Cold War

Iron Curtain

Europe was divided along political and economic ideologies. referred to the separation of the Communist “bloc” from the rest of Europe as this.

Containment

Rather than openly fighting against the Soviet Union, the Truman Doctrine was an alternative strategy that focused on stopping the spread of Communism, or this. The hope was that this policy would avoid a war with the Soviets and that communism

Truman Doctrine

Policy of containment. U.S. President Harry Truman announced that the United States would send aid and supplies to any nation or peoples that were threatened by Soviet aggression or the influence of communism.

Marshall Plan

In an effort to end postwar poverty and avoid another disaster of radical ideologies, The United States government offered a massive aid package (billions of dollars) to more European countries.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Defensive alliance created to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

Warsaw Pact

Alliance of Communist countries led by the Soviet Union. Aimed to maintain the existence and ensure the survival of Soviet power and influence.

M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction)

Since both nations (Soviet Union & U.S.) had the ability to launch nuclear weapons, they understood the consequences of ever using one.

Sputnik I

1st satellite in space

38th Parallel

a boundary that separated the two nations, in 1950 in an effort to reunite the country under a Communist regime.

Ho Chi Minh

 He was likely going to win the South/U.S. didn’t want to see a Communist leader win a popular election. Vietnam.

Fidel Castro

 a U.S. spy plane took pictures of the island of Cuba, a Communist nation led by

Douglas MacArthur

The UN’s forces were led by this person and they quickly pushed the North Korean army back towards, and eventually across, the 38th parallel. 

Mikhail Gorbachev

The Soviet Union finally ended in 1991 due to Russia’s weakening control over its satellite nations and lack of support for their President.