Cold War / Post WW II Study Guide

Flashcards for vocabulary review

Cold War

A state of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union with the constant threat of war, but no actual war.

Soviet Union

Communist country under the leadership of Joseph Stalin that established the Cold War with the U.S.

Marshall Plan

A plan proposed by Secretary of State George Marshall in 1947 to aid European countries in need after the war, providing $13 billion to 16 countries over four years.

Truman Doctrine

President Truman's request for $400 million in aid for Greece and Turkey to resist outside forces and pressures and stop Soviet expansion.

Mao Zedong

Leader of Chinese Revolution

North Korea

A communistic nation backed by the Soviets and China that invaded South Korea in 1950, leading to the Korean War.

South Korea

A democratic nation backed by the United States, led by Douglas MacArthur, that was defended by U.S. and UN troops from North Korea's invasion.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

President from 1953-1961 who increased the air force and relied on the CIA to gather information abroad.

Eisenhower Doctrine

The United States would defend the Middle East against an attack by any communist country. Established in March 1957.

United Nations

A world peacekeeping body established in 1945 in San Francisco by 50 nations.

Bay of Pigs

A failed air and land strike in Cuba by 1300-1500 Cuban exiles supported by the U.S. military, leading to embarrassment for the U.S. and Kennedy.

Democracy

A framework of government in the United States where power resides with the people, who vote for representative leaders in a capitalistic society.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A state in October 1962 involving the threat of nuclear missiles by the Soviets on Cuban military bases, leading to six days of intense anxiety for the U.S.

Totalitarian

A type of government, like that established by Stalin in the Soviet Union in 1939, that tries to exert complete control over its citizens.

Vietnamization

President Nixon’s strategy for ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam War with the gradual withdrawal of troops, replaced by S.Vietnamese forces

Containment of Communism

George Kennan proposed policy in 1946 to take measures to prevent the extension of communist rule to other countries

Watergate Scandal

A scandal arising from Nixon’s administration attempt to cover up its involvement in 1972 break-in at Watergate hotel…Democratic National Committee headquarters

Massive Retaliation

Constant threat of nuclear war based on countries designing and making nuclear weapons and threat of launching would lead to massive counterattacks and nuclear war – H- bomb

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Minor activists in the American Communist party….implicated in spy case…giving information to Soviets of America’s atomic bomb….led to Soviets making bomb

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

10 Western European countries formed a military alliance with U.S. and Canada in fear of attack by Soviet Union

McCarthyism

Joseph McCarthy – anti-Communist activist and Senator, unfair tactics of accusing people of disloyalty w/o proof

Warsaw Pact

1955- after W.Germany joined NATO, Soviet Union formed its own military alliance with 7 Eastern European countries

Baby Boom

After WW II….an unprecedented population explosion

Vietnam War

U.S. helped S.Vietnam resist N.Vietnam’s communist movement

John F. Kennedy

Young, charismatic President elected in 1960. TV helped him in debates.

Virginia – Post Cold War

Heavy military expenditures during Cold War benefited Virginia’s economy more than any other state

JFK Inaugural Address

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”

Sputnik

Russia launches event in 1957

Jonas Salk

Finds a cure for polio in 1955

Ronald Reagan

President in 1980s – instrumental in the end of the Cold War and his relationship with Soviet leader – Mikhail Gorbachev

Berlin Wall

Concrete wall put up by the Soviets dividing East Berlin and West Berlin(Germany)