Cold War Beginnings and Mao’s China

Cold war

A period of tension and rivalry (1947–1991) between the United States and the Soviet Union without direct large-scale war.

Denazification

The process after WWII of removing Nazi influence from Germany and punishing those responsible.

Truman Doctrine

A policy by Harry S. Truman to stop the spread of communism by supporting threatened countries.

Iron Curtain

A term describing the division between Western Europe and Eastern communist countries, popularized by Winston Churchill.

Marshall Plan

U.S. financial aid program to rebuild Western European economies after WWII and prevent communism.

Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

A mission (1948–1949) where the U.S. and allies flew supplies into West Berlin during a Soviet blockade.

NATO

A military alliance (1949) of Western countries formed for mutual defense against the Soviet Union.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance (1955) of communist countries led by the Soviet Union in response to NATO.

United Nations

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

Mao Zedong

Communist leader of China who established the People’s Republic in 1949.

Great Leap Forward

Mao’s campaign (1958–1962) 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 sayings by Mao Zedong used to spread communist ideology.