history final

Cold War

A period of political tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, marked by ideological conflict capitalism vs. communism, nuclear arms buildup, and proxy wars.

Denazification

A post–World War II process led by the Allies to remove Nazi influence from Germany’s government, society, and culture.

Truman Doctrine

A 1947 policy by Harry S. Truman promising U.S. support to countries resisting communism, especially Greece and Turkey.

Iron Curtain

A term popularized by Winston Churchill describing the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program (1948) providing economic aid to rebuild Western European economies after WWII and prevent the spread of communism.

Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

A 1948–1949 operation where the U.S. and its allies flew supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked land access.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed in 1949 by Western nations to provide collective defense against communist aggression

Warsaw Pact

The USSR NATO A 1955 military alliance of the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries

UN

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations after WWII.

Mao Zedong

Leader of the Chinese Communist Party who established the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Great Leap Forward

A campaign (1958–1962) led by Mao Zedong to rapidly industrialize China through collectivization, which led to widespread famine.

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

A movement (1966–1976) launched by Mao Zedong to reassert control and promote communist ideology by purging “capitalist” influences.

Little Red Book

A collection of quotes from Mao Zedong used as a guide to communist ideology during the Cultural Revolution.

Palestinian Liberation Organization

A political and military organization created to represent Palestinians and push for an independent homeland.

Six-Day War

A 1967 conflict where Israel fought several neighboring countries and gained large territories in only six days.

Resolution 242

A United Nations measure calling for withdrawal from occupied territories and recognition of every nation’s right to live in peace.

Yom Kippur War

A surprise 1973 attack launched during a major Jewish holiday by Egypt and Syria against Israel.

Camp David Accords

A peace agreement brokered by the United States that improved relations between Egypt and Israel in 1978.

Balfour Declaration

A 1917 British statement supporting the creation of a national home for Jewish people in the Middle East.

Prague Spring

A reform movement in Czechoslovakia that tried to create “socialism with a human face” before being crushed by Soviet control.

Ronald Reagan

The U.S. president during the 1980s known for strong opposition to communism and the Soviet Union.

Glasnost

A policy that allowed greater openness, freedom of speech, and transparency in government and society.

Perestroika

A restructuring program designed to improve the struggling Soviet economy through limited reforms.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The final leader of the Soviet Union who introduced major reforms that contributed to the end of communist rule there.

JFK

The 35th president of the United States who led the country during major Cold War tensions and promoted strong action against communism.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader who increased competition with the United States and played a major role in events involving Cuba and nuclear weapons.

Bay of Pigs

A failed 1961 invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles supported by the United States in an attempt to remove Fidel Castro from power.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country became communist, nearby countries would soon follow and also become communist.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union after nuclear missiles were discovered in Cuba, bringing the world close to nuclear war.

Détente

A period of improved relations and reduced tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. 60s-70s

SALT I

Froze the levels of intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and missile launchers for 5 years, first agreement to limit nuclear arsenal, symbol of Detente 1972.

Helsinki Accords

An international agreement that encouraged cooperation between nations and promoted respect for human rights in Europe. Recognized Post-WWII borders.

Leonid Brezhnev

Soviet leader who supported military strength while also participating in negotiations with the United States to reduce tensions. Involved in Detente.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader of Cuba who allied closely with the Soviet Union after taking control of the country in 1959.

Richard Nixon

U.S. president who improved relations with both the Soviet Union and China while supporting arms control agreements. Involved in Detente.

Ostpolitik

A policy created by West Germany to improve relations and cooperation with East Germany and Eastern European countries. Willy Brandt leader of West Germany.

Nuclear Cooperation

Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty, aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

SALT II

Limits on MIRV(multiple-warhead tech) 1979.

McCarthyism

A period in the early 1950s when Senator Joseph McCarthy led aggressive investigations accusing many Americans of being communists, often with little or no real evidence.

Eisenhower

the 34th U.S. president (1953–1961) and a former WWII general. During his presidency, he focused on containing communism and maintaining peace through strength.

HUAC

a U.S. government group that investigated suspected communist activity.

Muhammed Mossadeq

the Prime Minister of Iran who nationalized Iran’s oil industry in 1951. This led to tension with Western powers and his eventual removal in a CIA-backed coup in 1953.

Destalinization

A policy in the Soviet Union after 1953 that reduced the harsh practices of dictator Joseph Stalin. It was led by Nikita Khrushchev and aimed to reform the government and reduce fear and repression.

Arms Race

A Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to build more and stronger nuclear weapons.

Space Race

A Cold War competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to achieve milestones in space exploration.

Suez Crisis

a conflict when Egypt took control of the Suez Canal, leading to military intervention by Britain, France, and Israel. Egypt keeps the canal.

Berlin Crisis 1961 (Berlin Wall)

when East Germany, supported by the Soviet Union, built the Berlin Wall to stop people from fleeing to West Berlin.

Brinkmanship

A Cold War strategy where the U.S. and Soviet Union pushed dangerous situations to the edge of war, hoping the other side would back down first.

ICBMs

Inter continental ballistic missile is a guided, land-based missile designed for nuclear weapons delivery with a minimum range of 5,500 km capable of striking targets on other continents in roughly 30 minutes.

Fusion Weapons

Use both nuclear fission and fusion to create explosion, hydrogen as fuel

MAD

Safety through mutually assured destruction and deterrence.

The Domino Theory

If one country were to fall to Communism than all of the neighbors of the country will become communist