ALRAS - English Section
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Common Abbreviations
Open this table to review historical abbreviations used in the HIST ALRAS section.
| Type | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Region | EE | Eastern Europe |
| CE | Central Europe | |
| WE | Western Europe | |
| ME | Middle East | |
| Country | USSR | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
| US | United States (of America) | |
| BR | Britain | |
| FR | France | |
| SROV | Socialist Republic of Vietnam | |
| GER | Germany | |
| EGER | East Germany | |
| WGER | West Germany | |
| CZE | Czechoslovakia | |
| DPRK | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea | |
| ROK | Republic of Korea | |
| PRC | People’s Republic of China | |
| Policy | CP | Containment Policy |
| Politics | POTUS | President of the United States |
| VPOTUS | Vice President of the United States | |
| PM | Prime Minister | |
| KMT | Kuomintang | |
| CCP | Chinese Communist Party | |
| UN | United Nations | |
| Military | ICBM | Intercontinental ballistic missiles |
| MAD | Mutual assured destruction |
Cold War Notes
Review the HIST ALRAS Cold War notes table taken from the course reference file.
Characteristics of Cold War
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Economic rivalry | US (representative of the capitalist bloc) - Marshall Plan → aid WE → containment policy and ease communism spread USSR (representative of the communist bloc) - Molotov Plan → aid EE Impact - Intense hostilities |
| Military rivalry (forming opposing military organizations) | WE - NATO EE - Warsaw Pact |
|
| Armaments race | US - (WWII) Developed atomic bombs (Hiroshima + Nagasaki) USSR - (1949) Developed atomic bombs Common - (1953) Developed thermonuclear weapons + intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) + built missile bases Impact - Rise in military expenditures + great threats to world peace + intense hostilities |
|
| Space race | US - (1958) Launched first satellite (Explorer 1) USSR - (1957) Launched first satellite (Sputnik 1) Impact - Rise in space exploration expenditures + intense hostilities |
|
| Regional conflicts (proxy wars) | Definition - Not direct wars between US and USSR, but conflicts in different regions representing the two blocs (1946-1949) Greek Civil War (1946-1949) Chinese Civil War (1950-1953) Korean War (1961-1975) Vietnam War Impact - Intense hostilities + worsened regional problems |
|
| Spying activities | US - Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) USSR - Committee of State Security (KGB) (1960) U-2 Incident |
|
| Stopping all kinds of communication | Definition - Termination of trade and cultural exchanges between capitalist and communist blocs (1980) US boycott of Moscow Olympics (1984) USSR boycott of Los Angeles Olympics Impact - WE and EE have no contact → intense hostilities |
|
| Rivalry in propaganda | Definition - Two blocs promote their own political ideas and attacked the counterpart (1946) Iron Curtain Speech (1957) USSR radio announcement on successful launch of Sputnik 1 |
(1945-1953) Stalin Period / End of WWII
| Type | Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign policy | 1945-1965 | Containment Policy | Ease the spread of communism → intense hostilities |
| 1947 | Truman Doctrine | Greek Civil War → Truman requested Congress to provide USD $400M to support Turkey and Greek → ease the spread of communism → intense hostilities | |
| Event | 1946-1949 | Chinese Civil War | Course - US supported KMT → contain communism in Asia → KMT retreated to Taiwan → (1949) PRC established → new communist regime Impact - US worried about communism spread to Asia → provided resources and USN 7th Fleet to KMT until KMT quit UN → containment policy - PRC established → Sino-Soviet relationship enhanced → communist cooperation |
| 1946 | Iron Curtain Speech | Background - USSR communism promotion in EE → more USSR satellite states + expansion into Turkey, Greece, Iran Course - BR PM Winston Churchill criticized USSR for violating Yalta Conference → (March 1946) speech in US → imagined "Iron Curtain" along CE and EE to block WE communication + US should cooperate with WE to resist USSR expansions → USSR responded regimes in EE are for national safety only Impact - Truman adopted CP against USSR → intense hostilities |
