Summary IEB/NSC - History - Cold War

This document covers the following topics: How did the Cold War period shape international relations after the Second World War? • What was the Cold War? Develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and characteristics of the/a Cold War. • What were the origins of the Cold War? A brief exploration of the development of animosity between the West/capitalism and the Communist state in the Second World War period. • What was the situation at the end of the Second World War? An overview of the Allied War Conferences and how these discussions led to the division of Europe and impact on East/West relations. − How did a Cold War develop? ▪ Tehran Conference (briefly, aims/decisions/impact) ▪ Yalta Conference (aims/decisions/impact) ▪ Potsdam Conference (aims/decisions/impact) • How did the USSR and USA create of 'spheres of influence' in Europe? An in-depth analysis of the roles played by the superpowers in the period after Second World War. − How did the USA create a 'sphere of influence' in Europe by 1949? ▪ 'policy of containment': Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan − How did the USSR create a 'sphere of influence' in Europe by 1949? ▪ Soviet reaction to US policies and briefly the creation of satellite states in Eastern Europe and consolidation of Soviet control; COMECON • Why was Berlin a flashpoint of the Cold War? A detailed focus on events in Berlin from 1948–1961. − 'Berlin Blockade' (causes/events/outcome) − Events in Berlin 1949 to 1961 − 'Berlin Wall' (causes/events/outcome) • What led to the creation of opposing military alliances? Develop a broad understanding of the Cold War alliance systems. − NATO − Warsaw Pact What was 'containment' and 'brinkmanship'? Develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and characteristics of 'containment' and 'brinkmanship'. − CASE STUDY: Cuban Missile Crisis ▪ What led to the establishment of a Communist Cuba? ▪ How did US, Soviet and Cuban actions lead to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962? ▪ What was the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Cold War? • Who was to blame for the Cold War? Develop a historiographic understanding of the interpretations and differing points of view of the causes of Cold War. • CASE STUDY: (to be rotated annually as per circular) Either 'CHINA' − How did China rise as a world power after 1949? A detailed analysis of the factors that led to the 'Sino-Soviet Split' and the creation of a 'third force' in the Cold War. ▪ Briefly. Second World War and events leading up to 1949 and the establishment of Peoples' Republic of China ▪ 'Great Leap Forward' and 'Cultural Revolution' [NOT EXAMINABLE] ▪ China's relations with the superpowers from 1949 to 1973 (clash of ideologies/ individual events/personalities) − USSR − USA ▪ China's changing relationships with neighbouring states (Tibet, India, Vietnam and Taiwan) ▪ To what extent was China established as a 'superpower' by the time of Mao's death? ▪ Impact of China's economic liberalisation on relations with the rest of the world since Mao's death until the present [NOT EXAMINABLE] OR 'VIETNAM' − How was Vietnam able to win a war against the USA by 1975? A detailed analysis of the war in Vietnam and how each of the belligerents attempted to adapt their political and military strategies to achieve victory. ▪ Brief overview of the struggle against colonial powers prior to the Second World War [NOT EXAMINABLE] ▪ The period, briefly, after the Second World War in Vietnam (French colonial policy/Battle of Dien Bien Phu/Geneva Accords) ▪ Stages of the Vietnam War: − 1957 to 1965 o Struggle in Vietnam between the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) and the Viet Cong (VC) o US involvement: ▪ 'policy of nation-building' (Eisenhower) ▪ 'safe hamlets policy' and 'counter-insurgency' (Kennedy/Johnson) − 1965 to 1969 o US involvement: ▪ Gulf of Tonkin and 'Escalation' of hostilities ▪ 'Operation Rolling Thunder' (Johnson) o The nature of US and Vietnamese warfare and military strategies o The war from Vietnamese and US perspectives − 1969 to 1975 o US involvement: ▪ 'policy of Vietnamization' ▪ 'Peace with Honour' (Nixon) o USA withdrawal from Vietnam (the impact on US politics) − How is the war remembered today in the USA and Vietnam? [NOT EXAMINABLE]