Cold War Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and key concepts covering US foreign policies, international conflicts, and the geopolitical divide between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Containment

US foreign policy that attempted to limit the spread of communism and the influence of the Soviet Union.

Marshall Plan

US economic plan to provide aid to any western European countries to rebuild western Europe after WWII; seen as a threat by the Soviet Union.

Truman Doctrine

US foreign policy created to support and defend countries wanting democracy, such as Greece and Turkey, with military and economic aid.

NATO

North-Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance where Western European countries pledge to defend one another if attacked, created against the spread of communism.

The Bay Of Pigs Fiasco

A failed secret US invasion to overthrow Cuba following Fidel Castro's communist revolution, which made President Kennedy appear weak.

Iron Curtain

A term describing the political boundary dividing democratic European countries from communist areas from the end of WWII to the end of the Cold War.

Cuban missile crisis

The closest the world has come to nuclear war; occurred when the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba and both sides negotiated their removal.

Flexible response

President Kennedy's foreign policy that provided the US with more options when dealing with foreign crises.

US Economic and Political Systems

Characterized by Capitalism (private individuals/corporations) and Democracy (people elect representatives).

Soviet Union Economic and Political Systems

Characterized by Communism (state ownership) and a government that does not allow people to vote.

West Berlin

The democratic portion of Berlin, mirroring the political status of West Germany.

East Berlin

The communist portion of Berlin, mirroring the political status of East Germany.

Brinkmanship

President Eisenhower's foreign policy of building up an arsenal (stockpile) of weapons and promising to use them to bring the country to the brink of war.

Post-WWII Korea

Japan relinquished Korea, which was split in two: the Soviets took control of the Northern half and the Southern half became democratic.

Korean War (1953)

A conflict where North Korea invaded South Korea; the US was unsuccessful at containing communism, 54,000 soldiers died, and Dwight Eisenhower was elected president.

Reasons for US and USSR Enmity

Incompatible economic/political systems, Stalin's refusal to allow free elections in Poland, and the refusal of the US and Great Britain to let the Soviet Union limit German industry.