Introduction to the Cold War Exam Review

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the Cold War, preparing students for their exam.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II.

Yalta Conference

A meeting in February 1945 among the leaders of the U.S., the U.K., and the Soviet Union to discuss post-war Europe.

Potsdam Conference

A meeting in July 1945 where final decisions about the post-war world and Germany's future were made.

Berlin Blockade

A Soviet effort in June 1948 to cut off access to West Berlin to isolate it from Western influence.

Berlin Airlift

The U.S. and British operation to deliver food and supplies to West Berlin residents during the Soviet blockade.

Capitalism

An economic system where private businesses own the means of production and operate for profit.

Communism

An economic system where the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.

Iron Curtain

A term describing the ideological and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas.

Containment

A foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of communism.

Truman Doctrine

The U.S. policy, established in March 1947, to provide aid for countries resisting communism.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative to provide economic aid to Western European countries after WWII to promote recovery.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949 among Western nations.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance established in 1955 by the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.

Non-Aligned Movement

A group of states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

Causes for the end of the Cold War

Factors include U.S. military advancements, the USSR's costly invasion of Afghanistan, and public discontent in communist countries.

Putin

Former KGB officer and current president of Russia, notable for his influence and actions in domestic and international affairs.

Conflict with Ukraine

A situation that began after Ukraine's independence post-Soviet Union, marked by tensions due to Russia's perception of Ukrainian sovereignty.