Cold War Essentials (IEB History)

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key dates, figures, and concepts of the Cold War period from 1945 to 1991.

1945

The end of World War II and the point when tensions began to emerge between the USA and USSR.

Cold War

A period of political, ideological, and military rivalry between the USA and USSR without direct war between the superpowers.

Capitalism

Economic system based on private ownership and free markets; associated with the USA.

Communism

Economic and political system based on state ownership and collective control; associated with the USSR.

Iron Curtain

Churchill’s term for the division between Eastern and Western Europe.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

US policy of containing the spread of communism.

Marshall Plan (1947)

American financial aid to rebuild Western Europe and prevent communist influence.

Berlin Blockade (1948–49)

Soviet attempt to cut off West Berlin from Western support.

Berlin Airlift

Western response to the blockade by flying supplies into West Berlin.

NATO (1949)

Military alliance of Western countries led by the USA.

Warsaw Pact (1955)

Military alliance of communist countries led by the USSR.

Containment

US strategy to prevent the spread of communism.

Arms Race

Competition between the USA and USSR to build military and nuclear strength.

Proxy War

Conflict where superpowers support opposing sides without fighting each other directly.

Berlin Wall (1961)

Barrier separating East and West Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Confrontation over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba; brought the world close to nuclear war.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

The idea that nuclear war would destroy both sides.

Détente

A period of improved relations between the USA and USSR in the 1970s.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leader who introduced reforms and helped ease Cold War tensions.

Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

Symbolic end of the division of Europe.

Collapse of the USSR (1991)

Official end of the Cold War.