Cold War Glossary and Terms

Flashcards of Cold War terms and definitions.

Arms Race

A competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to manufacture the most nuclear weapons.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and the free market system.

Communism

An economic system based on government ownership and control of resources.

Détente

A softening or easing of relations between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Eastern Bloc

A name given to the Soviet Union and its communist-controlled states in Eastern Europe.

Eisenhower Doctrine

Stated that a country could ask for military support from the United States if threatened by another country.

Glasnost

A policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev that allowed for more openness in the Soviet government as well as some level of freedom of speech.

Iron Curtain

A descriptive term used to describe the border between the communist and democratic countries of Europe.

Marxism

An economic and political philosophy named after Karl Marx and the basis of many communist governments.

McCarthyism

Accusations of treason or disloyalty without evidence, named after Senator McCarthy.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance of democratic and western countries.

Nuclear weapon

A device that uses nuclear forces to create a huge explosion.

Perestroika

A term used by Mikhail Gorbachev to describe a reconstruction of the Soviet economy and industry.

Proxy War

When two sides use third parties to fight rather than fighting each other directly.

Red Scare

A time of extreme anti-communism in the United States.

SALT

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, where the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to limit the number of nuclear weapons they made.

Solidarity

A movement in Poland to create a trade union that was not controlled by the communist party.

Space Race

A competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to explore space.

Superpower

A country that is significantly stronger than most other countries, especially militarily.

Truman Doctrine

An effort to stop the spread of communism.

Warsaw Pact

An alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern Europe communist nations.