History GCSE

Date(s)
Event
Key Figures
Describe
Significance / Results
Feb 1945
Yalta Conference
Roosevelt
Chruchill
Stalin
Talked about Germany and E Europe after war
Divide G and Berlin – lack of details
Free elections in E Europe
Vague and general
Try Nazi war criminals
Reparations to be paid but no details

Important – not as important as Potsdam
General agreement
War still going on and need to show united front
Poland stiking point

August 1945
Postdam Conference
Truman
Stalin
Attlee
Churchill
Details on Yalta agreed and finalized
Reparations agreed
USA had atom bomb
More tense – Truman tougher
USSR join war in Japan
GB and USA unhappy at no elections in Poland and E Europe

Tensions behind alliance
Stalin taking over Eastern Europe
Tougher attitude of USA and Truman

1945 - 48
Soviet takeover of E Europe
Stalin
(Truman)
(Churchill)
Stalin wanted to secure a ‘buffer zone’ to protect the USSR from any future invasion
After WW2 Stalin felt confident in the superiority of Communism and wanted to spread it.
Soviet troops remained in Eastern Europe
Salami tactics – taking over Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia (1948)
Little resistance from USA/GB
Stalin was suspicious of the West and wanted to defend the USSR

Communist governments were established across Eastern Europe.
Churchill made the Iron Curtain speech in March 1946. – first real act of Cold War
Cold War tensions increased.
USA suspicious of Soveit intentions
Buffer zone of allies for USSR
Leads to TD and MP and US policy of containment
April 1947
Truman Doctrine
Truman,
GB could no longer support Greece and Turkey against communist rebels.
USA wanted to contain communism and rebuild Western Europe after the war.

Truman gets Congress to agree to support Greece and Turkey $400 million
Support free peoples resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities and outside pressures

Stalin wasn’t happy
First definite clear event of Cold War – US action/resistance to communism
Containment in action
Fear of Domino Theory
Stalin set up Cominform

June 1947 (1948)
Marshall Plan
George Marshall (US Secretary of State)
Financial aid offered by USA to Europe including Eastern
Rejected by communists – dollar imperialism
Western Europe nations took aid
$17billion to 16 countries

Stalin set up Comecon
Dollar imperialism
June 1948 – May 1949
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Truman and Stalin

(General Clay)
Stalin blocked routes to West Berlin – hopes to force West out of Berlin.
Marhsall Aid poured into West Berlin improving conditions
US/GB co-operation (new currency)
Stalin left out – blocked it
West Berlin 6 weeks of supplies. Need 6000 tonnes a day
Decide on airlift – max by spring 1949 of 8000 tonnes a day supplies
May 1949 Stalin accepts defeat

USSR backdown; Stalin looks week; permanent division of Germany (FDR West Germany, DDR East Germany) and Berlin; formation of NATO; Berlin at front line of Cold War, proves USA would contain communism. End of US isolationism

(Warsaw Pact 1955 formed in response to NATO and West G joining)
1950 - 1953
Korean War
Truman
Stalin
Kim Il Sung
Syngman Rhee
Mao
MacArthur
End WW2 USSR occupy North Korea and USA South Korea
Divided at 38th parallel
Own elections, and leaders
Meant to be free elections to unite but never happened
North invaded South in June 1950
Backed by USSR and China
Push SK back to Pusan Pocket
SK appeal to UN and because of Soviet boycott UN voted to send force to Korea
Inchon landings. UN force push NK back to China
MacArthur sacked
China then send volunteers into war and push UN back to 38th parallel
Peace talks 1951 – stalemate 1951-53
Ceasefire in 1953 – divided along 38th parallel

Emergence of China as super power
Cold War spread to Asia
Korea permanently divided
UN showed some strength resisting aggression (better than LofN)
USA prepared to contain and fight and die to stop communism
First Hot War

Mid 1950s to early 1960s
Peaceful Coexistence
Khrushchev and Eisenhower
Death of Stalin; De-Stalinistation; Peaceful co-existence speech; growing threat of nuclear war; suggestions of greater freedom for E Europe; summit meetings e.g. Geneva 1955. Visits K visits USA in 1959. US vice President Nixon visits USSR.

