Cold War Era and the Collapse of the Soviet Union

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the major political events, leaders, doctrines, and crises of the Cold War from 1945 to 1991.

Cold War

An era of intense political, military, economic, and ideological tension between the Western Bloc (led by the US) and the Eastern Bloc (led by the USSR) characterized by proxy wars and nuclear threats rather than direct conflict.

Western Bloc

A group of nations led by the United States that adhered to Capitalism, Liberal Democracy, and the NATO alliance.

Eastern Bloc

A group of nations led by the Soviet Union (USSR) characterized by Communism, Authoritarian One-Party States, and the Warsaw Pact.

Yalta Conference (February 4–11, 1945)

A meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin where they agreed on Germany's unconditional surrender, four-way occupation zones, and the initial framework for the United Nations.

Potsdam Conference (July 17 – August 2, 1945)

A meeting between Truman, Stalin, and Churchill/Attlee to formalize the administration of Germany under the "five Ds" and demand the unconditional surrender of Japan.

The "five Ds"

The pillars used to administer Germany's occupation zones: demilitarization, denazification, democratization, decentralization, and deindustrialization.

Iron Curtain

A term famously used by Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the ideological division that had descended across the European continent.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

A pledge by U.S. President Harry S. Truman to provide economic and military aid to contain the spread of communism, specifically mentioned in the context of Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan (1948)

A U.S. proposal by George C. Marshall to provide Europe with $13 \text{ billion}$ in economic aid to stabilize economies and prevent the spread of communism.

Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948–1949)

A crisis where Joseph Stalin cut off ground access to West Berlin, leading the US and UK to deliver food and fuel by air for $11$ months until the blockade was lifted.

London Protocol

An agreement establishing discrete occupation zones in Berlin for the British, Americans, and later the French.

Korean War (1950–1953)

A conflict between communist North Korea (backed by USSR and China) and South Korea (backed by the UN and US) that ended in an armistice freezing the border near the $38\text{th}$ Parallel.

Berlin Wall (1961)

A physical barrier constructed by the East German government to prevent citizens from fleeing to the capitalist West through Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

A $13$-day standoff between the US and USSR over nuclear missiles in Cuba; it ended when Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove them in exchange for the US removing missiles from Turkey.

Vietnam War (1955–1975)

A conflict where the US intervened to stop North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam, characterized by guerrilla warfare and eventual US withdrawal in $1973$.

Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989)

An invasion where the USSR supported a communist regime against US-backed Mujahideen fighters; often called the "Soviet Union's Vietnam."

Mujahideen

Anti-Soviet insurgent fighters in Afghanistan who were armed by the United States, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Détente (1969–1979)

A period of easing tensions between the US and USSR under leaders Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev, marked by treaties such as SALT I.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

Also known as "Star Wars," a major defense spending increase initiated by President Ronald Reagan during the Second Cold War.

Glasnost

A reform policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev meaning "Openness," which allowed for political freedom, freedom of speech, and press transparency.

Perestroika

A reform policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev meaning "Restructuring," which involved economic decentralization and market elements.

Dissolution of the Soviet Union (December 26, 1991)

The official ending of the USSR, which resulted in the creation of $15$ independent nations and left the US as the world's sole superpower.