Cold War

Cold war

A period of tension (1947–1991) between the USA and USSR without direct war

Denazification

Process after WWII to remove Nazi influence from Germany.

Truman Doctorine

U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism by helping other countries.

Iron Curtain

Term describing the division between Western Europe and communist Eastern Europe.

Marshall Plan

U.S. program giving economic aid to rebuild Europe after WWII.

Berlin Airlift

Operation (1948–1949) where the U.S. and allies flew supplies into West Berlin during a Soviet blockade.

NATO

Military alliance (1949) between Western countries for mutual defense.

Warsaw Pact

Military alliance (1955) of the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries.

United Nations

International organization formed in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation.

Mao Zedong

Leader of communist China from 1949; founded the People’s Republic of China.

Great Leap Forward

Economic campaign (1958–1962) in China to rapidly industrialize; caused famine.

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

Movement (1966–1976) to enforce communist ideology; caused chaos and persecution.

Little Red Book

Collection of Mao Zedong’s quotes used as propaganda in China.