|
| 1947 | Marshall Plan and Molotov Plan | Background - Ease communism spread Course - Truman proposed Marshall Plan + USSR proposed Molotov Plan as a response → USSR did not allow Molotov Plan countries to trade with WE Impact - Slower communism spread → econ rivalry → intense hostilities between two econ blocs |
|
| 1948-1949 | Berlin Crisis | Background - Yalta Conference + Potsdam Conference → GER divided into four zones (US, BR, FR, USSR) → USSR wanted to weaken GER + US, BR, FR wanted to recover GER → US, BR, FR trizonia → protested by USSR → GER divided into WGER, EGER Course - Allowed WGER to join Marshall Plan → USSR cut all land routes from East Berlin to WGER → USSR provided airlift to provide food, oil, daily supplies to East Berlin + BR stopped coal and steel supply to EGER + US sent B29 to BR → (1949) NATO formed → NATO Article 5 → USSR softened attitude and lifted blockade Impact - Split GER into WGER and EGER until 1990 reunification Led to Berlin Wall → stopping all kinds of communication WE aligned with US to balance power → formation of NATO → military rivalry |
|
| 1949 | Formation of NATO | Background - Berlin Crisis → US needed long-term military alliance Course - 12 countries formed NATO to military support and resist communism Impact - US-USSR military confrontation → military rivalry US abandoned isolationism → started involving in international affairs Led to Warsaw Pact + enhanced arms race → invention of nuclear weapons → might have led to end of the world |
|
| 1950-1953 | Korean War | Background - Korea Empire was a colony of Japan → WWII Japan surrender → divided Korean Peninsula into DPRK and ROK at 38th Parallel Course - Kim Il-sung ambition to unify Korean Peninsula → DPRK Army crossed 38th Parallel → occupied Seoul → UN troops sent led by Gen. MacArthur → DPRK retreated to near PRC border → PRC sent volunteer army → UN troops retreated → stalemate along 38th Parallel → DPRK signed cease fire Impact - USSR attended every UN meeting → one-vote veto system → UN meetings became power struggles between USSR and US → UN not effective → use of military organizations → military rivalry US sent 7th Fleet to protect KMT → US rearm → allowed rearm and entry to NATO of WGER → CP |
(1953-1964) Khrushchev Period
| Type | Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign policy | 1945-1965 | Containment Policy | Ease the spread of communism → intense hostilities |
| 1953-1961 | Eisenhower Doctrine | If any ME countries get "invasion from communism", they can request econ/military assistance from US + UN is not reliable → Eisenhower requested Congress to use US Armed Forces for protecting ME when needed → CP | |
| 1961-1963 | Kennedy Doctrine | Supported CP → actively contained communism | |
| Event | 1955 | Warsaw Pact | Background - WGER entered NATO → threatened communist bloc in EE Course - USSR established Warsaw Pact with 8 countries + established an article that is similar to NATO's article 5 Impact - Military rivalry → EE, WE split into two military camps → enhanced arms race + slower GER reunification |
| 1959 | Exchange and Paris Summit | Course - VPOTUS Nixon visited Moscow → promoted US products to USSR + Khrushchev visited Washington Impact - US, USSR, BR, FR planned Paris Summit to settle disputes peacefully (nuclear disarm + GER problems) → attempt of comms → suspended due to U2 Incident |
|
| 1960 | U-2 Incident | Course - US spy plane shot down in Russia → Eisenhower denied intelligence activities (said plane was weather research aircraft) → USSR revealed plane and pilot found → Eisenhower admitted → USSR demanded apology → Eisenhower refused → USSR withdrew from Paris Summit Impact - Spying activities → end of US-USSR relations improvement → worsened relationship |
|
