Unit 1: International Relations – The era of the Cold War 1943-91
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KT1: How did the Cold War in Europe develop 1943-56?
Ideological differences between the USA and the USSR – capitalism /
democracy Vs. Communism
The Grand Alliance 1941 – the Big Three / aims
The International conferences- Who’s who? Agreements /
disagreements?
- Teheran Conference- 1943
- Yalta- February 1945
- Potsdam- July/August 1945
The War of words: (significance)
- Churchill’s Iron curtain speech 1946
- Stalin’s response 1946
Secret Telegrams: (significance)
- The Long Telegram 1946
- Novikov’s Telegram 1946
The Truman Doctine 1947
Marshall Plan 1947
USSR’s satellite states
Cominform 1947
Comecon 1949
The Berlin Blockade 1948-49
- Causes (Conferences, Bizonia, Trizonia, New Currency, Stalin’s
exclusion)
- Events
- Consequences (Stalin humiliated, Division of Germany – GDR /
FDR)
NATO 1949
Warsaw Pact 1955
Arms race 1945-1955
Hungarian Uprising 1956
- Causes (Soviet Satellite state, Death of Stalin, Rakosi, Imre Nagy,
Khrushchev’s secret speech / de-Stalinisation)
- Events
- Consequences
How did relations between the USA and USSR change between 1943-56?
KT2: Three Cold War crises: Berlin, Cuba and Czechoslovakia c.1957-69
The Berlin Crisis: 1958-63
- Causes (Division- FDR / GDR, Refugee Problem, Khrushchev’s
ultimatum)
- Events (International conferences / summits, building of the wall)
- Consequences (Berlin Wall, Solved refugee problem, Symbolic
divide, Kennedy Speech)
- Significant of this event: Prevents war / symbolic divisions
The Cuban Missile Crisis:1956-63
- Developments in the Arms race
- Causes (Arms race, Cuban Revolution, Bay of Pigs incident,
Khrushchev’s promise of support
- Events (Missiles, Thirteen Days- US blockade, stalemate,
negotiations and agreements)
- Consequences (Hotline, Limited test ban treaty, USSR catches up
in the Arms race, France leaves NATO.
-
Significant of this event: Possibility of Nuclear war / Start of
Détente
Czechoslovakia – Prague Spring and Soviet Invasion
- Causes: Soviet Satellite State / Harsh rule of Antonin Novotny –
failing economy
- Events: Prague Spring: Role of Dubcek and introduction of
reforms / Negotiations with Brezhnev
- Brezhnev Doctrine
- Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia – Dubcek arrested and sent to
USSR
- Consequences: Consolidation of Brezhnev’s power and control
over Satellite State. American & Western European Response.
Satellite State’s response. Other Communist responses
(negative).
How did relations between the USA and USSR change between 1957-69?
KT3: Why did the Cold War end?
Détente: Improving relations between the powers
- Response of real threat of nuclear war following Cuban Missile
Crisis
- Key features and policies of Détente including:
- 1967 Outer Space Treaty
- 1968 Nuclear non-proliferation treaty
- SALT I 1972
- SALT II 1979
- 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Mission
- 1975 The Helsinki Agreements
- The significance of these in improving cold war relations – arms
agreements and reduction, improved communication, wider cooperation
The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 1979
- Causes: Kabul Revolution of 1978 – role of Taraki and Amin – Civil
War
- Events: Soviet Invasion of 1979 – USSR’s reasons for invasion, use
of military force
- Consequences – USSR – long drawn out conflict = disaster, USA –
Carter Doctrine – Carter’s Actions
- End of Détente – End of SALT II, Increased defence spending,
Olympic boycotts
- Significant of this event: Ends détente – Start of Second Cold
War- increased Cold War tensions.
Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’
- Public fear about the possibility of Nuclear war
- Reagan and his background as a ‘Cowboy’
- Reagan’s idea of a ‘limited nuclear war in Europe’
- Reagan’s Evil Empire speech – moral mission to end and win cold
war.
- Significance of Reagan - Second Cold War- increased Cold War
tensions, possibility of nuclear war.
SDI – ‘Star Wars’ programme
- Aims / how it worked
- USSR’s inability to respond
- Significance: USSR unable to compete in this new arms race
Gorbachev and the end of the Cold War
- Role and aim of Gorbachev
- His relationship with the USA / West
-
Reaction to the Chernobyl Crisis 1986 – symbol of Soviet
weakness / crisis
Gorbachev’s ‘New Thinking’
- Recognition of problems in Communist Russia
- Introduction of ‘New Thinking’ – riving communism – radical
programme of reform
- Perestroika – (restructuring) economic reforms / restructuring
- Glasnost – (openness) relaxation of press censorship
- Negotiations with the USA / West – improvements and dialogue
- Geneva Summit Nov 1985
- Reykjavik meeting Oct 198
- Reagan’s changing opinions and positive working relationship
with Gorbachev
INF Treaty Dec 1987
- Reasons why Gorbachev signed the INF
- Significant of INF Treaty – first time both sides had reduced
number of nuclear weapons. Massive breakthrough.
Summit Conferences after Reagan
- 1988 Reagan Moscow conference
- 1989 Malta Summit
- 1990 CFE Agreement
- 1991 SRART I
Gorbachev and the break-up of Eastern Europe
- Gorbachev’s attitude to Eastern Europe – 1988 announcement
and withdraw of Soviet troops from Eastern European bases
- The break-up of the Eastern Block – East Germany, Poland,
Hungary, Czech Republic / Slovakia
The fall of the Berlin Wall Nov 1989
- Causes – Role of East German government, effect of break-up of
Eastern Block, opening of boarder with West Berlin
- Significant: Symbolic end to the cold war
End of the Warsaw Pact 1991:
Soviet reaction to the fall of the Berlin Wall and events in the USSR
- 19th Aug 1991 – ‘Gang of Eight’ coup against Gorbachev –
removed from power
- New government actions to overturn perestroika / glasnost
- Failure of the new government – lasted 3 days and role of Boris
Yeltsin
- Return of Gorbachev 21st Aug 1991 –damage to his authority and
popularity of Yeltsin.
- Gorbachev’s introduction of a new constitution for USSR – more
powers to Soviet Republics
- Independence demands from Soviet Republics – Dissolution of
the USSR 25th Dec 1991
The end of the Cold War:
- President Bush’s declaration of the end of the Cold War (Malta
Summit)
- Break-up of USSR – Independence for Soviet Republics- Baltic
States then others
- Dissolution of the USSR 25th Dec 1991 – ‘Russia’ established as
an independent country . End of ideological divide / battle
- USA becomes the world’s only superpower – unrivalled.
How did relations between the USA and USSR change between 1979-91?