1.

After WW2 which two countries emerged as the worlds biggest superpowers? USA and USSR

2.

Why were they united during WW2? They both feared Facism so were joined, despite the
differneces in ideologies and economic systems

3.

After the defeat of Germany and Japan what happened? The common enemy was destroyed and
they no longer had to be united

4.

Why did a political vacuum in Europe provide a catalyst to trigger the cold war? USSR wanted
complete control and a lack of political security enabled Stalin to begin to achieve this, whereas
the USA wanted to make Europe stable and feared the spreading of communism

5.

Describe at last four differences between communism and capitalism Capitalism is based on a
democratic system, property and business privately owned, divide between rich and poor,
freedom of choice. Communism is based on a dictatorship, peoples lives were controlled and
they had few rights, government owned everything, guaranteed jobs with a lower living
standard

6.

Why did the USA follow a policy of isolationism between 1920s and 30s? they did not wish to
get involved with the politics of other countries if they could avoid it, however the spread of
communism forced them to reconsider

7.

Why did Stalin want to control the countries on the borders of the USSR? He believed that
the USSR would only be safe if the countries on its borders were under Stalins control

8.

Describe BARE Beliefs: Russia was communist, USA was capitalist

Aims: stalin wanted Germany to pay for damage and USA wanted Germany to recover
Resentment: USSR did not trust the USA as they had tried to prevent the Russian revolution
and USA did not trust the USSR after they signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact
Events turned into war

9.

What happened during the Yalta Conference of 1945 and how did the three men get along?
Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt got on well and agreed to divide Germany into four zones, divide
Berlin into four zones; give people in Eastern Europe the right to hold free elections, USSR

would join the war against Japan in return for territory in Manchuria and Sakhalin Island,
agreed to move the Polish frontier westward in return for Stalin leaving Greece alone
10. When did Roosevelt die? April 1945
11. How was Truman different to Roosevelt? Much less tolerant of communism
12. What happened at Potsdam in 1945? Attlee, Stalin and Truman disagreed. Truman informed
Stalin about the new atom bomb and after the tests success an arms race was triggered.
After German defeat Britain and US began to withdraw forces but Stalin didnt and ignored
protests about remaining in Poland. They agreed to try the Nazi leaders as war criminals and
use the Oder Neisse river line to form Poland-German border
13. Why did tensions between USSR and USA rise? Stalin wanted a Mediterranean naval base but
the US disagreed as they didnt see a need and this resulted in Stalin believing the allies
distrusted him. Stalin wanted more reparations but the USA did not want to cripple Germany
after the results of the Treaty of Versailles and Stalin became suspicious of their motives
14. Why did the alliance break down? An American ambassador in Russia reported Stalin had given
a speech calling for a destruction of capitalism and the improvement of USSR Red Army. A
Russian ambassador in America reported Truman desired to dominate the world and Americans
were being prepared for war.
15. What and when was the Iron Curtain speech by Winston Churchill? 1946 depicted how the state
of peace fought to build would be disallowed in Communists were allowed to create a
totalitarian state. In response Stalin likened Churchiull to Hitler
16. What is a satellite state? A state controlled by another country
17. How did Salami tactics enable USSR more control? The free elections promised at Yalta were
rigged so USSR had complete control of the communist states
18. How had opponents of communism been dealt with? In Bulgaria, Poland and Romania opponents
had been overthrown, murdered or frightened into submission
19. By what date did all eastern European states have communist governments? May 1948
20. What is cominform and why was it set up? Set up in respons to Marshall Aid in 1948 to help
tighten Stalins control by restricting contact with the West

21. What was Cominforms aim? To spread communist ideology under Stalins influence
22. What is Comecon and when was it set up? 1949 to co-ordinate the production of trade of
Eastern European countries and economies
23. What happened after Stalin attempted to overthrow Greece in 1947? The USA supported
Greece to defeat communists in 1949
24. What was the Truman Doctrine and what did it offer and why? Proposed in 1947 to prevent the
spread of communism in a policy of containment. The USA offered money, equipment and advice
to any country they believe to be threatened by a communist takeover in order to prevent it
from spreading
25. What was the Marshall Plan, when was it set up and why? Marshall Plan of 1948 Europe owed
$1.5billion to USA. George Marshall suggested $17billion to help rebuild Europes economy as
Truman believed communism succeeded when faced with poverty
26. What prevented Eastern European countries from accepting Marshall Plan and what did Stalin
nickname it as? Stalin forbade Eastern European countries from taking the money offered and
called it dollar imperialism
27. What and when was the Berlin Blockade? In 1948 French, US and British zones merged to
become Trizonia and with economic aid western Germany began to recover. In Eastern Germany
and Eastern Berling there was poverty and hunger so many fled to the west. Stalin saw this as
threatening, especially after the introduction of new currency so cut off East and West
Germans physical link.
28. How long did the Airlift go on for? The allies airlifted supplies into Berlin for a period of ten
months
29. When did Stalin re-open communications? May 1949
30. What happened as a result of the Berlin blockade? 1949 Trizonia became Federal Republic of
Germany, and in October the Soviet zone became the German Democratic republic
31. What was NATO and when was it set up? A military alliance between USA, Canada and most of
western Europe to defend members from attack in 1949