Beginnings of discussions on nuclear arms control
Agreement over Austria (had been split into 4 zones like G but now united with democratically elected government)
Did not last – Hungary, arms race, U2
1950s-60s
Arms Race/Space Race

Begins 1945 Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1949 Soviet bomb
1952 USA H bomb
1953 Soviet H bomb
Missiles
1957 Sputnik
USA space first space shots failed (Flopnik)
1961 Gagarin in space
1963 first woman in space
1969 Moon landing USA
ICBMs
New weapons – submarine launched
Propaganda and significance
Economic costs
Suspicion and mistrust
Leads to U2 crisis and tensions between powers
MAD

1956
Hungarian Uprising
Nagy, Khrushchev and Eisenhower
Communist govt of Rakosi really strict and horrible
Rakosi replaced by Nagy but Rakosi back in 1955
Riots and street fighting people wanted Nagy back
Pulled down Stalin’s statue
Nagy back – Soviet tanks withdrew
Nagy reforms but threatened multi party and leave Warsaw Pact
Soviet invasion

Death of 30,000 Hungarians; arrest and execution of Imre Nagy; 200,000 fled to the West; bitter hatred of the USSR; end of calls for reforms in rest of E Europe
Clear message to E Europe that cant ditch communism and leave WP
USA/West did not act – weak. Contain not roll back communism
Khrushchev look strong

1960
U2 Crisis
Eisenhower
Powers
Khrushchev
Powers flying u2 spy plane to spy on Soviet arms/planes. Pakistan to Norway
U2 fly high out of range of planes and missiles
WRONG
Soviet missile shot down plane. Powers taken prisoner and plane
US lied to USSR – weather plane
USSR demand apology and end to flights
US refuse

End of Peaceful co-existence
Paris Peace Summit Collapses
No solution to Berlin problem
Reinforce Soviet and China views of US not to be trusted
Contributes to election of Kennedy.
Accelerated arms race and US spying

August 1961
Berlin Wall is built
Kennedy and Khrushchev
East Germany worried about numbers leaving – 2 million since 1945. Embarrasing for East and Communism
USSR also concerned that WB was used as a base for spying. Also claimed West exploited low prices in East.
Failure of Paris Summit and Kennedy 1961 unlike Eisenhower suggesting he was unwilling to negotiate over Berlin led to closing of the open border between E and W Berlin
13 August 1961barbed wire set up and guards posted. USA made protest but did not stop EG guards making barrier.
Families and friends separated
In October US and Soviet tanks faced each other on streets at Checkpoint Charlie.
Wall eventually built 45km long and no crossings.

Berlin again focal point of Cold War
Massive reduction in number of defectors to West – only about 5000 successful escapes up to 1989
200 died attempting to escape East Berlin
Brutality of Communism demonstrated e.g. Peter Fetcher
US/West propaganda victory – Kennedy Ich Bin Ein Berliner speech 1963
Makes Communism look bad – democracy may not be perfect but we have never had to put up a wall to keep our people in.
E German economy stabilized and grew
Peaceful – problem of Berlin ‘solved’ without fighting. Kennedy does not respond aggressively.
No chance of united Berlin or Germany
October 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
Castro, Khrushchev and Kennedy
Batista dictatorship overthrown in Cuba by Castro 1959. US unhappy when US companies nationalized. Communist government established under Castro backed by USSR; US sanctions and threat of USA invasion as shown in Bay of Pigs April 1961;
Khrushchev promised military protection to Cuba- sent missiles
U2 spy plane take photos of missile sites
Kennedy calls ExCom and imposes blockade or quarantine of Cuba to stop more missiles being delivered. Also prepares to invade.
Tense stand off.
U2 shot down but Soviet ships stop.
Telegrams from Khrushchev
Robert Kennedy makes secret deal for US missiles to be removed from Turkey.
28th October Khrushchev agrees to remove missiles if US promise to not invade and lift blockade.

US claimed victory – had resisted Khrushchev aggression.
Kennedy seen as a hero – been tough on Communism but avoided war.
Khrushchev seen as loser – Communists unhappy at backing down. Contributes to Khrushchev fall from power.
BUT Khrushchev could be seen as the peacemaker
Cuba still communist and blockade lifted and US missiles out of Turkey
Most tense episode of Cold War
After efforts to make sure tensions don’t rise so high again
Hotline between Washington and Moscow
1963 Test Ban Treaty
1968 Non Proliferation Treaty
Helps to usher in détente?
1968
Prague Spring
Dubcek, and Brezhnev
Husak
Czech discontent with communism – shortages, lack of freedom, censorship, poor standards of living, secret police
Novotny forced to resign
Protests led to election of Dubcek who seeks to make reforms
Socialism/communism with a Human Face - more relaxed version of Communism
Relax censorship, allow freedom of speech, relax control of economy, open up trade and travel with West. Government to listen to what people wanted. Free trade unions
Dubcek tried to reassure USSR that not leaving Warsaw Pact or allowing democracy or capitalism but Soviets and E Europe communists concerned. Fear that other satellites would follow Czech action
August 1968 Warsaw Pact troops and tanks invade Czechoslovakia. Remembering Hungary Czechs did not resist (passive resistance) and less than 100 died but lots of hatred to Russians.

