Soviet Union and Cold War Overview

Flashcards covering key concepts and definitions related to the Soviet Union, Cold War, and the Chinese Communist Revolution.

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

A 1939 agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to not attack each other and to divide Europe into spheres of influence.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist nations in Eastern Europe, formed in response to NATO's establishment.

Satellite State

A country that is formally independent, but under heavy political and economic influence or control by another country.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative to aid Western Europe's economic recovery after World War II, aimed at reducing the spread of communism.

Berlin Airlift

A military operation in 1948-1949, in which the United States and its allies delivered supplies to the people of West Berlin after the Soviet blockade.

Iron Curtain

A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the ideological and physical division between Eastern (communist) and Western (capitalist) Europe.

Cultural Revolution

A socio-political movement initiated by Mao Zedong in China from 1966 to 1976, aimed at reinforcing communist ideology by removing capitalist elements.

Agrarian Reform Act (1950)

A law in China that aimed to redistribute land to farmers and eliminate landlords.

Sino-Soviet Pact

A 1950 treaty between China and the USSR that symbolized their alliance and cooperation.

Prague Spring

A period of political liberalization and mass protest in Czechoslovakia in 1968, which was ultimately suppressed by the Soviet Union.

Hungarian Revolution (1956)

A nationwide uprising against the Soviet-backed government in Hungary, which was violently suppressed by Soviet forces.

Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)

A campaign launched by Mao Zedong aimed at propagating communist ideology and purging capitalism from Chinese society.

Beiyang Government

The government in China during the early 20th century, often associated with warlordism and fragmentation in Chinese politics.