| 1961 | Berlin Wall | Course - US helped WGER econ → recovered rapidly + EGER econ depression → 2.1M ppl (many workers, professionals) looked for shelter in WGER → EGER ppl escaped to WGER → WE refused to withdraw from Berlin → USSR built Berlin Wall, watchtowers to prevent escape Impact - US increase in military expenditure to support West Berlin + USSR ended nuclear test agreement → nuclear race |
|
| 1961-1975 | Vietnam War | Background - Vietnam was occupied by Japan → WWII Japan surrender → (1954) Vietnam independence → divided into north (communist), south (capitalist) in 17th Parallel → south refused to unify → started eliminating communists in south (supported by US because Domino Theory) Course - South resisted with US forces → US retreat → North Vietnam triumph Impact - (1976) SROV founded (communist) + US high expenditure and massacre → TV more common in US → shown on TV → more US civilian anti-war (against CP) → internal pressure → abandon of CP |
|
| 1962 | Cuban Missile Crisis | Background - Cuba pro-US → Castro revolution → Cuba pro-USSR → US cut diplomacy with Cuba + JFK support of Castro overthrow → Cuba became communist → closer to USSR + US concerned of national security, communism spread to Central, South America Course - US missile bases in Turkey and Italy → USSR missile bases in Cuba to counter → JFK imposed naval blockade on Cuba → warned USSR to remove Cuba missile bases → Khrushchev, JFK agreement to remove missile bases → US lifted blockade → promised not to invade Cuba → removed missile bases in Turkey Impact - Moscow-Washington hotline, Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty → attempts of comms → improved relations USSR thought Khrushchev weak → USSR coup → change in leadership USSR demanded Cuba confront → USSR demanded Cuba compromise → PRC discontent → Sino-Soviet relations worsened |
(1965-1979) Detente
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for Detente | Huge cost of armaments race | Development and tests of nuclear arms (ie. hydrogen bombs, ICBM, TNT) → (US) USD $14.5B to $75.4B + (USSR) USD $15.5B to $80.9B (1950-1967) → both sides wanted lessen burden + raise people's living standards → wanted restrict arms race |
| Fear of nuclear war | USSR Sputnik capable of launching ICBM to US + US deployed strategic missile forces + Cuban Missile Crisis → MAD → both sides wanted prevent nuclear war → reduced tension to negotiate | |
| Internal pressure | Vietnam War → anti-war wave → Nixon abandoned Truman Doctrine and adopted Nixon Doctrine USSR internal problems (ie. econ development, living standards) → wanted national construction by expanding trade and exchange in tech with West |
|
| Sino-Soviet split | (1958) Khrushchev criticized PRC's Great Leap Forward + CCP opposed Khrushchev's criticism of Stalin + (1969) Zhenbao Island conflict → intense relations between PRC and USSR → reduced communist threat to US + CPC and USSR scared of isolation → both wanted better relations with US → indirect help of improving US-USSR relations | |
| Rise of Richard Nixon | (1969) Nixon became POTUS → Nixon Doctrine to reduce conflicts with USSR + nuclear umbrella → limited nuclear proliferation → SALT → reduced tension | |
| Foreign policy | Nixon Doctrine | US only provided military and econ support → less intervention to allies defenses → reduced tension Nuclear umbrella → provided nuclear protection to allies → limited nuclear proliferation + alliances stability → reduced nuclear race |
| Gerald Ford Doctrine | ||
| Event | Signing of nuclear treaties | (1963) Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1968) Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons → attempts of comms |
| Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties | (1972) SALT I signed → attempt of disarm and comms (1979) SALT II signed → failed due to Soviet-Afghan War → regional conflicts caused no comms |
|
| Exchange visits | (1972) Nixon visited Moscow (1973) Brezhnev visited Washington → US agreed export oil rigs and wheat to USSR + USSR promised pressurize North Vietnam ceasefire → attempts of comms → reduced tension |
|
| Negotiation on German problems | (1972) US, BR, FR, USSR signed Quadripartite Agreement → attempts of comms (1973) WGER, EGER joined UN together → reduced tension between two blocs → reduced military rivalry |
