New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

I can explain the causes and consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

I can explain the causes and consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A communist group called the PDPA took control of Afghanistan in 1978 and governed with Soviet support.
  2. Reforms introduced by the PDPA to transform Afghanistan into a communist country were deeply unpopular.
  3. The USSR invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to prevent the mujahideen from overthrowing the communist government.
  4. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan increased tensions with the USA who responded with the Carter Doctrine.
  5. In response to the Soviet invasion, the USA led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Common misconception

Poorer people in Afghanistan supported the communist PDPA government.

The PDPA's land reforms were tainted by corruption and angered many poorer Afghans because they received poor quality land. Many Afghans opposed the PDPA's attempts to create a secular society, which they saw as an attack on their faith and culture.

Keywords

  • Secular - non-religious

  • Guerilla - warfare that involves using surprise attacks and hit-and-run tactics to fight a larger, more traditional military force

  • Islamic fundamentalism - a strict interpretation of Islam that emphasises a return to traditional beliefs and practices

  • Economic sanction - a measure taken by one country to limit or stop trade with another country to pressure it to change its actions or policies

  • Boycott - when people refuse to buy, use or participate in something as a way to protest or bring about change

Share clips of the Moscow Olympics so students can see how the USSR attempted to use the Olympics to promote communism to the world and so they can better understand the impact of the American-led boycott. You could also share a clip of the opening ceremony of London 2012 as a point of comparison.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes when a decision, treaty, or agreement is formally approved and confirmed making it official?
Correct Answer: ratified
Q2.
Complete the sentence with the missing word: The Helsinki Accords are sometimes considered to be the high-point of ...
Correct Answer: Détente, Detente
Q3.
Why was SALT II not formally approved and confirmed making it official in the USA?
the US invaded Afghanistan
Correct answer: the Soviets invaded Afghanistan
the Soviets invaded Central America
the US invaded Cuba
Q4.
When were the Helsinki Accords signed?
Correct answer: 1st August 1975
17th July 1975
5th February 1977
24th December 1979
Q5.
Complete the sentence: Disagreements about were one source of tension between the USA and the USSR after the Helsinki Accords were signed.
Correct Answer: human rights
Q6.
Which of the following agreements were made as part of SALT II?
Correct answer: limit of 1320 MIRV systems for each side
Correct answer: limit of 2400 strategic nuclear delivery vehicles for each side
restriction on the development of ABMs
Correct answer: limits on the deployment of new types of strategic weapons
set out rules for the conduct of nuclear war and steps to avoid conflict

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes warfare that involves using surprise attacks and hit-and-run tactics to fight a larger, more traditional military force?
Correct Answer: guerilla
Q2.
Which word describes when people refuse to buy, use or participate in something as a way to protest or bring about change?
Correct Answer: boycott
Q3.
What was the name of the communist group who overthrew the government in Afghanistan on 27th April 1978?
the People’s Dictatorship Party of Afghanistan
Correct answer: the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan
the Afghanistan Democratic Party
the Afghanistan Socialist Democratic Party
Q4.
Complete the sentence: Reforms introduced by the PDPA to transform Afghanistan into a communist country were deeply ...
popular
Correct answer: unpopular
Q5.
How many Soviet troops crossed the border into Afghanistan between 24th December 1979 and 1st January 1980?
25 000
Correct answer: 50 000
100 000
3 000 000
Q6.
How did the USA view the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
an aggressive attempt to spread capitalism
Correct answer: an aggressive attempt to spread communism
threat to the West’s coal supplies
Correct answer: threat to the West’s oil supplies

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