Section I: Cold War Beginnings and Mao’s China

Cold War

A period of political tension and rivalry (1947–1991) between the USA and the Soviet Union, without direct large-scale war

Denazification

The process after World War II of removing Nazi influence and ideology from Germany’s government, society, and institutions

Truman Doctrine

A 1947 U.S. policy to contain communism by providing political, military, and economic support to countries threatened by it

Iron Curtain

A term describing the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe during the Cold War

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program (1948) that provided economic aid to rebuild Western Europe after World War II and prevent the spread of communism

Berlin Airlift

A 1948–1949 operation where the U.S. and allies flew supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked land access

NATO

A military alliance (founded 1949) between Western countries for mutual defense

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance (1955) of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist states, created in response to NATO

UN

An international organization (founded 1945) aimed at promoting peace, security, and cooperation among countries

Mao Zedong

The leader of the Chinese Communist Party and founder of the People’s Republic of China (1949)

Great Leap Forward

A campaign (1958–1962) by Mao to rapidly industrialize China, which led to economic failure and famine

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

A movement (1966–1976) led by Mao to enforce communist ideology, causing social chaos and persecution

Little Red Book

A collection of Mao Zedong’s quotations used as a propaganda tool during the Cultural Revolution