32. Why and when was the Warsaw Pact set up? 1955 the soviet equivalent of NATO in order to
support USSR
33. How far from America is Cuba and name three things that the US needed from Cuba? 144km
from mainland US business dominated Cuba for sugar and tobacco so needed the income,
Havana was a popular tourist venue and had a large naval base in Guantanamo
34. Who was Fulgencio Batista and why did the USA support him? A corrupt and unpopular dictator,
supported because of his anti communist views
35. When did Fidel Castro come to power and how? From 1956 Castro led a campaign of guerrilla
warfare against Batista and was successful in 1959.
36. What did he do? Took over US owned land and gave it to Cuban farmers, forged close links with
new USSR leader Khruschev, nationalised businesses
37. Why did the Bay of Pigs happen and when? 1961 president kennedy supplied 1,500 cuban exiles
with weapons to land in Cuba and overthrow Castro, but were met by 20,000 Cubans and were
crushed
38. What was the effect on Kennedy and how did Khruschev perceive him? Kennedy was humiliated,
strengthened Castros position and Khruschev dedcied Kennedy was weak and when they met in
1961 in Vienna K was given the view that the USA would not back up its policy of containment
39. Why did Khruschev put missiles on Cuba? Close missile gap, America had missiles in western
Europe and turkey and this would restore balance, the USSRs missiles were medium range and
cheaper so Cuba was an ideal place, missiles in Cuba would strengthen bargaining position, Cuba
was the only communist country in the western hemisphere
40. How did the USA know there were missiles on Cuba? 1962 14th October US spy plane
photographed missile base
41. What were Kennedys options and what pressure was he under? He could: do nothing as the USA
had larger nuclear force and a reaction would spark a war, but it was a sign of weakness. He
could have a surgical air strike, which would destroy missiles before they became operational
but if not all were destroyed the USSr would launch an attack and allies would see it as
aggressive. He could invade which would remove missile bases and Castro but provoke and

invasion of western Berlin. He could involve allies which would force soviet to remove missiles
but USSR would ignore diplomacy. Or he could have a blockade which would show firm action
without immediate force but would be threatening
42. What did he do? Blockade because he wanted a means of communicating with Khruschev without
causing a war or humiliating him
43. State a day by day analogy of what happened in Cuba

9th October 1962 spy plane delayed due to weather

14th October 1962 spy plane captures construction of missile site

16th October EX-COMM formed by Kennedy

18th October Soviet Foreing Minister Gromylo denises missiles when met by Kennedy

22nd October kennedy announces blockade to American citizens

24th October Blockade begins, soviet ships turn around or slow down, except for one.
Americans put on alert and go to DEFCON 2 (step short of war)

26th October Khruschev sends a private letter to Kennedy saying he will remove
missiles if Kennedy promises never to invade Cuba

27th October Khruschev sends letter proposing removal of Cuban misiles in exchange
for US Turkish missiles removal. An American u2 pilot shot down and killed over cuba
and kennedy openly agrees to first letter and secretly agress to second

28th October Khruschev announces removal of missiles

44. What were the general consequences of the missile crisis? An agreements that this had been
close to nuclear conflict so an improvement in US-Soviet relations made. A direct telephone link
between Moscow and Washingont DC was set up and in 1963 the Test Ban Treaty signed
45. What were the consequences on the USA? Kennedys repputations improved as he had stood up
to a strong communist threat and tough critics in his own government. But missiles in Turkey
should have been agreed by NATO, Castro was still in power and Kennedy made enemies with
key generals and exiles
46. What were the consequences of the USSR? Prevented a US invasion of Cuba and ensured it
would remain communist, Khruschev was perceived to be a peace maker and he had persuaded
the removal of the Turkey missiles. But ussr was now distrusted by united nations, soviet

missiles being removed made them look weak, Khruschev couldnt publicise his success without
openly proving that he had had missiles on cuba and in 1964 he was overthrown
47. What were the consequences on Cuba? Lost support from USSr and USA and became poor and
supported communism in south America
48. Before the second world war who ruled Vietnam? France
49. In 1942 who invaded? Japan
50. Who defeated them in 1945? Ho Chi Minh
51. In 1954 why were the French defeated? Despite US assistance HO Chi Minhs army was too
strong and they were defeated in Dien Bien Phu, and then signed a peace treaty for French
withdrawal. As a consequence Vietnam was divided into two
52. Why did the US get involved? Although the peace treaty stated elections would be held in two
years, President Eisenhower feared a communist majority so helped Ngo Dinh Diem financially
and militarily.
53. Who did they support and why was he not popular? Diem detested peasants and treated them
badly, had a familial government and refused to hold elections. Consequently south Vietnames
reisistance Viet Cong were formed
54. What was the domino theory and who suggested it? president Eisenhower said that if one
country fell under communism, it would influence its neighbouring countries to follow the same
path; known as the domino theory
55. How many advisors were sent to Vietnam in 1961 Kennedy sent 16,000 advisors
56. What happened in August 1964 and what did it lead to? President Johnson sent large nu mbers
of combat troops into Vietnam. The Gulf of Tonkin was where US ships were attacked, and
Johnson was given powers to send weapons and men to fight in Vietnam
57. Describe the Vietcong tactics between 1960-75 the Vietcong had about 170,000 soldiers
against the 500,000 American troops, with weapons supplied by Communist China and USSR.
The Vietcong used Guerilla Warfare after the success of Mao Zedong in China, with the
methods including:

