Q1(a). Explain one consequence of the Bay of Pigs incident (1961).
One consequence of the Bay of Pigs was the propaganda loss. When Kennedy was newly
elected, 1400 Cuban exiles were sent to take down Castro in April 1961. He failed to provide
them with proper training, meaning that the coup was a failure, and as it was one of Kennedy's
first actions, it set a bad precedent for how he would act in further conflict - making his
presidency look weak next to that of Cuba's and the USSR. (4/4)
1(b). Explain one consequenzce of the Olympic boycotts in the early 1980s for
superpower relations.
One consequence of the Olympic boycotts was an increase in hostility between East & West.
The US boycotted the 1980 Olympics with 60 other countries, spurring the USSR boycott of the
Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. This demonstrated a shift from the detente in the 1970s - now, the
USSR and USA would not even unite for a global event. The USSR felt slighted and the USA was
successful in its boycott, leading to heightened tensions. (4/4)
Q2. Write a narrative account analysing the key developments in US-Soviet relations in
the years 1941-45
The Grand Alliance
the Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)
The Grand Alliance was formed in 1941 by the great superpowers of the time - the USA, UK,
and USSR, with 1 primary goal - defeating the Axis powers. 2 Conferences were held
between the initially cordial first leaders - Tehran in November-December 1943, and Yalta in
January-February 1945. During these talks, Roosevelt & Stalin got on well, suggesting the
USA and USSR could co-exist in the future. Churchill's suspicions about Stalin's demands
for the crippling of Germany and wat for a buffer against the West had not yet coloured US-
Soviet relations.
However, from the Potsdam conference in July-August 1945, changes to leadership came
about. Harry S. Truman had assumed presidency, and Clement Attlee was elected in Britain,
whilst Stalin remained leader of the USSR. These new leaders were inexperienced in dealing
with Stalin, and the US administration grew increasingly wary of his promise to install free
elections in Poland, as they worried Stalin would spread Communism through Western
Europe, posing a threat to American interests. Relations between the USA and USSR began
to sour, as the USSR also recognised that the USA was wary of the former's expansionist
interests.
Soviet fury was fuelled by the revelation of the American Manhattan Project - Stain was
furious that American forces had developed the atomic bomb without him being privy to it,
and even worse, exploded it in Japan prior to the conference. This caused the Soviet
administration to lose any trust that they had placed in the USA, and Soviets stormed out of
talks, breaking down the Grand Alliance for good, as well as severing any friendliness
between the USA and USSR.
The major outcome of this was the beginning of the Cold War, born from the late wartime
hostility between East & West. (7/8)
One consequence of the Bay of Pigs was the propaganda loss. When Kennedy was newly
elected, 1400 Cuban exiles were sent to take down Castro in April 1961. He failed to provide
them with proper training, meaning that the coup was a failure, and as it was one of Kennedy's
first actions, it set a bad precedent for how he would act in further conflict - making his
presidency look weak next to that of Cuba's and the USSR. (4/4)
1(b). Explain one consequenzce of the Olympic boycotts in the early 1980s for
superpower relations.
One consequence of the Olympic boycotts was an increase in hostility between East & West.
The US boycotted the 1980 Olympics with 60 other countries, spurring the USSR boycott of the
Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. This demonstrated a shift from the detente in the 1970s - now, the
USSR and USA would not even unite for a global event. The USSR felt slighted and the USA was
successful in its boycott, leading to heightened tensions. (4/4)
Q2. Write a narrative account analysing the key developments in US-Soviet relations in
the years 1941-45
The Grand Alliance
the Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945)
The Grand Alliance was formed in 1941 by the great superpowers of the time - the USA, UK,
and USSR, with 1 primary goal - defeating the Axis powers. 2 Conferences were held
between the initially cordial first leaders - Tehran in November-December 1943, and Yalta in
January-February 1945. During these talks, Roosevelt & Stalin got on well, suggesting the
USA and USSR could co-exist in the future. Churchill's suspicions about Stalin's demands
for the crippling of Germany and wat for a buffer against the West had not yet coloured US-
Soviet relations.
However, from the Potsdam conference in July-August 1945, changes to leadership came
about. Harry S. Truman had assumed presidency, and Clement Attlee was elected in Britain,
whilst Stalin remained leader of the USSR. These new leaders were inexperienced in dealing
with Stalin, and the US administration grew increasingly wary of his promise to install free
elections in Poland, as they worried Stalin would spread Communism through Western
Europe, posing a threat to American interests. Relations between the USA and USSR began
to sour, as the USSR also recognised that the USA was wary of the former's expansionist
interests.
Soviet fury was fuelled by the revelation of the American Manhattan Project - Stain was
furious that American forces had developed the atomic bomb without him being privy to it,
and even worse, exploded it in Japan prior to the conference. This caused the Soviet
administration to lose any trust that they had placed in the USA, and Soviets stormed out of
talks, breaking down the Grand Alliance for good, as well as severing any friendliness
between the USA and USSR.
The major outcome of this was the beginning of the Cold War, born from the late wartime
hostility between East & West. (7/8)
