The Global Cold War and its Fallout: From Yalta to Malta

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the Global Cold War, essential for understanding the era's political climate and major events.

Cold War

A state of geopolitical tension between the Eastern Bloc led by the USSR and the Western Bloc led by the US, beginning after World War II.

Yalta Conference

A meeting in February 1945 between leaders of the US, UK, and USSR to discuss post-war reorganization.

Berlin Blockade

A Soviet attempt to cut off Allied access to West Berlin from June 1948 to May 1949.

Containment Policy

A United States policy using numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism abroad.

Brezhnev Doctrine

A policy by Leonid Brezhnev that declared the USSR would intervene in any socialist country facing internal or external challenges.

Operation Condor

A campaign of political repression and state terror involving coordinated efforts among several South American governments to eliminate leftist opposition.

Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)

A doctrine of military strategy which argues that full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

Prague Spring

A period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the spring of 1968 that was ended by a Soviet invasion.

NATO

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

Warsaw Pact

A collective defense treaty established in 1955 between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern bloc countries.

U-2 Incident

The shooting down of a U-2 spy plane by the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, which escalated tensions between the two superpowers.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 13-day confrontation between the US and USSR in October 1962 over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba.

Iron Curtain

The notional barrier separating the former Soviet bloc and the West prior to the decline of communism in Eastern Europe.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 involving the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the US.

Detente

The easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation, through verbal communication or negotiations.

Domino Theory

A political theory that suggests the spread of one political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative that provided over $12 billion in economic assistance to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II.

Iron Curtain Speech

A speech delivered by Winston Churchill in 1946 that described the division between Western powers and Soviet-controlled regions.

Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship

A 1950 agreement between the USSR and China aiming for mutual assistance and defense against common threats.

Ostpolitik

West Germany's policy of improving relations with East Germany and Eastern Europe.

Cold War

A state of geopolitical tension between the Eastern Bloc led by the USSR and the Western Bloc led by the US, beginning after World War II.

Yalta Conference

A meeting in February 1945 between leaders of the US, UK, and USSR to discuss post-war reorganization.

Berlin Blockade

A Soviet attempt to cut off Allied access to West Berlin from June 1948 to May 1949.

Containment Policy

A United States policy using numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism abroad.

Brezhnev Doctrine

A policy by Leonid Brezhnev that declared the USSR would intervene in any socialist country facing internal or external challenges.

Operation Condor

A campaign of political repression and state terror involving coordinated efforts among several South American governments to eliminate leftist opposition.

Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)

A doctrine of military strategy which argues that full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

Prague Spring

A period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the spring of 1968 that was ended by a Soviet invasion.

NATO

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

Warsaw Pact

A collective defense treaty established in 1955 between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern bloc countries.

U-2 Incident

The shooting down of a U-2 spy plane by the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, which escalated tensions between the two superpowers.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 13-day confrontation between the US and USSR in October 1962 over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba.

Iron Curtain

The notional barrier separating the former Soviet bloc and the West prior to the decline of communism in Eastern Europe.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 involving the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the US.

Detente

The easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation, through verbal communication or negotiations.

Domino Theory

A political theory that suggests the spread of one political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative that provided over $12 billion in economic assistance to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II.

Iron Curtain Speech

A speech delivered by Winston Churchill in 1946 that described the division between Western powers and Soviet-controlled regions.

Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship

A 1950 agreement between the USSR and China aiming for mutual assistance and defense against common threats.

Ostpolitik

West Germany's policy of improving relations with East Germany and Eastern Europe.

Proxy War

A conflict where major powers support opposing sides in a third country without engaging in direct military combat with each other.

Joseph Stalin

The leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until 1953, responsible for establishing the Eastern Bloc and formulating early Cold War policies.

Harry S. Truman

The 33rd U.S. President who articulated the Truman Doctrine and authorized the Marshall Plan to curb Soviet expansion.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader from 1953 to 1964 who engaged in "De-Stalinization" and led the USSR during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the start of the Space Race.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The final Soviet leader (1985-1991) whose reforms led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Truman Doctrine

A 1947 foreign policy statement declaring that the US would support free peoples resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.

SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

A series of bilateral agreements between the US and USSR in the 1970s aimed at limiting the manufacturing and deployment of nuclear missiles.

Helsinki Accords

A 1975 agreement signed by 35 nations to improve relations between the Communist bloc and the West by recognizing post-WWII borders and human rights.

Korean War Summary

A major conflict (1950-1953) between North Korea (supported by China and the USSR) and South Korea (supported by the UN and the US), ending in a stalemate.

Space Race

The technological competition between the US and USSR (1957-1975) for supremacy in spaceflight capability and exploration.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

A symbolic event in 1989 that marked the collapse of communist control in Eastern Europe and the impending reunification of Germany.

Glasnost

A policy of increased transparency and openness in government activities in the Soviet Union introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Perestroika

The economic and political restructuring of the Soviet Union initiated in the late 1980s to modernize the Soviet system.