|
| Helsinki Agreement | NATO, Warsaw Pact met at Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) → signed Helsinki Agreement → WE recognized boundary of EE + EE promised give basic human rights to EE people → attempts of comms tension greatly relieved | |
| Enhancing econ ties | (1969) US Export Administration Act → loosened restrictions on exports to USSR + approved large-scale trade with USSR → (1970-1975) Increased US-USSR trade (USD $200M to $2B) → reduced econ rivalry + attempts of comms | |
| Space cooperation | (US) Apollo 18 and (USSR) Soyuz 19 docked in space, carried out joint experiments → end of space race + attempt of comms |
(1979-1985) End of Detente
| Type | Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign policy | 1981-1989 | Reagan Doctrine | Abandoned Nixon, Ford Doctrines + communism rollback → supported regions overthrow communist regimes → increased hostilities, regional conflicts Increased military expenditure → enhanced arms race |
| Event | 1979 | Soviet invasion of Afghanistan | Course - US helped overthrow pro-Soviet regime in Afghan → USSR worried control loss → sent troops to Afghan → Persian Gulf region major oil supply → US demanded USSR withdraw → USSR refused Impact - Failure of SALT II + Olympics boycotts + worse USSR econ → part of USSR dissolution → end of Cold War |
| 1981 | Suppression of Polish Solidarity | Course - Solidarity was trade union of Poland workers → fought for rights of workers → USSR and Poland suppressed, martial law → US limited trade Impact - gained independence → USSR suppression → worse USSR image Reagan was POTUS → Reagan Doctrine → failure of communism rollback → tensed US-USSR relations |
|
| 1983 | Strategic Defense Initiative | USSR stronger nuclear weapons → Reagan imposed SDI → restart of space race→ support regions overthrow communist regimes |
(1985-1991) End of Cold War
| Type | Year | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign policy | 1985-1991 | Sinatra Doctrine | Gorbachev became USSR leader → EE autonomy → could move away from USSR control → gained independence Non-intervention on EE → no military force for maintain USSR influence Support of reform in USSR (econ and political) |
Hong Kong History Notes
Review the HIST ALRAS Hong Kong History notes table taken from the course reference file.
Abbreviations / Meanings
| Type | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Region | SEA | Southeast Asia |
| CWB | Causeway Bay | |
| HK | Hong Kong | |
| US | United States | |
| Country | UK | United Kingdom |
| JP | Japan | |
| ROC | Republic of China | |
| CN | Chinese | |
| EN | English | |
| BR | Britain | |
| Politics // Policies // Military | ExCo | Executive Council |
| LegCo | Legislative Council | |
| PoW | Prisoners of War | |
| KMT | Kuomintang | |
| GLF | Great Leap Forward | |
| Other | R/O | Reform and Opening up |
| CN | Chinese |
(1850~1950) Chinese Influencers in Hong Kong
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Sir Robert Bosman Hotung 何東爵士 | - Eurasian race → identified himself as Chinese - Graduated in Central College (Queens' College) (Dr. Sun's alma mater) → bilingual (CN+EN) - 1st CN to live on the Peak - Diverse businessman → close connection with CN reformers |
| Chow Shouson 周壽臣 | - Studied abroad in US (Qing Dynasty period) → bilingual (CN+EN) → mediations between conflicts - 1st CN unofficial member of ExCo - Worked in CN railway bureau + Korea → banking business → wealthy merchant |
| Wu Tingfang 伍廷芳 / Ng Choy 伍才 | - Graduated in St. Paul College - 1st CN barrister + 1st unofficial LegCo member - ROC foreign minister + Qing second class official → drafted and negotiated treaties - Sir Kai Ho = brother-in-law |
| Sir Kai Ho 何啟爵士 | - Educated in Central College abroad → became both lawyer and doctor + bilingual (fluent in CN+EN) - Became unofficial member in LegCo → cannot vote - Tried to protect CN interests // business partner with foreigners → sometimes sided with westerners - Not accepted into CN clubs + westernized → identity = stuck in middle - Awarded knighthood → became Sir Kai Ho |
