1. Explain 2 consequences of the Hungarian uprising.
One consequence of the Hungarian uprising was that it increased tensions between the east and
west and this was because many Hungarians were killed during the conflict and about 200,000
refugees fled to the west, showing how desperate Khrushchev was as he demonstrated what he
would do to countries that were no longer co-operating with what he wanted to do. As a result, this
led to the West being furious as they had wanted to act upon the uprising but had to consider if they
were truly willing to go into a war with the USSR and their nuclear weapons. Therefore, this led to
more tension between the east and west as it showed how the USA could’ve aided the countries the
USSR saw as an enemy.
Another consequence of the Hungarian uprising was that it had increased Khrushchev’s
determination to maintain the Warsaw pact because he had allowed Nagy to become leader of
Hungary and yet in November 1956 Nagy had announced that Hungary would withdraw from the
Warsaw pact and hold free elections-ending communism there. As a result, Khrushchev was not
pleased because if Hungary was allowed to turn away from communism, then it could influence the
other satellite states to do so as well and then the USSR would lose power and look weak. Therefore,
the USSR felt like it had to respond with force to gain the authority back.
2. Write a narrative account on the Bay of pigs. Remember CAUSES EVENTS CONSEQUENCES
Since 1952, Cuba was led by Batista, a ruthless military dictator who allowed US companies and the
mafia to make huge profits while most Cubans lived in poverty. This then caused many Cubans to
resent the US and the influence it had over Cuba. Therefore in 1956, Castro (a rebel) overthrew
Batista in his revolution. As a result, this led to the US being very worried about the revolution as
they held lots of shares in Cuba, and they could lose it all.
Castro then nationalised all US companies and increased the taxes of US goods, this severely angered
the US, so they threatened to stop importing Cuban sugar, the main source of wealth in Cuba, which
increased tensions between Cuba and the USA. As a result, Castro signed a trade agreement with the
USSR which pushed Castro towards the USSR, the opposite of what the USA wanted to happen. After
that, all remaining US properties in Cuba was seized.
The communist threat was now very close to USA, so Kennedy authorised an invasion of Cuba led by
Anti-Castro rebels and the CIA landed 1400 Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs with the aim to overthrow
Castro, but the rebels were defeated, and the USA didn’t help any further. Therefore, USA was
humiliated and in December 1961, Castro announced he was communist.
3. Explain the importance of the refugee problem in Berlin for increasing tensions between East
and West in 1958-61.
4. Explain the importance of the “second cold war” for relations between superpowers.
The refugee problem in Berlin increased tensions between east and west in 1958-61 as USSR had
drained Berlin of its resources so its economy was weak and slow to develop, and many people
wanted to leave and go to the more prosperous West Berlin instead. As a result, this was very
embarrassing for Khrushchev as it humiliated him and made him look unfit as leader, as it suggested
that people wanted to go live under capitalism rather than communism. The refugee problem led
Khrushchev to issue an ultimatum in 1958 demanding that all US, British and French troops leave
Berlin, but the US president refused.
The 2nd cold war was important in causing an increase in tensions between the superpowers as in
1983, Reagan introduced the development of the SDI (Strategic Defence Initiative) nicknamed Star
One consequence of the Hungarian uprising was that it increased tensions between the east and
west and this was because many Hungarians were killed during the conflict and about 200,000
refugees fled to the west, showing how desperate Khrushchev was as he demonstrated what he
would do to countries that were no longer co-operating with what he wanted to do. As a result, this
led to the West being furious as they had wanted to act upon the uprising but had to consider if they
were truly willing to go into a war with the USSR and their nuclear weapons. Therefore, this led to
more tension between the east and west as it showed how the USA could’ve aided the countries the
USSR saw as an enemy.
Another consequence of the Hungarian uprising was that it had increased Khrushchev’s
determination to maintain the Warsaw pact because he had allowed Nagy to become leader of
Hungary and yet in November 1956 Nagy had announced that Hungary would withdraw from the
Warsaw pact and hold free elections-ending communism there. As a result, Khrushchev was not
pleased because if Hungary was allowed to turn away from communism, then it could influence the
other satellite states to do so as well and then the USSR would lose power and look weak. Therefore,
the USSR felt like it had to respond with force to gain the authority back.
2. Write a narrative account on the Bay of pigs. Remember CAUSES EVENTS CONSEQUENCES
Since 1952, Cuba was led by Batista, a ruthless military dictator who allowed US companies and the
mafia to make huge profits while most Cubans lived in poverty. This then caused many Cubans to
resent the US and the influence it had over Cuba. Therefore in 1956, Castro (a rebel) overthrew
Batista in his revolution. As a result, this led to the US being very worried about the revolution as
they held lots of shares in Cuba, and they could lose it all.
Castro then nationalised all US companies and increased the taxes of US goods, this severely angered
the US, so they threatened to stop importing Cuban sugar, the main source of wealth in Cuba, which
increased tensions between Cuba and the USA. As a result, Castro signed a trade agreement with the
USSR which pushed Castro towards the USSR, the opposite of what the USA wanted to happen. After
that, all remaining US properties in Cuba was seized.
The communist threat was now very close to USA, so Kennedy authorised an invasion of Cuba led by
Anti-Castro rebels and the CIA landed 1400 Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs with the aim to overthrow
Castro, but the rebels were defeated, and the USA didn’t help any further. Therefore, USA was
humiliated and in December 1961, Castro announced he was communist.
3. Explain the importance of the refugee problem in Berlin for increasing tensions between East
and West in 1958-61.
4. Explain the importance of the “second cold war” for relations between superpowers.
The refugee problem in Berlin increased tensions between east and west in 1958-61 as USSR had
drained Berlin of its resources so its economy was weak and slow to develop, and many people
wanted to leave and go to the more prosperous West Berlin instead. As a result, this was very
embarrassing for Khrushchev as it humiliated him and made him look unfit as leader, as it suggested
that people wanted to go live under capitalism rather than communism. The refugee problem led
Khrushchev to issue an ultimatum in 1958 demanding that all US, British and French troops leave
Berlin, but the US president refused.
The 2nd cold war was important in causing an increase in tensions between the superpowers as in
1983, Reagan introduced the development of the SDI (Strategic Defence Initiative) nicknamed Star
