Final Exam Cards

Palestinian Liberation Organization(PLO)

• Formed in 1964 to represent Palestinian Arabs and seek independence.

• Led by Yasser Arafat for many years.

Six-Day War

• Fought in 1967 between Israel and neighboring Arab states.

• Israel captured Gaza, West Bank, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.

Resolution 242

• Called for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories after the Six-Day War.

• Encouraged peace and recognition of all states in the region.

Yom Kippur War

• Egypt and Syria attacked Israel on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

• Led to oil embargoes and increased U.S.–Soviet tensions.

Camp David Accords

• Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel brokered by the U.S.

• Signed by Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin.

Balfour Declaration

• Britain supported creating a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

• Increased tensions between Jewish and Arab communities.

Prague Spring (1968)

• Movement for greater freedoms and less Soviet control.

• Crushed by Soviet troops and Warsaw Pact forces.

Ronald Reagan

• U.S. president during the later Cold War years.

• Increased military spending and pressured the Soviet Union.

Glasnost

• Policy introduced by Gorbachev allowing more freedom of speech.

• Exposed government problems and weakened Communist control.

Perestroika

• Economic reforms meant to improve the Soviet economy.

• Reduced government control over businesses and production.

Mikhail Gorbachev

• Last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985–1991.

• Introduced Glasnost and Perestroika reforms.

Cold War

• Political and ideological tension between the USA and the USSR after World War II

• Fought through rivalry, propaganda, arms race, and proxy wars rather than direct conflict

Denazification

• Process of removing Nazi influence from Germany after World War II

• Included trials, banning Nazi organizations, and re-education of German society

Truman Doctrine

• US policy announced in 1947 to stop the spread of communism

• Provided military and economic aid to countries like Greece and Turkey

Iron Curtain

• Term used by Winston Churchill to describe division between Eastern and Western Europe

• Symbolized Soviet control of Eastern Europe and separation from the West

Marshall Plan

• US economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe after World War II

• Aimed to prevent the spread of communism by improving economic stability

Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

• Western Allies flew supplies into West Berlin after Soviet blockade in 1948–49

• Showed Western commitment to resisting Soviet expansion without war

NATO

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization formed in 1949 as a military alliance

• Members agreed that an attack on one would be treated as an attack on all

Warsaw Pact

• Military alliance of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist states formed in 1955

• Created as a response to NATO and strengthened Soviet control in Eastern Europe

United Nations

• International organization created in 1945 to maintain peace and security

• Encouraged cooperation between nations and prevention of future world wars

Mao Zedong

• Communist leader who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949

• Introduced major social and economic reforms based on communist ideology

Great Leap Forward

• Campaign launched by Mao Zedong to rapidly industrialize China

• Led to famine, economic failure, and millions of deaths

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

• Movement started by Mao in 1965 to remove capitalist and traditional influences

• Caused chaos, persecution, and destruction of education and culture

Little Red Book

• Collection of quotations from Mao Zedong used for communist education

• Became a symbol of loyalty during the Cultural Revolution

JFK

• U.S. president during Cuban Missile Crisis

• Supported containment and space program expansion

Nikita Khrushchev

• Led the Soviet Union in the 1950s–60s

• Placed missiles in Cuba during 1962 crisis

Bay of Pigs

• Failed 1961 invasion of Cuba backed by the U.S.

• Strengthened Fidel Castro’s ties with Soviets

Cuban Missile Crisis

• 1962 standoff over Soviet missiles in Cuba

• Closest point to nuclear war during Cold War

Détente

• Period of eased tensions between U.S. and Soviet Union

• Focused on diplomacy and arms control

SALT I

• Strategic Arms Limitation Talks agreement (1972)

• Limited nuclear missile production by U.S. and Soviets

Helsinki Accords

• 1975 agreement on security and human rights in Europe

• Improved East-West relations during détente

Leonid Brezhnev

• Led Soviet Union after Khrushchev

• Expanded Soviet influence during Cold War

• Involved in detente

Fidel Castro

• Communist leader of Cuba

• Allied closely with Soviet Union

Richard Nixon

• Promoted détente with Soviets and China

• Signed SALT I agreement

• Involved in detente

Ostpolitik

• West German policy to improve relations with Eastern Europe

• Encouraged cooperation between East and West Germany

• Willy Brandt- leader of West Germany; wanted better relationship with East Germany

HUAC

• House Un-American Activities Committee

• Investigated suspected communists, especially in Hollywood

McCarthyism

• Anti-communist campaign led by Senator Joseph McCarthy

• Accused many without evidence; fueled fear in 1950s U.S.

Muhammed Mossadegh

• Iranian prime minister

• Forced out of power by CIA

Destalinization

• Policy by Nikita Khrushchev to reduce Stalin’s influence

• Eased repression; criticized Joseph Stalin’s rule

Arms Race

• U.S. vs. Soviet Union competition in nuclear weapons

• Led to buildup of ICBMs and hydrogen bombs

MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

• Idea that nuclear war would destroy both sides completely

• Helped prevent direct war between U.S. and Soviet Union during Cold War

Space Race

• Competition between U.S. and Soviet Union in space exploration

• Key events: Sputnik launch, moon landing

Suez Crisis

• 1956 conflict over Suez Canal control

• Egypt vs. Britain, France, Israel; Cold War tensions rise

Brinkmanship

• Strategy of pushing conflicts to the edge of war

• Used to force opponent to back down (nuclear threat)

Berlin Crisis

• Conflict over Berlin between U.S. and Soviet Union

• Led to the building of the Berlin Wall

Eisenhower

• U.S. president (1953–1961)

• Used containment + nuclear deterrence (“New Look” policy)

Domino Theory

• Idea that if one country became communist, nearby countries would follow

• Used by the U.S. to justify containment and involvement in wars like Vietnam War