| Ma Ying-piu 馬應彪 | - Established 1st HK department store (Sincere Department Store) - Family moved to Australia → learned new business model → from grocery to department store → 1st price-tagged imported department stores to HK - Counters to serve customers → 1st store to hire women sales // rooftop = playground + 1st building to have lift - Supported revolutionaries against Qing → helped in fundraising + supplies |
| Lee Leung Yik 利良奕 / Lee Hysan 利希慎 | - Part of the Lee clan - Participated in opium trading (dark history) - Post-war HK → Jardine sold CWB to Lee family → Lee built properties in CWB → became land owner |
(Pre-WWII) Hong Kong Modernization
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | Diversified industry: Swire dockyard (Royal Navy repair) // Whampoa dockyard (heavy industry) // sugar production // soda manufacturing (retailing) Transportation hub: Steamships // railways (KCR) // aviation (Kai Tak Airport) Western education: Originally CN+EN → system changed to EN+science+math → tertiary education (HKU) Business branches: Stores like Sincere had different branches (HK // Shanghai branches) |
| Factors | Excellent geographical location: HK near South China Sea and Western Pacific Ocean → easy access to mainland and Pacific region → became trading hub // deep-water harbor Free port policy: UK declared HK free trading port → ships from any countries could enter // no taxes for entering // no tariffs for any imported goods Comprehensive infrastructure: Warehouse and piers near Victoria Harbor // Taikoo and Whampoa dockyards // Transportation: KCR + Kai Tak Airport Sufficient capital: Chartered Bank + HK Shanghai Banking → provided loans + financing + insurances + trades + investments → capital for entrepot trade |
| Contributions to Asia | Spread of business: HK introduced first dept store → spread to SEA // Nam Pak Hong branches in mainland China + SEA → conduct trade of Nam Pak products + remittance Jardine Matheson → conduct trade between HK and SEA Revolutionary base: Ma Ying-piu donated money to Dr Sun → 1911 revolution → overthrow Qing dynasty → establish republic → promoted democracy / equality Provided shelters for reformers (educated in HK // western education → democratic ideas) Gender equality: Women's employment → first to hire women workers (fashion show // cosmetician) Western education of women: central college / QC // Ying Wah Girl's School // Bellio's Public School → founding of HKU → foster education of talents → contributed to development of PRC Freedom of religion: Promoted Christianity to HK // neighbouring regions through business |
Imperial Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong
| Ruling | Description |
|---|---|
| Military rule | Martial law + no separation of powers representation → rule by violence // terror → executions + interment camps |
| Indirect rule | Use CN to govern CN / foreigner PoW → used as bargaining chips during war |
| Governor | Description |
|---|---|
| Sir Mark Young 楊慕琦爵士 | Defeated by JP → low reputation / unpopular → CN did not respect him |
| Young Plan | Description |
|---|---|
| Description | Establishment of Municipal Council for Chinese to vote → democratization // representation of CN // internal affairs → appease the CN → lessen negativity against UK colonial rule |
| Factors of failure | Independence movements Chiang Kai-shek assumed he would resume the role of controlling CN President Roosevelt insisted colonialism had to end → promised Soong Mei-ling to restore HK to CN control |
(Post-WWII) Economic Development of Hong Kong
| Factor | Reason |
|---|---|
| Internal | Trade network from entrepot trade Dockyard infrastructures // airport // railways HK remained as a free trading port → low tax |
| Larger labor force → cheap wages Tech + skills + management skills + capital + investments from Shanghai |
|
| External | Embargoes → decline of entrepot → rise of HK manufacturing + light industry → textile // plastics |
(Post-WWII) Success of Vitasoy
| Factor | Reason |
|---|---|
