TPQ Feb 19

Anti-nuclear weapons movement

A global movement opposing nuclear weapons, gaining momentum during the Cold War due to the threat of nuclear war.

Bay of Pigs

A failed invasion of Cuba by U.S.-backed Cuban exiles in 1961, aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Berlin Airlift

A U.S.-led operation to supply West Berlin with food and supplies after the Soviet Union blocked land routes in 1948-1949.

Berlin Wall

A barrier built in 1961 by East Germany to prevent citizens from fleeing to West Berlin; a Cold War symbol that fell in 1989.

Big Three

The main Allied leaders of WWII: Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S.), Winston Churchill (UK), and Joseph Stalin (USSR).

Cold War

A geopolitical struggle (1945-1991) between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological, political, and military tensions.

Commune

A collective farming system used in Communist China, especially during the Great Leap Forward.

Communist Bloc

The Eastern European nations under Soviet influence during the Cold War.

Containment

The U.S. foreign policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism, articulated in the Truman Doctrine.

Contra War

A conflict in Nicaragua (1980s) between the U.S.-backed Contras and the socialist Sandinista government.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, nearly escalating to nuclear war.

Cultural Revolution

A movement (1966-1976) led by Mao Zedong to purge capitalist influences in China, causing widespread chaos.

Domino Theory

The U.S. belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow.

Great Leap Forward

A failed economic and social campaign in China (1958-1962) that led to mass starvation and economic disaster.

Hot Line

A direct communication link between the U.S. and USSR established after the Cuban Missile Crisis to prevent nuclear conflict.

Iron Curtain

A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the division between communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe.

Korean War

A conflict (1950-1953) between communist North Korea (backed by China and USSR) and capitalist South Korea (backed by the U.S.).

Marshall Plan

A U.S. economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to prevent the spread of communism.

Military-industrial complex

A term warning against the powerful influence of the defense industry on U.S. policy, coined by Eisenhower.

Mutual Assured Destruction

A Cold War doctrine stating that nuclear war would destroy both the U.S. and USSR, deterring its use.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949 to counter Soviet expansion.

Non-aligned Movement

A group of countries that remained neutral during the Cold War, led by nations like India and Yugoslavia.

Potsdam Conference

A 1945 meeting between the Allies to negotiate post-war Europe, increasing tensions between the U.S. and USSR.

Proxy War

A conflict in which powerful nations support opposing sides without direct involvement, e.g., the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Red Guard

Youth militia in China during the Cultural Revolution, tasked with enforcing Maoist ideology.

Satellite Countries

Eastern European nations under Soviet control during the Cold War.

Self-determination

The principle that nations have the right to govern themselves without external interference.

Sputnik

The first artificial satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957, sparking the space race.

Tehran Conference

A 1943 WWII meeting of the Big Three to discuss opening a second front against Nazi Germany.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. policy stating that the U.S. would support nations resisting communism.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote global peace and cooperation.

Vietnam War

A Cold War conflict (1955-1975) in which communist North Vietnam fought U.S.-backed South Vietnam.

Warsaw Pact

A Soviet-led military alliance formed in 1955 in response to NATO.

White Revolution

A series of reforms in Iran (1963-1979) aimed at modernization, but leading to political unrest.

Yalta Conference

A 1945 WWII meeting where the Big Three planned post-war Europe, leading to Cold War tensions.

Basque Homeland and Freedom (ETA)

A separatist group seeking Basque independence from Spain, responsible for terrorist attacks.

Biafran Civil War

A Nigerian civil war (1967-1970) over the secession of Biafra, resulting in mass starvation.

Brezhnev Doctrine

A Soviet policy justifying intervention in socialist countries to prevent anti-communist uprisings.

Camp David Accords

A 1978 peace agreement between Israel and Egypt brokered by U.S. President Carter.

Détente

A period of relaxed Cold War tensions between the U.S. and USSR in the 1970s.

Fatah

A major Palestinian political party originally involved in armed struggle against Israel.

Glasnost

A Soviet policy under Gorbachev promoting political openness and free speech.

Hamas

A Palestinian militant group governing Gaza, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries.

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)

A 1987 U.S.-Soviet arms control treaty eliminating certain nuclear missiles.

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

A paramilitary group seeking Northern Ireland’s independence from the UK.

Kashmir

A contested region between India and Pakistan, leading to multiple conflicts.

Kent State University

Site of a 1970 anti-Vietnam War protest where U.S. National Guard troops shot and killed four students.

Khmer Rouge

A brutal communist regime in Cambodia (1975-1979) responsible for mass genocide.

Metropole

A colonial power’s home country in relation to its colonies.

Muslim League

A political party that advocated for the creation of Pakistan.

One-party state

A political system where only one party governs, often authoritarian.

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)

A group representing Palestinian interests, historically involved in armed conflict.

Perestroika

A Soviet policy under Gorbachev to restructure the economy and political system.

Prague Spring

A 1968 Czechoslovak movement for political reforms, crushed by Soviet forces.

Quiet Revolution

A period of rapid social change in Quebec in the 1960s, promoting secularism and independence.

Shining Path

A Maoist guerrilla group in Peru, designated as a terrorist organization.

Six-Day War

A 1967 war where Israel defeated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, gaining significant territory.

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

U.S.-Soviet agreements limiting nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A U.S. missile defense program under Reagan, nicknamed “Star Wars.”

Suez Crisis

A 1956 conflict where Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt after it nationalized the Suez Canal.

Ulster Defence Association

A loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland.

Viet Cong

Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam who fought against the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces.

Yom Kippur War

A 1973 war where Arab nations attacked Israel; led to U.S. and Soviet involvement.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

U.S. president (1953-1961) who advocated for the containment of communism and warned of the military-industrial complex.

Lyndon B. Johnson

U.S. president (1963-1969) who escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

John F. Kennedy

U.S. president (1961-1963) known for handling the Cuban Missile Crisis and launching the space race.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader (1953-1964) who promoted de-Stalinization and confronted the U.S. in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. general during WWII and the Korean War, later dismissed for insubordination.

Haile Mariam Mengistu

Ethiopian dictator (1977-1991) responsible for mass repression and famine.

Mohammad Mosaddegh

Iranian prime minister overthrown in a 1953 U.S.-backed coup.

Muhammad Reza Pahlavi

The last shah of Iran, overthrown in the 1979 revolution.

Haile Selassie

Ethiopian emperor who resisted Italian invasion and was later overthrown.

Harry S. Truman

U.S. president (1945-1953) who initiated the Cold War containment policy.

Mao Zedong

Communist leader of China who established the People’s Republic in 1949.

Indira Gandhi

Prime Minister of India known for centralizing power and economic reforms.

Ronald Reagan

U.S. president (1981-1989) who escalated Cold War tensions and promoted military buildup.