Cold War Overview: Causes, Conflicts, and Comparisons

How did the outcome of World War II contribute to the development of the Cold War?

Tensions grew between the U.S. and the Soviet Union despite being wartime allies due to distrust of Stalin, differing ideologies, and Stalin's actions in Eastern Europe.

What were the main disagreements between the U.S. and the Soviet Union at the Yalta Conference?

Stalin wanted to spread communism and create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe, while the U.S. wanted free elections and democracy.

What significant event in 1948 marked the beginning of the Cold War in Eastern Europe?

By 1948, most of Eastern Europe was under Soviet control.

What was the Berlin Wall and why was it built?

Built in 1961 to stop East Germans from escaping to the democratic West.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

A U.S. policy to help countries like Greece and Turkey fight against communism.

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

To provide financial aid to rebuild Western Europe and prevent the spread of communism.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

A U.S. operation (1948-49) to supply West Berlin after Stalin blocked access.

What happened during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956?

Hungary attempted to leave Soviet control, leading to a Soviet invasion.

What occurred during the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia in 1968?

Attempts at reforms were crushed by the Soviet Union.

What were NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

NATO was a military alliance of Western nations, while the Warsaw Pact was a military alliance of Soviet-aligned countries.

What initiated the nuclear arms race during the Cold War?

The U.S. created the atomic bomb in 1945, followed by the Soviet Union in 1949.

What does MAD stand for and what does it imply?

Mutually Assured Destruction; it implies that both sides would be destroyed in a nuclear war.

What treaties were established to limit nuclear weapons during the Cold War?

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963), SALT I (1972), SALT II (1979), START (1991), and NPT (1968).

How did the Cold War extend beyond Europe?

The U.S. and USSR engaged in conflicts and formed alliances in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962?

It was the closest moment to nuclear war during the Cold War, resulting in the USSR removing missiles from Cuba after a U.S. blockade.

How did the U.S. and USSR differ in their government systems during the Cold War?

The U.S. had a democratic government with free elections, while the USSR was a one-party communist state.

What type of economy did the Soviet Union have?

A command economy where the government made all economic decisions.

What ideals were promoted by the United States during the Cold War?

Freedom, prosperity, and individual choice.

What was McCarthyism?

A campaign against suspected communists in the U.S., characterized by aggressive investigations and accusations.

What was the overall ideological battle of the Cold War?

The Cold War represented a battle between U.S. democracy and capitalism versus Soviet communism and a command economy.

What were the consequences of decolonization during the Cold War?

New nations often chose sides between the U.S. and USSR, influencing independence movements.

Who were notable dissidents in the Soviet Union?

Andrei Sakharov and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who faced punishment for their criticisms.