Cold war vocab

Brinkmanship

Going to the edge of war to make an opponent back down.

Bi-Polar Power Struggle

Competition between the two Cold War superpowers: the U.S. and USSR.

Proxy War

A conflict where major powers support opposite sides without fighting directly.

Balance of Power (Deterrence)

Maintaining equal strength to prevent either side from attacking.

Containment (Truman Doctrine)

U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism.

Spheres of Influence (Alignment)

Regions where a powerful country has political or economic influence.

Iron Curtain (Eastern Bloc)

The divide between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.

Arms Race (M.A.D., I.C.B.M., Space Race)

Competition to build stronger weapons and technology.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country became communist, nearby countries would too.

Detente

A period of reduced tensions between the U.S. and USSR.

McCarthyism

Accusing people of being communists without solid evidence.