Retreating after enemy attack

Launch surprise attacks on enemy camps

Pursue enemy during their retreats

Ambush troops, lay booby traps etc

Use local terrain to hide

Live amongst civilians wearing their clothing

These tactics were effective and US troops lived in constant fear of attack and ambush, running their
morale low. The Vietcong used Cambodia and laos as a retreat and us troops couldnt follow
58. Describe the US tactics between 1960-75

Chemical weapons: much of the jungle in South Vietnam was bombed using chemical
weapons, agent orange used to destroy jungle, napalm highly inflammable and burnt
everything it came into contact with

Search and destroy:

o

Us General Westmoreland developed this tactic using helicopters to land

quickly over village and kill hiding Vietcong

But Vietcong set traps for inexperienced soldiers

Wrong villages attacked due to out of date intelligence

Lots of Vietnamese civilian casualties

Poor us tactics led to Vietcong support

Bombing Vietcong strong holds, supply lines and key North Vietnamese cities

meant Vietcong supply lines were disrupted, industry and military production
was damaged and encourage communists to negotiate and end to war

but the North Vietnames effort was not completely halted, guerrilla warfare
and tunnels meant bombing didnt hugely impact, cost og bombing was huge
14,000 aircraft destroyed

59. Why did the Americans withdraw from Vietnam. List and describe at least 6 things in 1967
troops were conscripted with average age of 19 who came from immigrant or poor backgrounds.
In 1968 Johnson introduced a one year term of service which meant that experienced soldiers
were replaced. Many of the American troops did not believe in what they were fighting for,

many Americans took drug doses, deserted or shot commanding officers fragging. 58,000
americans died, Johnson did not seek reelection and Nixon began vietnamisation
60. What was the media influence over Vietnam? In 1965-70 less than 20% of reports contained
coverage of the dead and wounded. By 1968 well respected Walter Cronkite publicly suggested
the Vietnam war was unwinnable and initially the US army created the Military Assistance
command Vietnam, in order to liaise with journalists so they could be transported into war areas
so long as no info to help Viet Cong was given out
61. What was the Tet Offensive in 1968? During the Tet new year Viet Cong attacked over 100
cities and military targets, around 4,500 viet cong tied down US and south Vietnamese troops
for two days, losing about 10,000 viet cong fighters.
62. Was it a turning point and why? Your opinion: consider: $20billion being spent per year on
Vietnam, civilians being killed, removing positive media cover, Don Oberdorf saying reckoned
the conclusion that Vietnam War would require greater effort for a far longer period of time
than is worth
63. Describe the events at My Lai in March 1968 and what happened as a consequence march 1968
search and destroy mission was informed that VC were hiding in My Lai village in Quang Ngai
province. Within 4 hours 400 civilians had been killed and now Vietcong found. The incident was
found out after a soldier gave an account of the event in 1969. Lieutenant WWilliam Calley was
found guilty for war crimes, but only served 3years of his 20years sentence. It undermined the
war effort further
64. Who protested against Vietnam? Many black americans, as more African americans were forced
into the fighting with 22.5% of casualties being black contrasted to only 11% white..
65. What happened at the Kent State University in 1970 nervous US guardsmen opened fire into a
group of unarmed students protesting about the extension of the war itno Cambodia, killing
four and injuring 11
66. Explain what is meant by the term Vietnamisation Removal of American troops so that only
Vietnamese were involved
67. When did US troops fully withdraw? 1975 under Nixon

68. Give a year by year analysis of the Vietnam war

1960: Vietcong formed in South Vietnam for communism

1961: Lyndon B Johnson vice president tours Saigon

1962: Americas first combat mission against Vietcong

1963: Johnson becomes president south vietnames Buddhist monks set themselves on
fire in protest of Diem

1964: Gulf of Tonkin US declares war

1965: Over 200,000 US troops sent to Vietnam, bombing raids under Operation Rolling
Thunder code name

1966: American B-52 heavy bombers strike Vietnam

1967: us secretary of defence admits US bombing raids failed to meet objective

1968: Tet Offensive and My Lai, peace talks in Paris between North Vietnamese and Us

1969: Anti war demonstrations in respone to My Lai Massacre

1970: Nixon expands ware to Cambodia to prevent Vietcong using it as a base

1972: pressure to remove US troops US bomb Hanoi and Haiphong to pressurise Ho

Chi Minh into making a decision

1973: Ceasefire agreement signed in Paris

1974: North Vietnames offensive against South Vietnam

1975: Saigon falls to the communists