Potsdam Conference Summary

The July 1945 meeting between Allied leaders to establish the post-war order and determine the administration of occupied Germany.

Cold War

A state of geopolitical tension between the Eastern Bloc led by the USSR and the Western Bloc led by the US, beginning after World War II.

Yalta Conference

A meeting in February 1945 between leaders of the US, UK, and USSR to discuss post-war reorganization.

Berlin Blockade

A Soviet attempt to cut off Allied access to West Berlin from June 1948 to May 1949.

Containment Policy

A United States policy using numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism abroad.

Brezhnev Doctrine

A policy by Leonid Brezhnev that declared the USSR would intervene in any socialist country facing internal or external challenges.

Operation Condor

A campaign of political repression and state terror involving coordinated efforts among several South American governments to eliminate leftist opposition.

Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)

A doctrine of military strategy which argues that full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

Prague Spring

A period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the spring of 1968 that was ended by a Soviet invasion.

NATO

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

Warsaw Pact

A collective defense treaty established in 1955 between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern bloc countries.

U-2 Incident

The shooting down of a U-2 spy plane by the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, which escalated tensions between the two superpowers.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 13-day confrontation between the US and USSR in October 1962 over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba.

Iron Curtain

The notional barrier separating the former Soviet bloc and the West prior to the decline of communism in Eastern Europe.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 involving the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the US.

Detente

The easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation, through verbal communication or negotiations.

Domino Theory

A political theory that suggests the spread of one political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative that provided over $12 billion in economic assistance to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II.

Iron Curtain Speech

A speech delivered by Winston Churchill in 1946 that described the division between Western powers and Soviet-controlled regions.

Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship

A 1950 agreement between the USSR and China aiming for mutual assistance and defense against common threats.

Ostpolitik

West Germany's policy of improving relations with East Germany and Eastern Europe.

Proxy War

A conflict where major powers support opposing sides in a third country without engaging in direct military combat with each other.

Joseph Stalin

The leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until 1953, responsible for establishing the Eastern Bloc and formulating early Cold War policies.

Harry S. Truman

The 33rd U.S. President who articulated the Truman Doctrine and authorized the Marshall Plan to curb Soviet expansion.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader from 1953 to 1964 who engaged in "De-Stalinization" and led the USSR during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the start of the Space Race.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The final Soviet leader (1985-1991) whose reforms led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Truman Doctrine

A 1947 foreign policy statement declaring that the US would support free peoples resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.

SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

A series of bilateral agreements between the US and USSR in the 1970s aimed at limiting the manufacturing and deployment of nuclear missiles.

Helsinki Accords

A 1975 agreement signed by 35 nations to improve relations between the Communist bloc and the West by recognizing post-WWII borders and human rights.

Korean War Summary

A major conflict (1950-1953) between North Korea (supported by China and the USSR) and South Korea (supported by the UN and the US), ending in a stalemate.

Space Race

The technological competition between the US and USSR (1957-1975) for supremacy in spaceflight capability and exploration.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

A symbolic event in 1989 that marked the collapse of communist control in Eastern Europe and the impending reunification of Germany.

Glasnost

A policy of increased transparency and openness in government activities in the Soviet Union introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Perestroika

The economic and political restructuring of the Soviet Union initiated in the late 1980s to modernize the Soviet system.

Potsdam Conference Summary

The July 1945 meeting between Allied leaders to establish the post-war order and determine the administration of occupied Germany.

Brinkmanship

The practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the very edge of war to force an opponent to back down, a key feature of mid-20th century diplomacy.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The 34th U.S. President who managed Cold War tensions, authorized the interstate highway system for defense, and warned against the military-industrial complex.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th U.S. President who handled the Cuban Missile Crisis and established the Peace Corps before his assassination in 1963.

Richard Nixon

The 37th U.S. President known for his policy of détente, visiting China to open diplomatic relations, and signing the SALT I treaty.

Ronald Reagan

The 40th U.S. President who significantly increased military spending to challenge the "Evil Empire" and worked with Gorbachev to reduce nuclear arms.

Leonid Brezhnev

General Secretary of the Soviet Union (1964-1982) who presided over the era governing the USSR during the height of the Cold War and the invasion of Afghanistan.

Fidel Castro

The communist leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008 who allied closely with the Soviet Union, leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Mao Zedong

The leader of the Chinese Communist Party and founder of the People's Republic of China, whose relations with the USSR eventually soured in the Sino-Soviet split.

Non-Aligned Movement

A group of states that did not formally align with or against either the US or the USSR during the Cold War.

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy in the early 1950s.

George Kennan

An American diplomat and historian best known as an advocate of the policy of containment to oppose Soviet expansionism.

Cold War

A state of geopolitical tension between the Eastern Bloc led by the USSR and the Western Bloc led by the US, beginning after World War II.