Cold War Vocab

Cold War

A period of political tension and military rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

Soviet Union

A socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991, encompassing Russia and surrounding republics.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953, known for his authoritarian regime and significant role in post-war Europe.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.

Security Council

A component of the United Nations responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

World Bank

An international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of developing countries for development projects.

Communist Satellites

Nations in Eastern Europe that were under the influence or control of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Occupation Zones

Areas of Germany divided among the Allies after World War II for administrative control.

Iron Curtain

The political and military barrier that isolated Eastern Europe from the West after World War II.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister during World War II, known for his leadership against Nazi Germany and for coining the term 'Iron Curtain.'

Historians Traditionalist vs Revisionist

A debate among historians regarding the interpretation of historical events, particularly the Cold War.

George Kennan

An American diplomat and historian known for his role in formulating the containment policy against Soviet expansion.

Dean Acheson

U.S. Secretary of State who played a key role in the development of the Marshall Plan and containment policy.

Containment Policy

A strategic foreign policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism beyond its existing borders.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. policy established in 1947 to provide economic and military aid to countries resisting communism.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe to help rebuild economies after World War II.

Berlin Airlift

A military operation that took place in 1948-1949 to supply West Berlin with food and fuel after the Soviet blockade.

East Germany

The German Democratic Republic, a socialist state from 1949-1990 under Soviet influence.

West Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany, established in 1949 as a democratic state aligned with the West.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949 for mutual defense against aggression.

National Security Act

A U.S. law enacted in 1947 that reorganized the military and intelligence services during the Cold War.

Nuclear Arms Race

A competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to build up their respective stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

NSC-68

A key U.S. policy document that advocated for a significant increase in military spending to counter the Soviet threat.

U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty

A 1951 treaty allowing the U.S. to maintain military bases in Japan and ensuring mutual defense.

Douglas MacArthur

A U.S. General who played a prominent role in the Pacific theatre during World War II and in the Korean War.

Chinese Civil War

A civil conflict in China from 1927 to 1950 between the Nationalists and Communists, leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Chiang Kai-shek

A Chinese military leader and politician who served as the leader of the Nationalist government in China.

Taiwan

An island that became the refuge for the Kuomintang government after their defeat by the Communists in the Chinese Civil War.

Mao Zedong

The founding father of the People's Republic of China, a communist revolutionary who led the country from 1949 until his death in 1976.

People's Republic of China

A communist state established in 1949 after the victory of the Chinese Communist Party in the civil war.

Korean War

A conflict from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea (with support from China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (with support from the U.S. and others).

Kim Il Sung

The founding leader of North Korea, ruling from its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994.

Syngman Rhee

The first President of South Korea, serving from 1948 until 1960.

UN Police Action

Refers to United Nations-led military interventions, notably in the Korean War, often without a formal declaration of war.

38th Parallel

The line that divided North and South Korea prior to and during the Korean War.

Soft on Communism

A term used to describe policies or actions perceived as being too lenient towards communism.

Loyalty Review Board

A board established in the U.S. to investigate the loyalty of government employees and others during the Red Scare.

Smith Act (1940)

A U.S. law that made it a crime to advocate the violent overthrow of the government.

Dennis et al. vs. U.S.

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1951 that upheld the conviction of Communist Party leaders under the Smith Act.

McCarran Internal Security Act

A 1950 U.S. law aimed at protecting the country from Communist infiltration.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that investigated alleged disloyalty and subversive activities.

Hollywood Blacklists

Lists of individuals in the film industry who were denied employment due to suspected communist ties or sympathies.

Freedom of Expression in Arts

The principle that artists should have the freedom to express their ideas and opinions without censorship.

Alger Hiss

A former State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy and convicted of perjury in 1950.

Whittaker Chambers

A former communist who accused Alger Hiss of espionage, leading to a highly publicized trial.

Rosenberg Case

The trial and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in 1953, accused of espionage for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviets.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. Senator known for his anti-communist investigations and accusations during the early Cold War.

McCarthyism

The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper evidence, often associated with the Red Scare.