International Relations 1945-2003: Cold War and War on Terror

Flashcards based on significant events, developments, and personalities associated with the Cold War and the 'war on terror'.

What event marked the beginning of the Cold War?

Post-war conferences and the division of Europe between the US and USSR.

What was the Iron Curtain?

A term used to describe the division between the communist East and the democratic West in Europe.

What was the significance of the Truman Doctrine?

It established the policy of containment to prevent the spread of communism.

What was the Marshall Plan?

An American initiative that provided economic aid to Western Europe after WWII to prevent communist influence.

What were the flashpoints in Europe during the Cold War?

Key crises such as the Berlin Blockade, the Hungarian Uprising, and the Prague Spring.

What was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962?

A 13-day confrontation between the US and USSR that resulted in the withdrawal of Soviet missiles from Cuba.

What were Gorbachev's policies of Glasnost and Perestroika?

Glasnost was about openness and transparency in government, while Perestroika referred to economic restructuring.

What did the Brezhnev Doctrine state?

The Soviet Union's right to intervene in countries where communism was threatened.

What triggered the Iraq War in 2003?

The belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and was a threat to international security.

What happened on September 11, 2001, in the context of the 'war on terror'?

Terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda on US soil, leading to military responses in Afghanistan.