The End of the Cold War and Its Aftermath

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the end of the Cold War, significant political leaders, and historical events that shaped the international landscape in the late 20th century.

Berlin Wall

A symbol of the Cold War that separated East and West Berlin, its fall in November 1989 marked a significant moment in the decline of communism.

George H. W. Bush

The 41st President of the United States and Reagan's Vice President, who took office in January 1989.

Victory for Democracy and Freedom

How President George H. W. Bush described the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The last leader of the Soviet Union who was credited by President Bush for enabling the end of the Cold War.

Operation Desert Storm

The code name for the American-led military operation in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in January 1991.

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

An agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that aimed to reduce trade barriers and tariffs between the countries, effective in 1994.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

An organization created in 1995 to establish global trade rules and promote free trade among countries.

Tiananmen Square Protests

Pro-democracy protests in Beijing in 1989, which were violently suppressed by the Chinese government, resulting in thousands of deaths.

Boris Yeltsin

The first President of Russia who oversaw the transition from a communist state to a market economy after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Apartheid

A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa that lasted until the early 1990s.

Nelson Mandela

A prominent anti-apartheid activist who became South Africa's first Black president following the end of apartheid in 1994.

FW de Klerk

The last state president of apartheid-era South Africa who initiated the end of apartheid policies.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

A regional organization formed by several former Soviet republics after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Gulf War

A conflict that began in January 1991 when a coalition led by the United States intervened to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

Economic Superiority

The status of the United States as the dominant economic power after the end of the Cold War.

Saddam Hussein

The President of Iraq who invaded Kuwait in 1990, leading to the Gulf War.

Asian Economic Growth

The significant economic development experienced in countries such as China, Hong Kong, and Singapore after the Cold War.

Vladimir Putin

The Russian leader who came to power in the late 1990s after Yeltsin's resignation.

Russian Market Economy

The transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-based economy that occurred in Russia following the fall of the Soviet Union.

Post-Cold War International Relations

The shift towards collaboration and new alliances among countries following the Cold War's end.

Human Rights Violations

The transgressions against individuals' fundamental rights, especially noted in the context of China's response to protests and actions in various countries.