Cold War Key Events and Policies: Postwar Europe, Alliances, and Conflicts

Potsdam/Yalta

Meetings after WWII where U.S. and Soviet leaders discussed postwar Europe; tensions and suspicion began that led to the Cold War.

NATO

Military alliance between the United States and Western European nations for mutual defense against the Soviet Union.

Warsaw Pact

Soviet-led military alliance formed to counter NATO.

Marshall Plan

U.S. program that gave billions of dollars to rebuild Western Europe after WWII.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy promising military and economic aid to countries threatened by communism.

Berlin Blockade/Airlift

Soviet blockade of West Berlin; the U.S. and allies flew supplies into the city to keep it alive.

Containment Theory

U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

Domino Theory

Belief that if one country fell to communism, nearby countries would also fall.

Space Race

Competition between the U.S. and USSR to achieve major space exploration milestones.

Arms Race

Competition between the U.S. and USSR to build more nuclear weapons.

Mutually Assured Destruction

Idea that if one side launched nuclear weapons, the other would retaliate and both sides would be destroyed.

Satellite Nations

Eastern European countries controlled by the Soviet Union that acted as a buffer zone.

World Revolution

Communist belief that communist revolutions should spread worldwide.

Non-aligned Movement

Group of countries that chose to remain neutral and not side with either the U.S. or the Soviet Union.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts where the U.S. and USSR supported opposing sides instead of fighting each other directly.

Korean War

First major Cold War proxy war between communist North Korea and U.N.-supported South Korea.

Vietnam War

Cold War proxy war in Southeast Asia where the U.S. tried to stop communism but communists took over in 1975.

Bay of Pigs Crisis

Failed U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Cuban Missile Crisis

13-day nuclear standoff between the U.S. and USSR over Soviet missiles in Cuba.