Cold War

Cold War

political and ideological rivalry after World War II between the USA and its allies and the USSR and its allies, without direct large-scale war between them.

Denazification

process after World War II of removing Nazi influence from Germany’s government, society, education, and economy.

Truman Doctrine

1947 U.S. policy promising support to countries resisting communism, especially Greece and Turkey.

Iron Curtain

term used by Winston Churchill to describe the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.

Marshall Plan

U.S. economic aid program (1948) to rebuild Western Europe after World War II and limit communist influence.

Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

1948–1949 operation where Western Allies flew supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet blockade cut land access.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, military alliance formed in 1949 led by the USA and Western allies for mutual defense.

Warsaw Pact

military alliance created in 1955 by the USSR and communist Eastern European countries as a response to NATO.

United Nations

international organization founded in 1945 to maintain peace, promote cooperation, and prevent future wars.

Mao Zedong

communist leader of China who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Great Leap Forward

Mao’s campaign (1958–1962) to rapidly industrialize and collectivize China; it led to economic disaster and famine

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

movement launched by Mao (1966–1976) to strengthen communist ideology; caused chaos, persecution, and destruction of culture.

Little Red Book

collection of quotations from Mao Zedong, widely distributed and used during the Cultural Revolution.