cold war

Cold War (1949-1991)

Time period of increased tensions between the United States and Soviet Union

US against the spread of Communism (USSR)

Asia, Latin America, and all of Europe involved

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Alliance formed in 1949 between US, Canada, and Western Europe

Warsaw Pact

Alliance organized by the Soviet Union and Eastern European satellite nations AGAINST NATO

Satellite Nation

A country in Eastern Europe under communist control of the Soviet Union during the Cold War

Marshall Plan

US program dedicated to providing aid to Eastern Europe blocked by the Soviet Union

The Berlin Airlift

US airlift mission to supply aid/resources to the people of West Berlin blockaded by the Soviet Union

Location/Division of Berlin

Berlin located in the Soviet Zone of East Germany

Berlin divided between Allies (US/GB/FR) and Soviet Union creating East and West Berlin

The Berlin Wall (1961-1991)

Constructed in 1961 under orders from Khrushchev

Goal: to keep East Berliners IN East Berlin

Fall of the Berlin Wall (1991)

Ends the Cold War— November 1991

Gorbachev & Reagan

People in East Berlin/Germany allowed to cross into West Berlin FREELY!!

Mao Zedong

Communist leader of China from 1949 to 1976

Has support from the PEASANTS!

The Long March (1934)

Communist Red Army escapes to northern China during the civil war

The Great Leap Forward

Mao's 5 year plan to increase China's economy in industry, agriculture, and society

Result: FAILURE

The Cultural Revolution

Mao's plans to create a "new" communist China— get rid of rich class, traditional values, and capitalism

Korean War

Conflict between Communist North Korea and Non-Communist South Korea

US helps South Korea by creating a UN military force

38th Parallel

Division of North and South Korea

Result of the Korean War

Korea remains divided at the 38th parallel between Communist North and Democratic South

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

The border of North and South Korea where troops are stationed but no military action occurs

Vietnam War

Conflict between Communist North Vietnam and Non-Communist South Vietnam from 1954-1975

Ho Chi Minh

Nationalist leader of North Vietnam, supported by USSR and China

Dinh Diem

Leader of South Vietnam, supported by US

Vietcong

North Vietnamese troops who used guerilla warfare

Domino Theory

US theory stating if one country would fall to communism, they all would

Gulf of Tonkin & Tet Offensive

2 events during the Vietnam War increasing US involvement

Result of the Vietnam War

Cease-fire is signed by US in January of 1973; war ends in 1975

North Vietnam invades South Vietnam, captures Saigon.

RESULT: Vietnam 1 united communist country

Deng Xiaoping

Communist leader of China after Mao Zedong

4 Modernizations of Deng Xiaoping

Focus on economic growth in Agriculture, Industry, Military, and Science

Tiananmen Square Massacre

A protest in 1989 by students demanding more democratic freedoms; against Deng Xiaoping

China's 1 Baby Policy

Policy of Deng Xiaoping to increase economic growth and to stabilize China's growing population problems.

Fidel Castro

Leader of Communist Cuba; led Cuban revolution of 1959

Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, confrontation between the US and Soviet Union

US has missiles in Turkey, USSR puts missiles in Cuba— fear of nuclear war

Result: US blockades Cuba, no military action

Leaders: Khrushchev, Kennedy, Castro

Bay of Pigs

Unsuccessful US operation to overthrow Castro in Cuba— used Cuban refugees— FAIL

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the USSR (1925-1952); 5 year plans, spread communism to Eastern Europe

Nikita Khrushchev

Leader of the USSR (1953-1964); Detente, Peaceful Coexistence, Cuban Missile Crisis

Is removed from power in 1964

Detente

Ease of Cold War tensions

Leonid Brezhnev

Leader of the USSR (1964-1982) returns to Stalin-era policies

Mikhail Gorbachev

Leader of the USSR (1982-1991)—ends the Cold War; fall of the Berlin Wall; collapse of the Soviet Union

Fall of the Soviet Union (1991)

Rising economic problems, Gorbachev increasing freedoms, Gorbachev decreasing nuclear missile programs, decrease of nationalism- FALL

When USSR Falls—- Eastern European Satellites gain independence (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia)

Fall of the Berlin Wall=End of Cold War

Boris Yeltisn

1st President of newly reformed Russia—elected

Pol Pot

Leader of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia

Genocide in Cambodia (1975)

Under the leadership of Pol Pot & the Khmer Rouge— 3 million Cambodians killed

Khmer Rouge

Communist government of Cambodia; creates an agricultural communist society

Glasnost

Policy of Gorbachev moving towards more open & freer discussion— a movement towards democracy in the USSR

Perestroika

Policy of Gorbachev moving towards more a more capitalist economy; allowing more free market policies

Eastern European Satellite States Revolt

Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia all attempt to revolt to get rid of USSR control; in all the countries the USSR quickly stops their revolution attempts.

Proxy Wars of the Cold War

A war that results when opposing powers use third parties as substitutes for fighting each other directly. While powers have sometimes used governments as proxies, violent non-state actors, mercenaries, or other third parties are more often employed. It is hoped that these groups can strike an opponent without leading to full-scale war.

Examples: Korean War, Vietnam War, African Civil Wars, Cuban Missile Crisis, Soviets & Afghanistan

Arms Race

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

Space Race

the competition between nations regarding achievements in the field of space exploration.