USSR concern that Dubcek’s reforms will spread and threaten security of Warsaw Pact nations; Dubcek told to end reforms; Brezhnev sends in W P forces; little resistance; passive resistance; Yan Palach set himself on fire in protest; Dubcek removed from power; replaced by Husak who restored tighter communist control

Hatred of USSR and resentment

Brezhnev Doctrine followed – all Warsaw Pact would act if something threatened collective security

West did not intervene (like Hungary) – US involved in Vietnam?

Ongoing hatred of USSR and Communism
1970s
Detente

Nixon, Ford, Carter and Brezhnev
End of the Vietnam War; USSR caught up in arms race; US belief in sufficiency rather than superiority; need for both USA and USSR to save money on arms; concerns over instability in Middle East; Worsening relations with China; SALT 1 and 2; Helsinki Accords; ping pong diplomacy; high handshake; summit meetings and visits;

Follow on from peaceful co-existence

First genuine moves towards arms control

Renewal of peaceful coexistence

Not directly on the specification. Focus on failure of detente
1979 - 89
Soviet invasion of and war in Afghanistan
Brezhnev, Carter and Reagan
Socialist government took control in Afghanistan backed by USSR; not liked by Islamic people of Afghanistan; against culture, religion and traditions; resistance grew so Afghan government called for Soviet assistance; President assassinated and replaced by Amin who pushed forward with radical reforms; further growth of opposition so December 1979 Soviets invade; Amin shot and replaced with Karmal; new communist government controlled by USSR; Soviets control Kabul, airport and main towns; Mujahedin control countryside (80% of country); Mujahedin wage guerrilla war against Soviets; Red Army try to use firepower and air power to crush them; US aid to Mujahedin

1985 due to cost of war and failure Gorby begins withdrawal completed by 1989

Fierce resistance by guerrilla fighters, the Mujahedin; invasion strongly criticized by President Carter; collapse of SALT 2; US boycott 1980 Moscow Olympics; new fear of Communism contributes to election of Ronald Reagan; over 3 million refugees; 1 million deaths;

20,000 Soviet soldiers died; war cost USSR billions and reduced support for Communist government;

Showed Red Army was not invincible – encourages resistance in E Europe?

collapse of Détente;

start of new Cold War

Afghanistan destabilized and centre for terrorism
1980s
Solidarity in Poland
Reagan, Brezhnev and Walesa
Pope John Paul II
Discontent with communist rule in Poland
Low wages, price rises, anger at corruption all contribute to forming of independent trade union, Solidarity, in Gdansk shipyards.
Led by Lech Walesa (electricitan)
21 demands – mainly economic and social not political. About working and living conditions.
V popular movement – up to 9 million members
Initially Polish authorities agree to demands
Solidarity became more political and Polish government under pressure from E Europe and USSR ban solidarity, impose martial law and arrest leaders.
Solidarity began to become more political and divided.

Solidarity continued underground and leaders arrested (5000) became martyrs.

Independent Trade Union inspired other people.
Ideas spread to other countries
Communists looked harsh by banning and arresting leaders
West imposed trade sanctions worsened the economic situation
Initial attempts by Polish authorities to clampdown on Solidarity followed by negotiations and agreement on independent trade unions etc. Then military rule established and Solidarity banned and leaders arrested. Movement continued underground eventually emerging to win elections in 1989.
Walesa won Nobel Peace Prize in 1983but unable to leave Poland to collect it.
Helped to inspire opposition and resistance in other areas of E Europe.
1980s
Policies of Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Elected 1980; hatred of Communism; referred to it as the Evil Empire; support for Mujahedin in Afghanistan (stinger missiles); increased US defence spending; developed new weapons (neutron bomb, MX missile, Cruise missiles); began SDI (star wars); aimed to draw USSR into new arms race that would bankrupt it; placed new missiles in Europe; Peace through strength

Very popular and charismatice President – the great communicator.

