Module 15: The Bipolar Cold War

These flashcards cover the ideological struggles, major proxy wars, and key alliances of the Cold War era including the Chinese Civil War.

What is the historical timeframe of the Cold War as defined in the transcript?

1947-1991

How many civilian deaths are attributed to the Holocaust and Japanese brutality during World War II?

Over 40 million civilians

What was the core difference between the ideologies of Capitalism and Communism during the Cold War?

Capitalism supports private businesses and profit, while Communism seeks shared wealth and no private ownership.

What was the primary goal of the 1947 Truman Doctrine?

To contain the spread of communism by providing economic and military aid to anti-communist forces, specifically starting in Greece and Turkey.

Why did the U.S. and USSR avoid direct military conflict after 1951?

The policy of mutually assured destruction, established after the 1951 Soviet atomic bomb test, meant direct engagement would lead to the annihilation of both powers.

Identify the primary intelligence organizations used by the U.S. and USSR for espionage and sabotage.

The CIA for the United States and the KGB for the Soviet Union.

What program provided billions in grants and loans to help Europe rebuild while requiring a free market economy and democratic government?

The Marshall Plan

How did the United States and United Kingdom respond to Stalin's blockade of Berlin?

They peacefully endured the blockade by supplying trapped personnel via aircraft.

What military alliance was founded in 1949 to protect Western democracies from Soviet military interference?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Which nations were members of the Warsaw Pact formed in 1955?

Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania (Soviet-occupied communist states).

Which proxy war resulted in a stalemate with the territory remaining separated into North and South?

The Korean War (1950-53)

What term describes the controversial pattern of military spending, lobbying, and production via government contracts that continues to this day?

The military-industrial complex

Who were the leaders of the two opposing sides in the Chinese Civil War?

Chiang Kai-shek led the anti-communist Chinese National Party, and Mao Zedong led the Chinese Communist Party.

Why did Mao Zedong win mass support among the Chinese population?

He preached land distribution, food, and equality, which appealed to the vast Chinese peasantry.

Where did Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist Party retreat to after their defeat in 1949?

Taiwan