Cold War

Harry Truman

Became President of the United States in April 1945 and believed communism was a major threat that needed to be contained.

Containment Policy

A strategy created by diplomat George F. Kennan to stop the spread of communism.

Marshall Plan

A program created by Secretary of State George Marshall that provided over $12 billion in economic aid to rebuild Europe after WWII.

Truman Doctrine

A policy stating the United States must assist democratic nations resisting communism

Iron Curtain

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

Satellite Countries

Eastern European nations controlled by the Soviet Union that acted as a buffer against Western democracies.

Berlin Airlift

The U.S. and its allies flew supplies into West Berlin from 1948-1949 after the Soviet Union blockaded the city.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed by the U.S.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance formed in 1955 between the Soviet Union and its satellite states as a response to NATO.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization created on April 25

UN Security Council

The group of 5 main powers in the United Nations: United States

Creation of Israel

Israel was created in 1948 as a direct result of the Holocaust.

Palestine Under British Control

The land that became Israel was originally governed as Palestine and controlled by Great Britain.

Palestinian Opposition

Native Palestinian people opposed the takeover of their land when Israel was created.

Arab-Israeli Conflict

Arab states would eventually wage war against Israel