World History B - Unit 5: Cold War and Independence Movements Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for Unit 5: Cold War and Independence Movements.

Problems between USA/USSR

Distrust between the U.S. and USSR due to ideological differences (capitalism vs. communism) and WWII tensions.

Yalta Conference

Conference in 1945 where Allies agreed to divide Germany and allow free elections in Eastern Europe, but Stalin later broke this promise.

United Nations

Formed in 1945 to maintain global peace and cooperation, though the U.S. and USSR often clashed within it.

Containment

U.S. policy to limit Soviet expansion and influence through military alliances and economic aid.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy promising support to nations resisting communism, starting with Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

U.S. aid initiative that provided over $12 billion to rebuild Europe and prevent communist influence.

Berlin Airlift

U.S. and allies flew in supplies to West Berlin after the USSR blockaded it, symbolizing Western commitment to resisting Soviet aggression.

The Cold War

Period of geopolitical tension between the U.S. and USSR from 1945–1991, involving propaganda, espionage, and indirect conflicts.

NATO

Defensive alliance of Western countries formed in 1949 against Soviet aggression.

Warsaw Pact

Alliance of Eastern European nations led by the USSR, formed in 1955 in response to NATO.

Brinkmanship

Cold War strategy of pushing conflicts to the edge of war to force the other side to back down.

Mao Zedong

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

Jiang Jieshi

Leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party, who was defeated by the Communists and retreated to Taiwan.

Two Chinas

After the Chinese Civil War, mainland China became Communist, while the Nationalists formed a government in Taiwan.

Great Leap Forward

Mao's 1958 initiative to collectivize agriculture and accelerate industrial growth, which caused massive famine.

Red Guards

Radical youth mobilized by Mao during the Cultural Revolution to attack traditional and capitalist elements.

Cultural Revolution

Launched in 1966 to enforce communist ideology and eliminate opposition in China.

The 38th Parallel

The dividing line between Soviet-occupied North Korea and U.S.-occupied South Korea after WWII.

North Korea

Communist state led by Kim Il Sung, supported by the USSR and later China.

South Korea

Supported by the U.S., it developed into a capitalist democracy.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. general who led UN forces in Korea but was dismissed for insubordination.

Vietminh

Led by Ho Chi Minh, fought against French forces in Vietnam and later against the U.S.

Domino Theory

The U.S. believed if one Southeast Asian country fell to communism, others would follow.

Vietcong

Communist guerrilla group in South Vietnam supported by the North.

Vietnamization

President Nixon's policy of gradually replacing U.S. troops with South Vietnamese forces.

Developing nations not aligned with the U.S. or USSR.

The Third World

Espionage, coups, training rebels, and covert missions to expand influence.

CIA and KGB Roles/activities

Led a Communist revolution in Cuba and allied with the USSR.

Fidel Castro

Failed 1961 CIA-backed invasion by Cuban exiles.

Bay of Pigs

U.S. discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, prompting a naval blockade.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Led the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Ayatollah Khomeini

U.S. provided weapons and aid to Afghan fighters resisting Soviet occupation.

US Support/Mujahideen

Called for a separate Muslim state—Pakistan.

Muslim League

Leader of the Muslim League and a key figure in creating Pakistan.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Experienced chaos as millions moved across new borders.

India Pakistan

The civil war between the Sinhalese-majority government and Tamil separatists lasted for decades.

Sri Lanka

Gained autonomy from the United States on July 4, 1946.

Philippine independence

Led the peaceful People Power Revolution and became president in 1986.

Benigno/Corazon Aquino

Became the symbol of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement and won a Nobel Peace Prize.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Declared independence from Dutch rule in 1945 and won recognition in 1949.

Indonesia

Declared independence from Indonesia in 2002 after years of conflict.

East Timor

A cultural movement celebrating African heritage, literature, and values.

Negritude movement

Struggled with poverty, ethnic divisions, political instability, and lack of infrastructure.

Challenges faced by emerging African Countries

Led Kenya to independence in 1963 and became its first president.

Kenya/Jomo Kenyatta

Tensions grew between Jews and Arabs in British-controlled Palestine after WWII.

Israel/Palestine Origin

Jews who supported the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Zionists

Voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states in 1947. Jews accepted the plan, but Arabs rejected it.

UN Vote/creation of Israel

In 1948, five Arab nations attacked Israel following its independence.

First Arab/Israeli war

In 1978, Sadat and Israeli PM Begin signed a peace treaty brokered by U.S. President Carter.

Sadat/Camp David Accords

Vietnam War exemplified Cold War conflict

guerrilla warfare by the Viet Cong and lack of public support led to U.S. withdrawal in 1973.