Unit 8: Cold War & Decolonization

Time Period 4

Communist State

a one-party state that is administered and governed by a communist party guided by Marxism-Leninism

Communism

Communism is an economic ideology that advocates for a classless society in which all property and wealth are communally-owned, instead of by individuals

Socialism

A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production.

Totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution, laws, opposition etc.)

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership of capital

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Stalin

Russian leader who succeeded Lenin as head of the Communist Party and created a totalitarian state by purging all opposition (1879-1953)

The Great Terror/Purge

The widespread arrests and executions of over a million people by Josef Stalin between 1936 and 1938. Stalin was attempting to eliminate all opposition to his rule of the Soviet Union.

Mao Zedong

(1893-1976) Leader of the Communist Party in China that overthrew the Nationalists. Established China as the People's Republic of China and ruled from 1949 until 1976.

Great Leap Forward

China's second five-year plan under the leadership of the impatient Mao, it aimed to speed up economic development while simultaneously developing a completely socialist society. This plan failed and more than 20 million people starved between 1958 and 1960.

Cultural Revolution

Campaign in China ordered by Mao Zedong to purge the Communist Party of his opponents and instill revolutionary values in the younger generation.

Deng Xiaoping

Communist Party leader who seen as responsible for Chinese economic reforms after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. Reforms included introduction of some capitalist elements (e.g., Western-style consumerism).

Cold War

a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare

Red Scare

Intense fear of communism and other politically radical ideas

super powers

refers to the United States and the Soviet Union, who became 2 most powerful military forces in the world during the Cold War.

Arms Race

Cold war competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to build up their respective armed forces and weapons

Space Race

A competition of space exploration between the United States and Soviet Union.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Military alliance created in 1949 made up of 12 non-Communist countries including the United States that support each other if attacked. Formed in response to the perceived communist threat and the formation of the Warsaw Pact.

Warsaw Pact

treaty signed in 1945 that formed an alliance of the Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain; USSR, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania

Iron Curtain

A political barrier that isolated the peoples of Eastern Europe after WWII, restricting their ability to travel outside the region

Marshall Plan

A United States program of economic aid for the reconstruction of Europe (1948-1952)

Containment Policy

US policy to stop expansion of Soviet Union and Communism

Domino Effect

the theory that a political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries, like a falling domino causing an entire row of upended dominoes to fall.

Berlin Wall

A wall separating East and West Berlin built by East Germany in 1961 to keep citizens from escaping to the West

Proxy War

a war in which the powers in conflict use third parties as substitutes instead of fighting each other directly

coup

a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government

Korean War

Cold War conflict between Communist North Korea and Non-Communist South Korea. The United Nations (led by the United States) aided South Korea. China and the USSR aided North Korea.

Soviet-Afghan War

Cold War conflict between the Soviet supported communist government of Afghanistan and the Mujaheddin rebels, who received weapons and training from the US.

Vietnam War

Cold War conflict between the communist armies of North Vietnam who were supported by the Chinese and the USSR, and the non-communist armies of South Vietnam, who were supported by the United States.

Contra War

Cold War conflict between contras (various U.S.-backed and funded right-wing rebel groups) and left-wing, socialist Sandinista Junta in Nicaragua (1979-1990s)

Iran-Contra Affair

scandal including arms sales to the Middle East in order to send money to help the Contras in Nicaragua even though Congress had objected

Iranian Revolution

revolution against the US backed shah of Iran led by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which resulted in Iran becoming an Islamic republic with Khomeini as its leader

Guatemalan Coup

The CIA-led coup that overthrew Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 in order to maintain American domination of Guatemala's economy.

Chilean Coup

US aided 1973 overthrow of democratically elected, socialist president Allende by military dictator Pinochet

Dirty War in Argentina

War waged by the Argentine military against leftist groups. Characterized by the use of illegal imprisonment, torture, and executions by the military.

Communist Genocide of Indonesia

Anti-communist genocide instigated by the Indonesian Army under right-wing military leader Suharto after arresting power from communist president Sukarno

Congo Crisis

period of political upheaval and conflict in the Republic of the Congo between 1960 and 1965, which included CIA backed assassination of suspected socialist prime minister Lumumba; resulted in decades of military dictatorship under Mobuto

Cuban Revolution

A political revolution that removed the United States supported Batista from power. The revolution was led by Fidel Castro who became the new leader of Cuba as a communist dictator.

Bay of Pigs

An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba in 1961, which was sponsored by the United States. Its purpose was to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 crisis that arose between the United States and the Soviet Union over a Soviet attempt to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba

Decolonization

The collapse of colonial empires (between 1947 and 1962, most former colonies in Asia and Africa gained independence). Occurred in some regions as a result of wars for independence; in others, independence was granted response to nationalist movements and negotiations.

Indian National Congress

A movement and political party founded in 1885 to demand greater Indian participation in government. Its membership was middle class, and its demands were modest until World War I. Led after 1920 by Mohandas K. Gandhi, appealing to the poor.

Ghandi

leader of Indian National Congress, used non-violent protest to help gain Indian Independence

African National Congress

An organization dedicated to obtaining equal voting and civil rights for black inhabitants of South Africa. Founded in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress, it changed its name in 1923. Eventually brought greater equality.

Nelson Mandela

South African statesman and leader of the ANC who was released from prison to become the nation's first democratically elected president in 1994 (born in 1918); connected with the end of Apartheid in South Africa.

Pan-Africanism

the principle or advocacy of the political union of all the indigenous inhabitants of Africa.

Kwame Nkrumah

Leader of nonviolent protests for freedom on the Gold Coast. When independence was gained, he became the first prime minister of Ghana. He developed economic projects, but was criticized for spending too much time on Pan-African efforts, and neglecting his own countries' issues

Partition of India and Pakistan

the partition of British India and of the Dominion of Pakistan, promulgated in the Indian Independence Act 1947 and resulted in the dissolution of the British Indian Empire.

Formation of Israel

1948 formation of a Jewish state when the British mandate over Palestine expired. Led to movement of Palestinian refugees to nearby Muslim nations and the long-lasting Israel-Palestine conflict