Cold War Key Concepts: Containment, Proxy Wars, and Global Impact

What was the primary goal of the US policy of containment during the Cold War?

To stop the global expansion of communism beyond its existing borders after World War II.

What is a 'proxy war' and what are two major examples from the Cold War?

A conflict where opposing super powers back different sides instead of fighting each other directly; examples include the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

A massive military operation where Western allies flew food and supplies into West Berlin after the Soviet Union blockaded the city.

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

A 13-day political and military standoff in 1962 over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

What was the Space Race and which event officially started it?

The Cold War competition between the US and USSR for supremacy in space exploration; it began with the Soviet launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957.

What did the term 'Iron Curtain' represent?

The political and ideological barrier isolating Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe from the democratic nations of Western Europe.

What was the 'Domino Theory'?

The US belief that if one nation in a region fell to communism, its neighboring countries would inevitably fall as well, which heavily justified intervention in Vietnam.

What was the policy of 'détente' during the Cold War?

A period of eased tensions and improved diplomatic relations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1970s.

How did Joseph Stalin create a 'buffer zone' in Eastern Europe after WWII?

He established loyal communist satellite states in nations like Poland, Romania, and Hungary to protect the Soviet mainland from future Western invasions.

What did Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of 'perestroika' involve?

A policy of economic restructuring that introduced minor capitalist reforms, allowed some private enterprise, and decentralized government control over factories.

What event in 1991 officially marked the end of the Cold War?

The formal dissolution and collapse of the Soviet Union into 15 independent republics, including Russia.

What is globalization?

The increasing economic, cultural, and political integration and interdependence of nations across the world, heavily driven by free trade and technology.

What is the primary function of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

To promote global financial stability, foster international trade, and provide temporary loans to countries facing economic crises.

What was the Green Revolution?

A major scientific movement in the mid-20th century that dramatically increased global food production through high-yield seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and advanced irrigation.

What is nuclear proliferation?

The spread of nuclear weapons and weapon-applicable technology to nations that do not already possess them.