Postwar & Cold War Foreign Policy: Truman Administration

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Truman Administration's foreign policy during the postwar and Cold War period.

George Kennan

An American diplomat who wrote the Long Telegram in 1946, arguing that the Soviet Union was expansionist and that the U.S. should adopt containment.

Long Telegram

A message explaining Soviet hostility and recommending containment.

Iron Curtain

Term describing the division between Eastern and Western Europe.

GATT

Agreement to reduce tariffs and promote trade.

East and West Germany

Germany divided into democratic West and communist East.

Mao Zedong

Leader who established communist China in 1949.

Truman Doctrine

Policy providing aid to resist communism.

NATO

Military alliance against Soviet aggression.

38th parallel

Boundary dividing North and South Korea.

Containment

Policy to stop the spread of communism.

Marshall Plan

Economic aid to rebuild Europe.

Berlin Blockade

Soviet attempt to block West Berlin.

Warsaw Pact

Soviet military alliance.

Korean War

War to contain communism in Korea.

Deterioration of U.S.-USSR relationship

Deteriorated due to ideological differences and distrust, with the USSR expanding into Eastern Europe viewed as a threat.

U.S. policy of containment

Initiated based on George Kennan’s ideas and fear of communist expansion, utilizing aid and alliances.