Cold War Policies and Key Events: Atlantic Charter to Warsaw Pact

Atlantic Charter

Agreement (1941) between the U.S. and Britain outlining post-WWII goals like self-determination, free trade, and collective security—set the ideological foundation for the Allies.

Brinkmanship

Cold War strategy of pushing conflicts to the edge of war to force the other side to back down (associated with nuclear threats).

Containment

U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism beyond where it already existed.

Dien Bien Phu

1954 battle in Vietnam where communist forces defeated the French, ending French colonial rule in Indochina and leading to U.S. involvement.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. general in WWII and Korea; led UN forces in Korea before being removed by Truman for insubordination.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader who took control of Cuba in 1959, aligning it with the Soviet Union.

George F. Kennan

U.S. diplomat who proposed the containment policy in his 'Long Telegram' and 'X Article.'

John Foster Dulles

Secretary of State under Eisenhower; promoted brinkmanship and 'massive retaliation.'

Korean War

(1950-1953) Conflict between North Korea (communist, backed by China/USSR) and South Korea (backed by the U.S./UN); ended in a stalemate at the 38th parallel.

Mao Zedong

Leader of the Chinese Communist Party; established the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Marshall Plan

U.S. program (1947) providing economic aid to rebuild Western Europe and prevent the spread of communism.

Massive Retaliation

U.S. policy of responding to communist aggression with overwhelming nuclear force.

National Security Act

(1947) Reorganized U.S. military and foreign policy structure; created the Department of Defense, CIA, and National Security Council.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Military alliance (1949) between the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations to provide collective defense against the Soviet Union.

NSC-68

1950 policy document calling for major increases in U.S. military spending to counter global communist threats.

Syngman Rhee

First president of South Korea; strongly anti-communist, supported by the U.S.

Truman Doctrine

(1947) U.S. policy pledging to support countries resisting communism, first applied in Greece and Turkey.

United Nations

International organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, cooperation, and collective security.

Warsaw Pact

Military alliance (1955) of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist nations, created in response to NATO.

Yalta Conference

1945 meeting between Allied leaders (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin) to plan postwar Europe, including Germany's division.