Decolonization and Cold War

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terminology from the lecture on the Cold War and decolonization.

Big Three

The leaders of Britain, the US, and the USSR during World War II: Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Josef Stalin.

Tehran Conference

A meeting in November 1943 to discuss strategies for defeating Nazi Germany and plans for postwar Europe.

Yalta Conference

A conference in February 1945 where the Allies discussed postwar reorganization and Stalin's control over Eastern Europe.

Potsdam Conference

The final meeting of the Big Three in July-August 1945 that led to distrust between the US and USSR.

Marshall Plan

An American aid program initiated in 1948 to help rebuild European economies after World War II.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the US and the USSR characterized by propaganda, espionage, and proxy wars.

Military Industrial Complex

An alliance between the government and defense contractors that influences national defense policy.

Self-Determination

The principle that nations should be able to choose their own governance and leadership.

Truman Doctrine

A US policy to counter Soviet expansionism by providing economic and military assistance to countries resisting communism.

Proxy Wars

Conflicts where the superpowers (US and USSR) support opposing sides but do not engage directly.

Korean War

A war fought between North and South Korea from 1950 to 1953, involving US and communist forces.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam involving the US to prevent a communist takeover, lasting from 1955 to 1975.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed US-backed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba in 1961.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the US and USSR over Soviet missiles deployed in Cuba.

Eisenhower's Speech on the Military Industrial Complex

A warning about the growing influence of defense contractors on government policy.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance established in 1949 for mutual defense against threats.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist nations formed in 1955 in response to NATO.

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

A coalition of countries that sought to remain independent from the influence of the US or USSR.

Algeria's War of Independence

A conflict from 1954 to 1962 where Algeria fought to gain independence from France.

Suez Crisis

A 1956 intervention by Britain, France, and Israel in Egypt, prompted by Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Canal.

The Great Leap Forward

A campaign in China initiated by Mao Zedong to rapidly transform the country into a socialist society between 1958-1962.

Cultural Revolution

A sociopolitical movement in China from 1966 to 1976 aimed at reinforcing communism by removing capitalist elements.