Later prepared to negotiate with Gorbachev – Geneva Summit 1985, Reykjavik summit 1986 failed as Reagan would not give up SDI but Washington 1987 saw INF treaty Freeze in the Cold War – end of detente

New weapons and tensions in Cold War

USSR economy broke under new arms race
SDI made USSR vulnerable – end of MAD?

Won the Cold War?
1985 - 1991
Policies of Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
New Soviet leader after death of Brezhnev in 1982 and brief rules of Andropov and Chernenko
Accepted need for reforms in USSR – economy stagnating and people disaffected
Glasnost – openness (but led to more criticism of the Communists). More freedom to people, less censorship, more open debate, but not complete freedom of speech. Restore faith in government and end corruption
Perestroika – restructuring (but economy to inefficient and broken to be mended) Allowed some private trade, foreign investment and encourage more efficiency
Ended Brezhnev Doctrine 1988 – no more interference in E Europe
Withdraw from Afghanistan
End Cold War – summit meetings (Geneva, Reykjavik) and arms agreements (INF treaty 1987) with Reagan
Ends Cold War in 1989 – Malta Summit with Bush
Nobel Peace Prize 1989

Glasnost meant more criticism and opposition in USSR.

Reforms undermine status and authority of Communist Party in USSR

Led to demands for similar reforms in E Europe

When G makes clear USSR will not intervene in E Europe protests begin against communist rule and revolutions on 1989

Collapse of communism in USSR meant no opposition for US and NATO and end of Cold War.
1989 - 1991
Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and USSR
Gorbachev
Reagan
Bush
Walesa
Havel
Ceausescu
Honecker

Hatred of Soviet control; hatred of Secret police; demands for free, multi party elections; lack of consumer goods; low standard of living; Gorbachev reforms in USSR and end of Brezhnev Doctrine

E Europe countries shake of communism. Hungary and Poland first. 1988 Polish government open talks with Walesa and Solidarity. Partial elections in 1989 see success for Solidarity. By end 1989 Solidarity are leading government and in 1990 Walesa elected President. Hungary saw removal of Kadar in 1988, successors began to peacefully move Hungary to democracy. August 1989 opened border with Austria. October 1989 multi party elections.
Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. 1987 Czech government promised Gorby style reforms, demonstrations for more change, led by Havel backed by Dubcek. December 1989 Husak resigned and Havel became President with free elections in 1990. East Germany saw Honecker resisting change. Protests grew to point that Honecker was removed by communists; many E Germans fleeing to West through Hungary and Czech. Promised to open up the Wall. Protests grew Communist govt resigned and wall opened up. 1990 saw free elections and reunification with West Germany. Romania saw violence and bloodshed with removal and execution of hated leader Ceausescu.

These events weakened Gorby in USSR. Republics now also demanding independence. Loss of Empire meant more opposition from hard liners. Baltic states declared independence and Union began to split up. August 1991 saw hard line communists try to overthrow Gorbachev but they failed. Boris Yeltsin key in bringing downfall of communism and break up of Union as he agreed with leaders of Ukraine and Belarus to dissolve USSR leaving Gorby as President of nothing. Dec 1991 Gorby resigned and USSR formally ceased to exist.

Gorby reforms led to moves to revolutions in E Europe

Revolutions in E Europe help to end Cold War and also weaken Gorby position in USSR

Hardliners unhappy at loss of Communist empire. Radical reformers want faster changes in USSR. Republics want their own freedom and independence like E European countries gained.

Attempt to remove Gorby and reimpose tight communist control failed.

Meant Gorby undermined and lost power

Yeltsin took advantage and with others dissolved USSR

Questions on International Relations 1945 – 1991

1. Describe (4 marks)
2. Source X suggest…. Do you agree? (6 marks)
3. Which factor was more important/significant X or Y (10 marks)

Question 1: Look at the source carefully. You get a mark for each relevant point. Try to consider what the source infers as well. Make three points get three marks
Question 2: You must consider the content and provenance of the source. Consider who wrote the source, why, when, for what purpose and audience. Consider the circumstances in which the source was produced. Consider the language and tone of the source as well as its content. Compare what the source says with your own knowledge. Is it accurate? Are there omissions? Explain your comments.
Question3: Give a detailed description of the factor or factors mentioned in the question. Be precise, accurate and specific in your description. Ensure you focus on exactly what the question asks.
Question 4: Cover both factors given in the question.
Give and fully explain several causes/consequences. Make substantiated judgments about their relative importance. Try to identify links between them.

Now do at least one full question from page 53, page 71, page 92 or page 93 of your Core textbook.