GCSE Conflict and Tension: The Cold War

These flashcards cover key events, policies, and concepts related to the Cold War, especially focusing on its escalation, key doctrines, and international relations.

Truman Doctrine

A speech made by President Truman outlining the threat posed by communism, emphasizing the need for the United States to contain its spread.

Iron Curtain

A term coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the division between the Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the West.

Long Telegram

A telegram sent by George Kennan in 1946 that outlined the hostile attitudes of the Soviet Union towards the USA.

Containment

American policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Cominform

Established in September 1947, it was a political association that enabled Stalin to control the governments of satellite states.

Comecon

Established in January 1949, it aimed to provide economic aid to Eastern Bloc countries and facilitate trade among them.

Berlin Blockade

Soviet action in June 1948 that cut off all land routes to West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative passed in 1948 for foreign aid to Western Europe, aiming to prevent the spread of communism by fostering economic recovery.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established in April 1949 as a collective defense alliance among Western powers.

Warsaw Pact

Established in 1955 as a military alliance of Eastern Bloc countries, in response to NATO.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the USA and the USSR over Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba, leading to a 13-day standoff.

Détente

The easing of tensions between the USA and USSR during the 1970s, characterized by increased diplomatic and economic cooperation.

Brezhnev Doctrine

Policy stating that the actions of any individual communist country affected all communist countries, legitimizing intervention in Eastern Europe.

Proxy War

A conflict in which two opposing countries or parties support combatants in a third country, as during the Korean War.

Domino Theory

The belief that the spread of communism in one country would lead to the spread of communism in neighboring countries.