Explain two consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan [8 marks]
The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan led to the boycott of the Moscow Olympics and the end
of détente.
The boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics was President Carter’s retaliation for the
invasion of Afghanistan. It was Carter’s non-aggressive response to Brezhnev’s aggressive
invasion. The USA and other countries, including the UK, did not attend the Moscow
Olympics. This was significant as the Olympics were the USSR’s opportunity to present
communism on a global stage. The boycott also showed the union and alliances of the West,
which was still very divided from the East. 4/4
Détente, a period of relaxed tension between the superpowers, came to an end with the
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Détente had seen the Helsinki Accords in 1975, the Apollo-
Suyez mission in 1975 and the signing of SALT I in 1972. Its end increased tensions and
brought the Cold War close to becoming a Hot War. 4/4
8/8
Write a narrative account analysing the key points of the Prague Spring (1968) [8 marks]
In 1968, Alexander Dubcek became leader of Czechoslovakia. He was friendly with
Brezhnev, the leader of the USSR, however, he wanted to change communism to ‘socialism
with a human face’. These changes were to revitalise the depleted Czechoslovakian
economy and increase prosperity and the quality of life in the country. The young, scholars
and educated people welcomed the reforms known as ‘Prague Spring’, but the older people
and communist party members disagreed with the changes. Warsaw Pact country leaders
feared the reforms would inspire uprisings in their own countries, so Brezhnev, the leader of
the USSR, ordered Dubcek to revert to full communism. Dubcek refused, so on 25th
December 1968, Warsaw Pact paratroopers landed at Prague airport, and captured it,
allowing more troops to enter the country. Dubcek ordered people to not resist the
invasion, but scholars and young people did. The Soviets took over Czechoslovakia and
reimposed traditional communism on the country.
There was international outrage at the invasion, so Brezhnev gave a statement known as the
Brezhnev Doctrine, which stated that the USSR had the right to invade any Warsaw Pact
country where communism was being threatened, to restore order.
8/8
Explain two of the following:
− The importance of the Truman Doctrine (1947) for the development of the Cold War
− The importance of the construction of the Berlin Wall for relations between the USA
and the Soviet Union in the years 1961-63 [16 marks]
The Truman Doctrine 1947 was important for the development of the Cold War as it stated
clearly that communism and capitalism were in opposition, therefore, unofficially ending
The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan led to the boycott of the Moscow Olympics and the end
of détente.
The boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics was President Carter’s retaliation for the
invasion of Afghanistan. It was Carter’s non-aggressive response to Brezhnev’s aggressive
invasion. The USA and other countries, including the UK, did not attend the Moscow
Olympics. This was significant as the Olympics were the USSR’s opportunity to present
communism on a global stage. The boycott also showed the union and alliances of the West,
which was still very divided from the East. 4/4
Détente, a period of relaxed tension between the superpowers, came to an end with the
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Détente had seen the Helsinki Accords in 1975, the Apollo-
Suyez mission in 1975 and the signing of SALT I in 1972. Its end increased tensions and
brought the Cold War close to becoming a Hot War. 4/4
8/8
Write a narrative account analysing the key points of the Prague Spring (1968) [8 marks]
In 1968, Alexander Dubcek became leader of Czechoslovakia. He was friendly with
Brezhnev, the leader of the USSR, however, he wanted to change communism to ‘socialism
with a human face’. These changes were to revitalise the depleted Czechoslovakian
economy and increase prosperity and the quality of life in the country. The young, scholars
and educated people welcomed the reforms known as ‘Prague Spring’, but the older people
and communist party members disagreed with the changes. Warsaw Pact country leaders
feared the reforms would inspire uprisings in their own countries, so Brezhnev, the leader of
the USSR, ordered Dubcek to revert to full communism. Dubcek refused, so on 25th
December 1968, Warsaw Pact paratroopers landed at Prague airport, and captured it,
allowing more troops to enter the country. Dubcek ordered people to not resist the
invasion, but scholars and young people did. The Soviets took over Czechoslovakia and
reimposed traditional communism on the country.
There was international outrage at the invasion, so Brezhnev gave a statement known as the
Brezhnev Doctrine, which stated that the USSR had the right to invade any Warsaw Pact
country where communism was being threatened, to restore order.
8/8
Explain two of the following:
− The importance of the Truman Doctrine (1947) for the development of the Cold War
− The importance of the construction of the Berlin Wall for relations between the USA
and the Soviet Union in the years 1961-63 [16 marks]
The Truman Doctrine 1947 was important for the development of the Cold War as it stated
clearly that communism and capitalism were in opposition, therefore, unofficially ending
