Cold War Basics
What is a Cold War?
Conflict without direct fighting
What is espionage?
Spying / gathering secrets
What does NATO stand for?
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
What was Germany divided into after WWII?
East Germany- controlled by Soviets
West Germany- controlled by US, UK, France
What was the Manhattan Project?
US and UK program to develop the atomic bomb
Which two countries were the superpowers?
USA & USSR
Name one intelligence agency and the country it is from
CIA- USA / KGB- USSR / MI6- UK
When was NATO created?
1949
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
Stop east Germans from defecting to the west
Which are the only cities to have atomic bombs dropped on them?
Hiroshima & Nagasaki
What were the two main ideologies of each side in the Cold War?
Capitalism & Communism
What is the role of the CIA?
Gather foreign intelligence for the United States
What is NATO’s main purpose?
Collective defence
What was the Berlin Blockade?
a Cold War crisis where the Soviet Union blocked all land/water access to West Berlin to force Western Allies out of the city
What is nuclear deterrence?
Preventing war through fear of nuclear destruction of the world
Name one “hot war” that occurred during the Cold War.
Korea / Vietnam / Afghanistan
How was the KGB different from the CIA?
KGB controlled citizens internally whereas the CIA only has jurisdiction abroad.
What does Article 5 state?
Attack on one member = attack on all members
What was the Berlin Airlift?
A massive 15-month humanitarian mission where U.S. and British forces flew food, fuel, and supplies into West Berlin
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A 13-day (October 16–28, 1962) standoff between the US and the Soviet Union, initiated by Soviet nuclear missile deployment in Cuba
Why did tensions between East and West increase after WWII?
Tensions between East and West increased after WWII due to fundamental ideological conflicts, the Soviet creation of Eastern European satellite states, and mutual distrust regarding postwar security. The US feared communist expansion, while Stalin sought a buffer zone, leading to the division of Germany, nuclear arms competition, and the start of the Cold War.
Explain one effect of McCarthyism
Blacklisting: Thousands of individuals in the entertainment, education, and government sectors were blacklisted, meaning they were deemed undesirable and unable to find work, particularly in Hollywood (e.g., the "Hollywood Ten").
Violation of Constitutional Rights: The investigations violated First Amendment rights, including freedom of speech and association.
Senate Censure: McCarthy was eventually censured by the U.S. Senate in 1954 for his conduct, which diminished his power and influence.
Climate of Fear and Suspicion: A widespread paranoia gripped the nation, causing friends, colleagues, and family members to suspect one another of disloyalty.
Why was the Warsaw Pact created and by which country?
The Warsaw Pact was created on May 14, 1955, by the Soviet Union and seven Eastern European communist states as a collective defense treaty to counterbalance the inclusion of West Germany into NATO.
Give one difference between life in East and West Germany
Politics and Government- West Germany (FRG): A parliamentary democracy (capitalist) allied with NATO and Western nations vs East Germany (GDR): A one-party communist dictatorship governed by the SED, aligned with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact.
Economic System and Living Standards- West Germany: Experienced an economic miracle ("Wirtschaftswunder"), resulting in high wages, luxury goods, and modern infrastructure East Germany: Operated on a planned economy. It had the highest standard of living in the Eastern Bloc, but experienced chronic shortages of consumer goods, limited car options (like the Trabant), and lower quality, monotonous housing.
Society and Freedom- Travel: West Germans could travel freely, whereas East Germans were restricted to visiting other communist countries. Media/Culture: The West had a free press, while the East strictly censored media to promote socialist ideals.
Why were nuclear weapons important in the Cold War?
Nuclear weapons were crucial during the Cold War as the primary tool of deterrence, forcing a tense stalemate via "Mutually Assured Destruction" (MAD) that prevented direct, large-scale war between the US and USSR. They served as the ultimate symbol of superpower status, allowing for atomic diplomacy, coercive power, and global influence.