All Flashcards
When did Stalin die?
- His death created a power vacuum.
What was the significance of the 'Secret Speech'?
Marked the beginning of De-Stalinization and criticized Stalin's regime.
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A major Cold War confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union in 1962 over Soviet missiles in Cuba.
What was the Soviet-Afghan War?
A conflict fought from 1979 to 1989 between Soviet forces and Afghan mujahideen, contributing to the USSR's decline.
When did the Berlin Wall fall?
- Symbolized the end of the Cold War.
When did the Soviet Union dissolve?
- Led to significant geopolitical changes.
What was the effect of renaming Stalingrad to Volgograd?
Symbolized the rejection of Stalin's legacy during De-Stalinization.
What was the effect of closing gulags?
A key aspect of De-Stalinization, reducing political repression.
What was the effect of prioritizing party unity and minimizing dissent?
A hallmark of the Brezhnev era, leading to political and economic stagnation.
What was the effect of the end of the Cold War?
Marked a significant shift in global power dynamics.
Who was Joseph Stalin?
Leader of the Soviet Union known for industrialization, Holodomor, and the use of secret police.
Who was Nikita Khrushchev?
Stalin's successor who initiated De-Stalinization.
Who was Leonid Brezhnev?
Soviet leader known for prioritizing stability and Détente, but also for the era of stagnation.
Who was Mikhail Gorbachev?
Soviet leader who introduced Glasnost and Perestroika, ultimately leading to the USSR's collapse.
What was Stalin's role in industrialization?
He implemented rapid industrialization, though it was brutal and came at a high human cost.
What was Khrushchev's role in the Cuban Missile Crisis?
He was the leader of the Soviet Union during the crisis, which brought the world close to nuclear war.
What was Brezhnev's role in Détente?
He sought to ease tensions with the U.S. through Détente.
What was Gorbachev's role in the end of the Cold War?
He worked with Reagan to limit nuclear weapons, contributing to the end of the Cold War.
What was Gorbachev's role in Glasnost?
He introduced Glasnost, increasing freedom of speech and press.
What was Gorbachev's role in Perestroika?
He introduced Perestroika, decentralizing economic decision-making.
Compare Khrushchev and Brezhnev's leadership styles.
Khrushchev: Reformist, De-Stalinization. Brezhnev: Conservative, prioritized stability.
Compare Glasnost and Perestroika.
Glasnost: Openness, freedom of speech. Perestroika: Economic restructuring.
Compare Stalin's rule and Brezhnev's rule.
Stalin: Repressive, rapid industrialization. Brezhnev: Stagnation, stability.
Compare the impacts of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Soviet-Afghan War.
Cuban Missile Crisis: Brink of nuclear war, increased tensions. Soviet-Afghan War: Drain on Soviet resources, contributed to decline.
Compare the goals of De-Stalinization and Perestroika.
De-Stalinization: To dismantle Stalin's legacy. Perestroika: To restructure the Soviet economy.
Compare the effects of Glasnost and Perestroika.
Glasnost: Increased freedom but also criticism. Perestroika: Decentralization but also economic problems.
Compare the leadership of Khrushchev and Gorbachev.
Khrushchev: De-Stalinization, but still authoritarian. Gorbachev: More democratic, Glasnost and Perestroika.
Compare the economic policies of Stalin and Brezhnev.
Stalin: Rapid industrialization, collectivization. Brezhnev: Stagnation, lack of reform.
Compare the foreign policies of Brezhnev and Gorbachev.
Brezhnev: Détente, intervention in Afghanistan. Gorbachev: End of the Cold War, arms control.
Compare the outcomes of Khrushchev's reforms and Gorbachev's reforms.
Khrushchev: Limited success, resistance. Gorbachev: Led to the collapse of the USSR.