Cold War and Global Events Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the Cold War and global events.

Capitalism

Economic system characterized by private ownership and free markets, predominantly associated with the USA during the Cold War.

Communism

Political and economic ideology advocating for collective ownership of property and means of production, primarily associated with the USSR during the Cold War.

Containment

US foreign policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

Truman Doctrine

1947 policy offering US support to countries resisting communism.

Marshall Plan

US initiative providing $13 billion in aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to prevent communism.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a military alliance established in 1949 by the US and Western European nations.

Warsaw Pact

Military alliance formed by the USSR and Eastern European countries in response to NATO, established in 1955.

Berlin Airlift

1948-49 operation where the US and UK airlifted supplies into West Berlin during a Soviet blockade.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts where the US and USSR supported opposing sides without direct military engagement.

Korean War

Cold War conflict from 1950-1953 that divided North and South Korea along the 38th parallel.

Vietnam War

Cold War conflict in which North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, fought South Vietnam, supported by the USA.

USSR invasion of Afghanistan (1979)

Military intervention by the Soviet Union to support a communist government, sparked significant US opposition.

Mujahideen

Afghan resistance fighters funded by the US to oppose the Soviet occupation.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 standoff between the US and USSR that brought the world close to nuclear war.

MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

Doctrine stating that if two opposing sides both have nuclear capabilities, neither would initiate a conflict.

United Nations (UN)

Global organization established in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation among countries.

Yalta Conference

1945 meeting of Allied leaders to discuss the postwar reorganization of Germany and Europe.

COMECON

The USSR’s economic aid program for Eastern European countries.

Non-Aligned Movement

A coalition of countries that chose not to formally align with either the US or USSR during the Cold War.

Sputnik

The first artificial satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957, marking the start of the Space Race.

Apollo 11

US space mission that successfully landed the first humans on the moon in 1969.

Al-Qaeda

Terrorist organization responsible for the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Osama bin Laden

Leader of Al-Qaeda, known for orchestrating the 9/11 attacks.

Military-Industrial Complex

The interdependent relationship between defense contractors and government, warned about by President Eisenhower.

De-Colonization

The process in which colonies gained independence from colonial powers after WWII.

Kwame Nkrumah

Leader who advocated for African unity and independence from colonial rule.

Berlin Wall

Structure that symbolized the division of East and West Berlin, torn down in 1989.

Domino Theory

The belief that the fall of one country to communism would trigger the spread of communism to neighboring countries.

Iranian Revolution

1979 event that led to the overthrow of US-backed leader Shah and establishment of an Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Khomeini

Leader of Iran following the 1979 revolution.

Rwandan Genocide

1994 massacre in Rwanda resulting in the deaths of 800,000 people in just 100 days.

Globalization

The process of increased interconnectedness among countries in terms of economy, culture, and populations.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

International organization established in 1995 to regulate global trade.

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement, a treaty to reduce trade barriers between the US, Canada, and Mexico.

COVID-19

Pandemic that began in 2020, highlighting the risks of globalization.

Apartheid

System of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa.

Nelson Mandela

Key figure in the fight against apartheid in South Africa, becoming the country's first black president.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

US-led military operation that invaded Iraq in 2003.

Taliban

Islamic fundamentalist political group that controlled Afghanistan prior to 2001.

Tiananmen Square Protest

1989 student-led protest in China demanding democratic reforms.

Cultural Globalization

The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies across the world through trade, travel, and media.

Causes of Cold War Decolonization Movements

Rise of nationalism, European powers’ weakened state post-WWII, and competitive influence from superpowers.