Flashcards 8.3

Proxy War

A war where the two sides fund/supply third parties instead of fighting each other directly.

Berlin Airlift

After setting up ground blockades to prevent the west from moving supplies into their portion of Berlin the western allies air dropped supplies.

Berlin Wall

Set up by the Soviets and East Germany to keep people in East Germany. Many people wanted to leave because of the prosperity on the other side.

Korean War

(1950-1953) Began when North Korea (supplied by the Soviet Union) invaded South Korea in an attempt to reunite the country. In response the UN voted to defend South Korea militarily because the Soviet Union representative was boycotting the vote. UN forces pushed back North Korea to their border with China. Concerned about this China engaged in direct conflict with the UN forces. After 3 years of fighting the war ended in a stalemate.

Vietnam War (Start of War)

The US sent military advisors to train the South Vietnamese army in order to prevent communist takeover by the North. Eventually the US supported a coup to overthrow the South Vietnamese president. The US also increased military involvement in the country.

Domino Theory

The idea that if one country in Southeast Asia became communist the rest would quickly follow.

Bay of Pigs Crisis

A failed coup by cuban exiles supported by the US. This resulted in cementing the Cuban-Soviet alliance.

Cuban Missile Crisis

In response to the US placing nuclear missiles in Turkey the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba. Tensions increased after the US imposed a blockade to prevent more missiles from getting to Cuba. In order to avoid nuclear war both countries pulled back their missiles. This crisis also led to a hot line being installed between the US and Soviet Union.

Angola

After fighting for independence domestic tensions increased within Angola. There were 3 distinct cultural groups who all wanted control over the country and all 3 were supported by different outside groups.

Contra War

In Nicaragua in 1979 the Somoza Family dictatorship was overthrown by the rebel Sandinistas. Two years later the secretly US backed Contras tried to overthrow the Sandinistas and the war lasted for seven years. War ended with the Tela Accord in 1989.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization created by several western countries in 1949. The countries pledged mutual support in wars. Since its founding it has grown significantly.

SEATO (Southeast Asia)

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. Created in 1954 by members western countries and countries in Southeast Asia. Formed to stop the spread of communism.

CENTO (Central)

Central Treaty Organization. Created by Britain and other counties in the middle east to stop the spread of communism in the region. The US was not a full member but was in the military committee.

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Created in 1963 by the Soviet Union and US along with more than 100 other countries in order to cut down on radiation people would be exposed to. France and China did not sign.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

In 1968 this treaty called for nuclear powers to stop the spread of military nuclear technology to non nuclear countries.

Military Hot Line

A direct telegraph/teleprinter link installed between the US and Soviet Union leader offices in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Antinuclear Weapons Movement

A set of movements starting in 1950s that aimed to stop the testing and use of nuclear weapons.

Douglass MacArthur

American general in command of the UN's response in the Korean War.

Lyndon Johnson

President who sent more troops to South Vietnam. He believed in the domino theory.

John F. Kennedy

President during the bay of pigs and cuban missile crisis.

Nikita Khrushchev

Successor to Stalin and Soviet premier during cuban missile crisis.