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Flashcards in Peaceful Coexistence (1953-1962) Deck (32)
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1
Q

What does the term peaceful coexistence actually mean?

A

The recognition of the USA and USSR of each others needs and borders so they could exist without conflict

2
Q

List in your order of importance the factors that lead to eased tensions between the Eastern and Western blocs between 1953-62

A

Stalins Death, Military and Economic context, Khrushchev’s policies closely linked with Malenkov’s and Beria’s, Eisenhower and Dulles, Stable sphere of influence.

3
Q

When did Stalin die?

A

1953

4
Q

Why was Stalins death so important?

A

Because he had previously been involved in all of the previous conflict with the West. All of it. With his death, all the problems and bad personal relations he had with western leaders and members followed the same direction. Therefore a new opportunity for a fresh start or a clean slate opened up. Any leader that followed, worse or better, the west would have to build up a bad relationship and that would take a long time therefore a peaceful period could begin

5
Q

What problems had Stalin been involved with when he was alive and leader?

A

Arms race, post war conferences, instrumental in soviet expansionism, his infamous internal crimes with the gulags which conveyed his paranoia for opposition and threats.

6
Q

What were the military and economic strains upon USSR and USA?

A

With the constant development and construction of new types of nuclear weapons there was an ever growing threat to the safety of US & Soviet citizens, something invaluable to them for many reasons. The development was only possible if enough money form the economy was injected into the military sector. By focusing the economy towards military as a result the standard of living declined. Both sides recognised the strain of nuclear tension upon them and so decided to pull out and opt for a peaceful time period without conflict

7
Q

How much of the USSR was devoted to its military sector annuals to try and keep up with the USA?

A

1/3

8
Q

How much of the US GNP was spent upon arms in 1954?

A

12%

9
Q

When did Khrushchev become soviet leader?

A

1955

10
Q

What was the name of the policy he adopted for international relations?

A

Peaceful coexistence

11
Q

What was the main belief behind Khrushchev’s peaceful coexistence policy?

A

A softer tone towards the West, accepting their existence hoping that they would follow their lead and recognise the Soviets existence.

12
Q

What did Khrushchev give in 1956 that undermined and showed how he was promoting destalinisation?

A

Secret Speech in 1956

13
Q

Who first used the term peaceful coexistence?

A

Soviet Leader, Malenkov

14
Q

Who was Beria?

A

The unofficial leader of the USSR for 3 months after Stalins death

15
Q

What was the importance of Beria?

A

He was the first of leader after Stalin that had an approach no where near his policies and attitude towards the West. He effectively set the foundations and acted as an introduction to the two soviet leaders that would replace him and their similar approach.

16
Q

What was a sign of Beria’s new approach to the West, even if it failed?

A

He proposed a “reunified Germany”. The place of tension for many of the previous points of conflict between the East and West. This suggested a new friendlier relationship.

17
Q

Who was Malenkov?

A

The official leader after Stalin between 1953-55 that continued Beria’s approach towards the West

18
Q

What was the name of the policy that Malenkov created that was more friendly toward the West?

A

“New Course”

19
Q

What was the philosophy of the “New Course”?

A

Resources could and should be directed away from arms and heavy industry towards raising living standards and ensuring the USSR didn’t financially collapse, because he believed that the confrontation with capitalism would end with the fall of that ideology.

20
Q

How and why could you incorporate Beria, Malenkov and Khrushchev into one factor labelled “new Russian leaders”?

A

Because they all adopted a policy which had a softer tone towards the West. The name of Khrushchev’s policy was first coined by Malenkov.

21
Q

When was Eisenhower president of the US?

A

1953-1961

22
Q

Who was Eisenhowers Secretary of State during his administration?

A

John Foster Dulles

23
Q

What was the name of the Eisenhower administrations policy towards international affairs?

A

“New Look”

24
Q

What were the features of the New Look Policy that didn’t help to ease tensions between 1953-1962?

A

Using military to contain communism, increased espionage, “massive retaliation” (nuclear arms) against communist threats, brinkmanship.

25
Q

What was brinkmanship? What was its significance?

A

Th idea that the USA would use the threat of nuclear weapons to scare the enemy out of what it was doing.
It was risky because it may not have worked and then a nuclear war may have broken out.

26
Q

Where was Brinkmanship used by Dulles?

A

The scaring of the Chinese so they would stop invading and spreading communism to the Quemay and Matsu islands

27
Q

What were the features of the New look policy that contributed to peaceful coexistence?

A

Keen to avoid N. Arms, more cautious approach to scenarios, Eisenhower was a confident leader therefore wouldn’t act I rationally in heated points, he knew he had military superiority after a u2 spy plane, keen to avoid an expansion of the MI complex and instead to improve living standards.

28
Q

What were 4 espionage operations/proposals under Eisenhower?

A

Operation Aquatone, Operation Genetrix, Bay of Pigs/Operation 40, Open Skies policy

29
Q

How much did spending reduce by between 1953-1962?

A
1953= $20bn
1961= $10bn
30
Q

How did Eisenhower describe his intentions for nuclear weapons?

A

More bang for the buck

31
Q

Why is the factor of a stable sphere of influence not that significant?

A

Because both sides continued to worry about their spher of influence for many years after in Vietnam for example

32
Q

What is their that undermines evidence of a peaceful period?

A

Berlin crisis, increased espionage (U2 incident), Hungarian uprising, constants points of tension at Berlin checkpoints (Charlie in 1961)