Course Content
7.1.1 The end of the Second World War
The end of the Second World War: Yalta and Potsdam Conferences; the division of Germany; contrasting attitudes and ideologies of the USA and the USSR, including the aims of Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, Attlee and Truman; effect of the dropping of the atom bomb on post-war superpower relations.
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Overview
Contrasting Ideologies: Capitalism vs Communism
The Yalta Conference (February 1945)
The Potsdam Conference (July–August 1945)
The Division of Germany
The Aims of the Key Leaders
The Atomic Bomb and Superpower Relations
Why Did the Cold War Begin?
Quick Summary
Key Terms
7.1.2 The Iron Curtain and the Evolution of East-West rivalry
The Iron Curtain and the evolution of East-West rivalry: Soviet expansion in East Europe; US policies; the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, their purpose and Stalin’s reaction; Cominform; Comecon; Yugoslavia; the Berlin Blockade and Airlift.
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Overview
Key Terms
The Iron Curtain
Soviet Expansion in Eastern Europe
The Truman Doctrine (1947)
The Marshall Plan (1947)
Cominform (1947)
Comecon (1949)
Yugoslavia and Tito
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948–49)
Why Did East–West Rivalry Increase?
Quick Summary
7.2.1 The significance of events in Asia for superpower relations
The significance of events in Asia for superpower relations: USSR's support for Mao Tse-tung and Communist revolution in China, and the military campaigns waged by North Korea against the UN and by the Vietcong against France and the USA.
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Overview
Key Terms
Communist Revolution in China
Why Was Communist China Important?
The Korean War (1950–53)
Why Was the Korean War Important?
Vietnam and the Cold War
The Vietcong and War Against the USA
Why Were Asian Events Important for Superpower Relations?
Quick Summary
7.2.2 Military rivalries
Military rivalries: the arms race; membership and purposes of NATO and the Warsaw Pact; the space race, including Sputnik, ICBMs, Polaris, Gagarin, Apollo.
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Overview
Key Terms
The Arms Race
Nuclear Weapons
ICBMs and Polaris
NATO
The Warsaw Pact
The Space Race
Yuri Gagarin
Apollo and the Moon Landing
Why Were Military Rivalries Important?
Quick Summary
7.2.3 The ‘Thaw’
The ‘Thaw’: Hungary, the protest movement and the reforms of Nagy; Soviet fears, how they reacted and the effects on the Cold War; the U2 Crisis and its effects on the Paris Peace Summit and the peace process.
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Overview
Key Terms
Why Did the ‘Thaw’ Begin?
Khrushchev’s De-Stalinisation
The Hungarian Uprising (1956)
Soviet Reaction to Hungary
Effects of Hungary on the Cold War
The U2 Crisis (1960)
The Paris Peace Summit (1960)
Why Was the U2 Crisis Important?
Why Was the ‘Thaw’ Limited?
Quick Summary
7.3.1 Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall: reasons for its construction and Kennedy’s response.
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Overview
Key Terms
Why Was Berlin a Problem?
The Refugee Problem
Khrushchev’s Demands
Construction of the Berlin Wall
Reasons for the Berlin Wall
Kennedy’s Response
Kennedy in Berlin
Effects of the Berlin Wall
Why Was the Berlin Wall Important?
Quick Summary
7.3.2 Tensions over Cuba
Tensions over Cuba: Castro’s revolution, the Bay of Pigs and the missile crisis: the roles of Castro, Khrushchev, Kennedy; fears of the USA and reaction to missiles on Cuba; dangers and results of crisis.
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Overview
Key Terms
Castro’s Revolution in Cuba
Why Did the USSR Support Cuba?
The Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Roles of Key Leaders
The Cuban Missile Crisis: 13 Days of Danger
The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Dangers
Results of the Crisis
Why Was the Cuban Missile Crisis Important?
Quick Summary
7.3.3 Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia: Dubeck and the Prague Spring movement; USSR’s response to the reforms; the effects the Prague Spring had on East-West relations, including the Warsaw Pact; the Brezhnev Doctrine.
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Overview
Key Terms
Czechoslovakia Before 1968
Alexander Dubček
The Prague Spring Reforms
Soviet Fears
USSR Response to the Prague Spring
Reaction in Czechoslovakia
The Brezhnev Doctrine
Effects on East–West Relations
Effects on the Warsaw Pact
Why Was the Prague Spring Important?
Quick Summary
7.3.4 Easing of Tension
Easing of tension: sources of tension, including the Soviets' record on human rights; the reasons for Détente and for SALT 1; the part played by key individuals Brezhnev and Nixon.
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From Crisis to Cooperation
What Was Détente?
Sources of Tension Before Détente
Why Did Détente Develop?
Brezhnev and Nixon
SALT 1
Reasons for SALT 1
What Did SALT 1 Achieve?
Human Rights and the USSR
Effects of Détente
Why Was Détente Important?
Quick Summary
Key Terms
GCSE AQA Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972

 

Key Term

Definition

Cold War

The period of tension and rivalry between the USA and USSR after 1945.

Communism

A political and economic system where the state controls industry and wealth.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and profit.

Containment

American policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism.

Chinese Civil War

Conflict between Chinese Nationalists and Communists before 1949.

Mao Tse-tung

Communist leader who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Chiang Kai-shek

Nationalist leader defeated by Mao during the Chinese Civil War.

People’s Republic of China

Communist China established by Mao in 1949.

USSR

Communist superpower also known as the Soviet Union.

Korean War

War fought between North and South Korea from 1950–53.

38th Parallel

The line dividing North and South Korea after the Second World War.

North Korea

Communist state supported by the USSR and China.

South Korea

Capitalist state supported by the USA and the United Nations.

Kim Il Sung

Communist leader of North Korea during the Korean War.

United Nations (UN)

International organisation that supported South Korea during the Korean War.

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting without a final peace treaty.

Vietnam

Southeast Asian country divided during the Cold War.

Ho Chi Minh

Communist leader of North Vietnam and the Viet Minh.

Viet Minh

Communist nationalist movement fighting French rule in Vietnam.

Dien Bien Phu

Battle in 1954 where French forces were defeated in Vietnam.

Vietcong

Communist guerrilla fighters operating in South Vietnam.

Guerrilla Warfare

Fighting using ambushes, surprise attacks and hit-and-run tactics.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country became communist, nearby countries would follow.

Superpower

A country with enormous military and political influence.

Proxy War

A conflict where superpowers support opposing sides without fighting each other directly.

Military Intervention

Sending armed forces into another country’s conflict.

 

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