APWH UNIT 8 Part 1: The Cold War

Review flashcards for the Cold War, covering context, major events, and impacts.

Tehran Conference (1943)

Allies agree to an end strategy for WWII. Russia will attack from the east, US and Britain will attack from the West. In return, USSR will get part of Poland at the end of the war.

Yalta Conference (1945)

Allies discuss what to do after WWII in Europe and how to defeat Japan. FDR/US wants free elections, Stalin/USSR wants control over Eastern Europe.

Potsdam Conference (1945)

Allies discuss peace in Europe. Stalin refuses to leave Eastern Europe. Germany is split into four sections between Allied powers.

Cold War

Conflict that does not involve direct military confrontation between the immediate rival states.

Iron Curtain

Winston Churchill’s metaphor describing the split between Western and Eastern Europe.

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Organization formed in 1949 to support member nations in conflicts/wars and prevent the spread of communism.

Domino Theory

The idea that the spread of communism will topple one government after another until it reaches us.

Containment

The best way to stop communism is to accept it where it is, and halt its spread (quarantine it).

Truman Doctrine

Promise that the US would stop communist influence, especially in Greece/Turkey with economic and military support.

Marshall Plan

Offered 12 billion to all nations of Europe to modernize industry, support trade, rebuild infrastructure.

Warsaw Pact

USSR and the communist bloc (1955). Views the West as aggressive.

COMECON

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; like the Marshall Plan but for Eastern European satellite states.

Non-Aligned Movement

Countries (usually African and Asian ones) who wanted to stay out of the Cold War.

Bandung Conference

Delegates from 29 countries condemned colonialism.

Arms Race

Stockpiling and mass production of nuclear weapons

Hydrogen Bomb

Developed in 1950s by the US and USSR, more powerful than atom bombs.

Military-Industrial Complex

Close relationship between military and industry that develops weapons, leads to informal alliance between government and large defense contractors.

Mutually Assured Destruction

Idea that it does not matter which country fires first, both would be destroyed; helped prevent the use of nuclear weapons.

Space Race

Competition between the US and USSR to achieve milestones in space.

Proxy Wars

major powers help bring about conflict between other nations but do not fight one another directly

Berlin Blockade

USSR wants to control all of Berlin, so blockades the zones to prevent the West from accessing it/sending supplies.

Berlin Airlift:

Allies fly supplies over blockade and airdrop necessities to west Berlin

Berlin Wall

citizens of East Germany migrate to the West, about 2.5 million; but the USSR views this as a threat to their economy and their pride, so they set up fence and then a permanent wall in 1961

Korean War (1950-1953)

North becomes communist DPRK, South becomes non communist ROK

Bay of Pigs Crisis (1961)

Kennedy/US government gave support to Cuban exiles, who were trained by the CIA to invade Cuba and assassinate Castro

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

USSR sends nuclear weapons to Cuba in 1962 (US had shipped missiles to Turkey in 1961)

Hot Line

direct link between US and USSR offices set up for better communication in the future

RED SCARE

Countries are afraid of communism because of the way in which it tends to emerge…they usually see government coups and dictators or totalitarian regimes

Test Ban Treaty:

to limit radiation exposure, in 1963 USSR, US, 100 nations sign (not France and China) outlawing testing nuclear weapons above ground, underwater, and in space

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

1968 asked countries with nuclear weapons to prevent nuclear technology/materials spreading to countries without it

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

in 1987, restricted creation and use of intermediate-range nuclear weapons, signals thawing of Cold War

Detente

Time period in 1960s and 1970s after Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis where the relationship between the USSR and US was more relaxed

SALT: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty of 1972

agreement between USSR and US that froze the number of ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missiles) that each was allowed to have

Soviet-Afghan War

USSR invades Afghanistan in order to support the communist regime, which is under attack

Strategic Defense Initiative

plan to create a defense system that would prevent missiles hitting the US or USSR (specifically via space)

Perestroika

restructure the strict government-controlled economy to one with some private ownership

Glasnost

opening up Soviet society to more freedoms and granting more access to political system