Generic Cold War
Define the term "Cold War"
State of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.
What 3 letter acronym describes why/how the US and USSR never declared war on each other during the Cold War?
MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)
Define the term "Proxy War"
A war instigated by a major power which does not itself become involved.
Define the term terrorism.
The unlawful use of violence AND intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
What does the acronym GWOT stand for?
Global War on Terror
How did the cold war:
- Start
- End
Start: Collapse of US/USSR alliance post WWII (1945) OR first successful nuclear bomb by soviet Union (1949) OR Suez Crisis (1956)
End: Collapse of Berlin Wall (1989) OR collapse of Soviet Union (1991)
What were the names of the two power blocks in the cold war (100 points each)
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
Warsaw Pact
Why did the US involve itself in the Vietnam War and the Korean War (name the doctrine and the explanation)
Truman Doctrine: Important to prevent the spread of communism
any violent action initiated by an existing government to achieve a particular goal. Most often this goal involves a conflict with another country.
What was the famous line from US President Bush's speech that was a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks?
"Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists"
Explain at least 3 ways in which superpower competition manifested itself during the Cold War. (100 points each)
1. Space Race
2. Economic Competition (Marshal Plan v Molotov Plan)
3. Proxy Conflicts (Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan)
4. Propaganda (through media)
Explain the Cuban missile crisis (explain the what, who, and why) 100pts each
What: Disagreement b/w the US and USSR in regards to placement of nuclear warheads in Cuba.
Who: JFK, Khrushchev, Castro
Why: USSR wanted to be able to strike the US with nuclear weapons if necessary (US had nuclear weapons in Turkey) and/OR the USSR wanted to give Cuba the ability to defend itself from the US (who was meddling/invading this communist country)
List 3 causes as to why the US lost the Vietnam war (100 points per)
Guerilla tactics by Vietcong
Public outrage and lack of support for army b/c
- Draft
- Costly War
Name and explain an instance of terrorism in the 20th century that afflicted a European country
Pan Am Bombing - Terrorists supporting Libyan anti-American efforts
IRA bombing - Irish freedom fighters seeking greater liberties from the UK
Munich Olympics - Anti-Israel/pro Palestinian terrorism
Identify at least one terrorist organization of the 21st century AND explain their goals.
Al-Qaeda: Revert the Islamic holy land to a more "pure" form of Islam, remove US/Israeli/non-Islamic presence and influence from the middle east
Boko Harem: Restore Islamic fundamentalism to the Islamic holy lands
Explain the key difference of Capitalism and Communism through the essential question of economics
What to make: Capital and consumer goods (both)
For whom should it be made: Those who can afford it (capitalism), to each according to their need (communism)
Who should make it?: low skilled laborers augmented by machines to cut cost (capitalism), the people according to their means (communism)
Explain the causes (at least 2) of the Suez Crisis (1956)
1. US and USSR trying to win allies in the Arab world (specifically Egypt, leader of Arab world at time)
2. UK and France trying to reassert status as global power through maintaining control over oil supply
3. Israel trying to break the Egyptian blockade and weaken the Egyptian army
4. UK and France trying to get rid of Nasser for non-economic reasons (seen as new Hitler, Nasser supported anti-French rebels)
Explain the role of Chinese involvement in the Korean War.
- When/Why they got involved (200pts)
- What involvement did in for the war
When/Why: 6 months into the war, when NATO troops got dangerously close to the Yalu River (Chinese/N Korea Border)
What it did: Huge troop numbers and high skill pushed NATO troops back on the defensive and forced massive retreats. Dragged conflict to stalemate
Name and explain an instance of terrorism in the 20th century that afflicted a non-European country
1993 World Trade Center Bombing - Islamic Fundamentalists tied to al Qaeda
Tokyo Sarin - Extremist cult religion trying to dissuade non-followers
How does the US divide the world militarily and diplomatically, AND how might this division be perceived?
Combatant commands: NORTHCOM, PACOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM, SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM
US could seem like an imperialist power to many (US General and Diplomat in charge of maintaining US interest in assigned region, with military bases, soldiers, and equipment to do so)
Polarity: How power is distributed globally.
Unipolar: When one hegemon holds the majority of global power. (British Empire 1815-1914, Roman Empire, US 1991-Now?)
Bipolar: When two superpowers hold the majority of global power. (Britain v. France 1688-1815, US v USSR 1945-1991, US China 2014-Now?)
Multipolar: When at least 3 great powers hold the majority of global power. (WWI, WWII, Now? (US, EU, China))
Explain the effects (at least 3) of the Suez Crisis.
1. UK and France relegated to second-rate power status (lost face and control of canal)
2. Egypt seen as hero of the Arab world (won crisis, and control of Suez Canal.
3. Conflict was averted (US threatened to withhold loans from UK, USSR threated missile strikes)
4. Crisis turned attention away from USSR oppression in Hungary.
5. US became primary power maintaining access to oil for western powers
Explain the causes of USSR defeat in the soviet Afghan war (at least 3 for full points)
Mountainous terrain unfit for Soviet army
Guerilla tactics unfit for Soviet army
US funded mujahideen fighters
Cost and length of the war was a burden for the Soviet economy
Explain the meaning of the phrase "One man's terrorist is another man's revolutionary" with an explanation and a historical example
Explanation: those who believe the ends justify the means often argue that sometimes such important goals require extremist action.
Historical Example: Countless
How/why did the global war on terror "end," according to some?
Why did this happen, and what were the immediate results?
When: NATO troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan in AUG2021.
Why: Sparked by US public no longer being willing to sacrifice time, resources, and lives fighting the war on terror.
Results: Taliban retake control of Afghanistan w/in a week of US withdrawal. Taliban are still ruling government of Afghanistan