Cold War Beginnings and Mao’s China

Cold War

• Long period of tension (1947–1991) between USA and USSR

• No direct war, but competition in politics, military, and ideology

Denazification

• Process of removing Nazi influence from Germany after WWII

• Included banning Nazi organisations and punishing war criminals

Truman Doctrine

• US policy (1947) to stop the spread of communism

• Gave money and support to countries resisting communism

Iron Curtain

• Term for the division between communist East and capitalist West Europe

• Created a clear political and ideological separation

Marshall Plan

• US financial aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII

• Helped stop communism by improving economic stability

Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

• 1948–49: USSR blocked access to West Berlin

• Western Allies supplied the city by air for nearly a year

NATO

• Military alliance formed in 1949 between USA and Western countries

• Created to defend members against Soviet attack

Warsaw Pact

• Military alliance formed in 1955 by the USSR and Eastern European states

• Response to NATO and strengthened Soviet control

United Nations

• International organisation created in 1945 to maintain peace

• Encouraged cooperation and prevented future global wars

Mao Zedong

• Leader of communist China after 1949 revolution

• Established strict communist rule and one-party state

Great Leap Forward

• Economic plan (1958–1962) to rapidly industrialise China

• Failed and caused famine and millions of deaths

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

• Campaign (1966–1976) to remove “old ideas” and strengthen communism

• Led to persecution, chaos, and destruction of culture

Little Red Book

• Collection of Mao’s quotes and political ideas

• Used to promote loyalty and communist ideology