many American Generals had wanted to invade Cuba even if this meant full-scale war.

• President Kennedy demanded that the Russians dismantle the missile bases and remove them. He ordered a blockade of Cuba and intended to stop Russian ships by force if necessary.

• Khrushchev refused to back down and Russian ships carrying nuclear warheads sailed for Cuba. Both the American and Russian forces were put on full nuclear alert. For ten days the superpowers seemed on the brink of all-out nuclear war

• The crisis finally ended when Khrushchev ordered Russian ships to turn back and agreed to dismantle the missile sites. In return, Kennedy promised that the USA would not invade Cuba and that American missile bases in Turkey would be removed.

• Of the two leaders, Kennedy emerged victorious. He had kept his nerve and his personal reputation was enhanced.

• Khrushchev never really recovered from this climb down. It now seems he was testing to see how far he could push Kennedy and always intended to back down if Kennedy made a strong stand.

• During the crisis, the Russians and the Americans did not consult their allies or the United Nations. This was a worrying situation for the rest of the world.

THE VIETNAM WAR KP8

BACKGROUND

Between 1945 and 1964 the USA became involved in a struggle to prevent communist rebels taking over Vietnam. This was part of the American policy of ‘containment’, which attempted to prevent the spread of communism. The Americans believed if Vietnam fell to the communists the rest of South East Asia would follow (Domino Theory) At the end of World War II Vietnam was a French colony known as Indo-China. Communist rebels led by Ho Chi Minh were fighting for independence. The French were given over $3 billion to help them resist the communists. Despite this the French suffered defeat after defeat and by 1954 their forces were on the verge of collapse. A conference was held in Geneva and the French agreed to pull out of Indo-China and the colony was split into three separate countries – Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Vietnam was then split into North and South Vietnam. The North under Ho Chi Minh became communist and the South was ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem a corrupt right wing dictator. From 1958 onwards the South came under increasing attacks from communist guerrillas who later became known as the Vietcong. In 1963 President Kennedy sent 16,000 military ‘advisers’ to help the South Vietnamese army. For the next ten years US involvement increased. By 1968 over half a million American troops were in Vietnam and the war was costing $30 billion every year.

• In 1964 in the Gulf of Tonkin American Vietcong gunboats attacked ships and President Johnson ordered attacks on the Viet Cong directly involving US forces in the war. The land in Vietnam was unsuitable for tanks or large infantry battles and the US relied on air mainly on strikes. Ground based search and destroy missions were not successful.

• From 1965 the USA began operation ‘Rolling Thunder’. This involved carpet bombing of enemy towns, factories and supply lines and led to thousands of civilian deaths. US planes also dropped napalm and Agent Orange to destroy Vietcong hideouts in the forests.

• The Vietcong were armed by Russia and China. The fought a guerrilla war avoiding open battle with US troops. Their main tactics were ambush, booby traps, mines and hit and run raids. They knew the land well and could easily disguise themselves as peasants.

• The USA were foreign invaders and did not have the support of ordinary people in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was a popular national hero who offered the peasants land and greater rights. The USA was fighting to save the corrupt South Vietnamese government.

• The US army was unable to beat the guerrilla tactics and local knowledge of the Vietcong. By 1968, the majority of Americans opposed the war and the protest movement was growing The press and television was very anti war and showed the horror of the war every day and night.

• The war was costing the US billions of dollars and the American economy was suffering. America was sending more and more men, money and materials and there was still no end in sight. The war was spreading to other parts of South-East Asia when the US bombed Cambodia and Laos.

• Many thousands of American soldiers were being killed or wounded. Thousands of young Americans became ‘draft dodgers’ by hiding or leaving the country. Parents opposed the war because they did not want their sons to be killed in Vietnam.

• After 1968 President Nixon introduced a policy of ‘Vietnamisation’ – replacing US troops with South Vietnamese soldiers but this failed to hold back the Vietcong. In 1973, the US recognized it could not win and signed a peace agreement with North Vietnam. In 1975 the Vietcong finally defeated South Vietnam and the whole country became communist.