| Internal | Tech advancement → pasteurization Infrastructure → transportation → roads // highways // ports // railways // airport Tech → automation // machinaries Government promoting local brands through HKBPE HK products were cheaper and of higher quality Foundation from entrepot trade → network + infrastructures Government policies → positive non-intervention → low tax rate + free foreign exchange → foreign direct investment Trade organizations → HKTDC + HKPC Polytechnic College → skilled labor Rising of middle class → consumerism |
| Expansion in Asia outside of HK Decline of entrepot trade → US + UN embargoes against PRC during Korean War Began to manufacture + export local products overseas Labor → mainland refugees from PRC → low cost // skilled labor Brought capital + tech + management skills Few competitions in Asia |
(Post-1970s) Economic Restructuring of Hong Kong
| Revival of entrepot trade | Reason |
|---|---|
| Internal | Factories relocated to mainland → R/O → lower production cost HK lacked raw materials → less competitive compared to SEA / mainland Revival of entrepot → low tariffs + deep sea port → largest container terminal |
| Improved relation between PRC and the west → trade through HK End of embargoes HK's role → regional headquarters // investing through HK into mainland |
| Evolving into knowledge-based and high-value industry | Reason |
|---|---|
| Internal | Shortage of labor → aging pop // compared to region Compulsory education + tertiary education → 8 universities by 2000 + vocational → knowledge Technology → octopus cards → touchless payments Lacked government support for manufacturing industry |
| Protectionism → increase in tariffs + quotas for foreign goods → increased cost of HK-made products → lower competitiveness Rise of Asian countries → 4 little dragons (SK, TW, SG, JP) |
| Rise of finance and service sectors | Reason |
|---|---|
| Internal | Professionals → level of education → attracting foreign talents Legal system compatible with western countries Infrastructure → airport (city centre) // ports // terminals // railway Low tax rate // monetary stability → linked // pegged with USD 7.76~7.78 Geographical location → coastal + close to mainland (SZ + DG) // located in Asia → formed 24 hours financial service in HK → invest in different countries |
| / |
(Post-WWII) Hong Kong Relations
| Aspect | Time period | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Political | Before WWII | Revolutionary base → overthrow Qing Promote equality + rights + freedom of Chinese → people do labor strikes Support war efforts against JP → Dongjiang Columns |
| After WWII | Aid provider during disasters (GLF) Refuge for Chinese people (GLF // civil war // cultural revolution) Patriotic movement protecting CN sovereignty (Diaoyu Island) |
|
| Economic | Before WWII | Major entrepot trading partner → connecting CN to the world Remittance → sending money back to hometown |
| After WWII | Partner for rapid economic development (RAD) → HK investing in mainland Revival of entrepot trade |
|
| Social | Before WWII | Refuge (civil war // natural disasters // coolies) Education provider → for reformers/revolutionaries/Qing/ROC officials |
| After WWII | Aid provider during disasters CN's role → necessities provider to HK (dongjiang water // food) |
| Aspect | Time period | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Political | Before WWII | Introduce western idea to CN → democracy // freedom // rights |
| After WWII | Introducing capitalist // market economy to China after R/O | |
| Economic | Before WWII | Entrepot trading partner to SEA countries (Sincere // NPH) |
| After WWII | Manufacturing products exporter to SEA countries (made in HK) (Vitasoy) Financial center (regional) → major investor to SEA Employment provider → domestic helpers → 150~180000 → remittance back to SEA |
|
| Social | Before WWII | / |
| After WWII | Refuge for CN, Vietnamese "boat people" → Vietnam War 1970s Cultural exporter → HK movies (Bruce Lee // Jacky Chan // TVB) + music (Canto-pop) Cultural facilitators → helped spread JP culture to the region |
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