DETENTE KP9

BACKGROUND

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1963 brought the superpowers close to nuclear war which neither side wanted and there was a continuing danger of nuclear war by accident or by misunderstanding. The cost of the arms race was enormous and neither side wanted to continue spending on weapons which, if used, would lead to mutual destruction. Soviet leaders wanted to improve the living standards of their people and needed to spend less on weapons. The USA was involved in a costly war in Vietnam and wanted to reduce spending on the arms race. The non-aligned nations did not accept the old cold war policies and pressed the superpowers to reduce tensions and the United Nations encouraged better superpower relations. Communications between the superpowers improved due to the setting up of the ‘hotline’ between the Whitehouse and the Kremlin in 1963, and more regular meetings took place. Soviet relations with China were poor and they wanted better relations with the USA to avoid isolation. Both superpowers were concerned at the spread of nuclear weapons and were worried that terrorists might get their hands on them

• Détente was a process that led to reduced tensions between the USSR and the USA. From the mid 1960s until 1979, the superpowers reached a series of agreements, which improved relations and made war less likely.

• In 1963 the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty led to an end to the testing of nuclear weapons above ground level. Only underground testing was allowed.

• In 1967 the Outer Space Treaty the superpowers agreed to the peaceful exploration of space.

• In 1968 a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed – the Soviets and the Americans agreed to work together to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries.

• In 1971 the first Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) began and discussions on how to reduce the number of nuclear weapons on both sides.

• In 1971 the Seabed Treaty was agreed - the ocean floor was to be kept free of nuclear weapons.

• In 1972 the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT 1) was signed. This was the first agreement under which both superpowers cut the number of nuclear missiles they had. The SALT treaty was followed by trade agreements and increased cultural and sporting exchanges.

• In 1975 under the Helsinki Agreement the USSR and the USA agreed to accept the existing borders of all European states and signed the International Declaration on Human Rights.

• In 1979 after two years of negotiation the SALT 2 Treaty was signed and both superpowers agreed to limit the numbers of long-range nuclear warheads.

• The SALT 2 Treaty was rejected by the American Congress because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. This ended détente. When Ronald Reagan became president in 1980 he cut trade cultural links with the USSR, boycotted the Moscow Olympics of 1984 and began to deploy Cruise and Pershing medium range missiles in Europe. The cold war and the arms race were once again a threat to world peace.

THE END OF THE COLD WAR KP10

BACKGROUND

Superpower relations started off badly in the 1980s. The Soviet Union was heavily criticised for the invasion of Afghanistan. The SALT 2 Treaty was rejected by the American Congress because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. This ended détente. When Ronald Reagan became President in 1980 he took a hard line against the Soviet Union. He claimed the Soviets were secretly building up stocks of nuclear weapons. He cut trade and cultural links with the USSR, boycotted the Moscow Olympics of 1980 and began to deploy Cruise and Pershing medium range missiles in Europe. The cold war and the arms race were once again a threat to world peace. A mood of crisis now gripped both East and West. Arms control talks were broken off. Cruise and Pershing missiles deployed in Western Europe now confronted soviet SS-20 rockets. The Soviet leadership believed a nuclear attack by the West was a real possibility.

• Reagan made a speech in which he called the Soviet Union ‘an evil empire’. He accused the Soviet Union of Human Rights abuses. The USA assisted the rebel forces against the Soviet army in Afghanistan.

• In 1983 President Reagan announced his Strategic Defence Initiative (also known as the Star Wars Programme). He planned to provide America with a defensive shield against Soviet attack. Incoming Soviet missiles would be detected by satellites, which would then guide powerful laser beams and smaller missiles to destroy them.

• The Soviets feared this would increase the risk of the United States launching an attack because they would not fear retaliation. The development of a missile defence system could undermine deterrence - Mutual Assured Destruction - which had prevented nuclear war.

• When the Star Wars programme was announced the technology to make it happen did not exist – but it did worry the Russians who were years behind America in computer technology and could not afford the money needed to catch up.

• The Soviet economy could not take the strain of a new arms race as well as meeting other commitments. These included the Afghan war, keeping forces stationed in Eastern Europe and supporting communist regimes such as Cuba. Living standards in the USSR were falling while in the west they were rising rapidly.

• In 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became the new leader of the Soviet Union. There was growing opposition to Soviet policies in the satellite states of Eastern Europe and discontent within the USSR from consumers and national minorities.

• To modernise the Soviet economy (Perestroika) Gorbachev had to reduce military spending. He introduced a policy of Glasnost or ‘openness’ to improve relations with the West.

• Gorbachev believed the Americans would be keen end the arms race - they also wanted to reduce military spending. America had built up huge debts and Reagan wanted to cut taxes

• Gorbachev also ended the arms race. When he met Reagan at Geneva in 1985 and at Reykjavik in 1986, they agreed to destroy large numbers of missiles. In 1989, Gorbachev and President George Bush declared the cold war was over.

THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR KP1

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|What is meant by a | |

|‘Cold War ‘? | |

|Why was the USSR in a very strong | |

|position in Europe after 1945? | |

|Describe the actions of the Soviet | |

|government in Eastern Europe after | |

|1945. | |

|In what ways did the USA try to | |

|prevent the spread of communism after| |

|1945? | |

|Make a list of the reasons the USA | |

|and the USSR became suspicious of | |

|each other after 1945. | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE BERLIN AIRLIFT KP2

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|What agreements did the wartime | |

|allies make about the occupation of | |

|Germany and Berlin in 1945? | |

|Why did Stalin blockade Berlin in | |

|1948? | |

|Why did the western powers decide not| |

|to try to break through the Soviet | |

|blockade of Berlin? | |

|Describe the Berlin Airlift of 1948. | |

|What effect did the Berlin blockade | |

|have on east-west relations? | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION KP3

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|Why was the North Atlantic Treaty | |

|Organisation formed in 1949? | |

|What were the main terms of the North| |

|Atlantic Treaty? | |

|Who were the founder members of NATO | |

|in 1949? | |

|How did the formation of the NATO | |

|alliance affect East-West relations? | |

|Describe the role of NATO during the | |

|cold war? | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE WARSAW PACT KP4

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|Why did the Communist states set up | |

|the Warsaw Pact Alliance in 1956?? | |

|What were the main terms of the | |

|Warsaw Pact Alliance? | |

|Who were the member states of the | |

|Warsaw Pact Alliance? | |

|How did the Warsaw Pact increase | |

|Soviet control over the satellite | |

|states? | |

|Describe the role of the Warsaw Pact | |

|Alliance during the cold war. | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE ARMS RACE KP5

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|What were the main developments in | |

|nuclear weapons systems between 1945 | |

|and 1989? | |

|What was meant by the phrase Mutually| |

|Assured Destruction (MAD)? | |

|Describe the main events of the space| |

|race between 1957 and 1970. | |

|Why was the space race important to | |

|the superpowers? | |

|What was the ‘Star Wars’ defence | |

|system? | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE BERLIN WALL KP6

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|Why was Berlin a cause of tension | |

|between the Russians and American in | |

|1961? | |

|Why did the East German government | |

|build the Berlin Wall in 1961? | |

|How did the Western Powers react to | |

|the division of Berlin? | |

|Describe the Berlin Wall? | |

|In what ways was the Berlin Wall a | |

|propaganda victory for the Western | |

|Powers? | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS KP7

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

| | |

|Why was the US government concerned | |

|by events in Cuba in 1961? | |

| | |

|Why did the Russians build nuclear | |

|missile sites on Cuba? | |

|How did Kennedy react to the news of | |

|Russian missile bases on Cuba? | |

|Explain how the Cuban Crisis was | |

|brought to a peaceful conclusion. | |

|Was there a real danger of nuclear | |

|war in 1961? | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE VIETNAM WAR KP8

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|Explain why the USA became involved | |

|in a war in Vietnam? | |

|Describe the tactics of US forces in | |

|Vietnam? | |

|Describe the tactics of the Vietcong | |

|guerrillas? | |

|Why did the Vietnam war become very | |

|unpopular in America? | |

|Why did America lose the war in | |

|Vietnam? | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

DETENTE KP9

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|What is the meaning of the term | |

|détente? | |

|Why did the USSR want to improve | |

|relations with the USA in the 1960s? | |

|Explain why the USSR and the USA | |

|wanted to limit nuclear weapons. | |

|What agreements were reached on | |

|nuclear weapons between 1963 and | |

|1979? | |

|Why did détente end in 1979? | |

KEY POINTS FOR LEARNING

THE END OF THE COLD WAR KP10

|QUESTION |ANSWER NOTES |

|Why was their tension between the | |

|superpowers in 1980? | |

|Describe president Reagan’s attitude | |

|towards the Soviet Union. | |

|What was the Strategic Defence | |

|Initiative announced by President | |

|Reagan in 1983? | |

|Why did Reagan’s Strategic Defence | |

|Initiative worry the Russians? | |

|Why did the superpowers agree to end | |

|the arms race after 1985? | |

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The Cold War

1945-1989

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