Untitled Flashcards Set

Iron Curtain

A political and military barrier separating the communist nations of Eastern Europe from the Western democracies.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy (1947) that aimed to contain communism by supporting countries resisting Soviet influence.

Greek Civil War

A civil war (1946-1949) in Greece between communist rebels and the government supported by the U.S. and Britain.

Marshall Plan

U.S. economic assistance program (1948-1952) to rebuild Western Europe after WWII.

COMECON

The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, a Soviet-led economic organization established in 1949 to aid Eastern Bloc nations.

Berlin Blockade

Soviet blockade of West Berlin (1948-1949) to force Allied withdrawal.

Berlin Airlift

A U.S. and British operation to supply West Berlin during the Soviet blockade.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949 among Western nations.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries, formed in 1955 in response to NATO.

Big Science

Large-scale scientific research and technological development, often funded by governments.

Arms Race

The competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to develop more powerful weapons, particularly nuclear arms.

Space Race

The competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to achieve space exploration milestones.

Sputnik I

The first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, established in 1958.

Economic Miracle

Rapid economic recovery and growth in post-WWII Western Europe, particularly in Germany and France.

Christian Democrats

A political ideology focused on Christian values and social market economies, common in post-WWII Western Europe.

Exceptions of Greece, Spain, & Portugal

These countries remained under authoritarian regimes longer than most of Europe, until the 1970s.

Welfare State

A government system providing social services, such as healthcare, education, and pensions.

European Economic Cooperation (EEC)

The 1957 agreement among six European countries to create a common market.

Council of Europe

An organization founded in 1949 to promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe.

European Coal and Steel Community

A 1951 agreement between six European nations to regulate coal and steel industries.

Charles de Gaulle

Leader of Free France during WWII and later president of France (1959-1969).

Expansion of the Consumer Market

Increased production and consumption of consumer goods, particularly in Western Europe in the post-WWII period.

Cominform

The Communist Information Bureau, founded in 1947 to coordinate communist parties under Soviet leadership.

East Bloc

The group of communist countries in Eastern Europe, led by the Soviet Union.

Josip Tito

Leader of Yugoslavia who resisted Soviet control and developed a non-aligned socialist path.

East German Construction Workers Revolt (1953)

A revolt by East German workers against the government in 1953, suppressed by Soviet forces.

Socialist Realism

An artistic movement promoted by the Soviet Union to depict an idealized vision of communist society.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader from 1953 to 1964, known for de-Stalinization and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

De-Stalinization

The process initiated by Khrushchev to dismantle the policies and legacy of Joseph Stalin.

Peaceful Coexistence

A policy promoted by Khrushchev aimed at reducing tensions between the Soviet Union and the West.

1956 Polish Protests

Uprisings in Poland demanding political and economic reforms.

Imre Nagy

Leader of Hungary during the 1956 uprising against Soviet control.

1956 Hungarian Uprising

A revolt against Soviet-backed communist rule in Hungary, crushed by Soviet forces.

Berlin Wall

A barrier built in 1961 by East Germany to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to West Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 13-day confrontation in 1962 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba.

Leonid Brezhnev

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, known for maintaining the status quo during the Cold War.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from European powers, particularly after WWII.

Impact of the Cold War on Decolonization

The Cold War played a significant role in decolonization, as both the U.S. and the Soviet Union sought influence over newly independent nations.

Nonalignment

A movement of countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, that sought to remain neutral in the Cold War.

Decolonization in Dutch Indonesia

The process by which Indonesia gained independence from the Netherlands in 1949.

Ho Chi Minh

The communist revolutionary leader who founded the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

First Indochina War

A conflict (1946–1954) between the French colonial forces and the Viet Minh, leading to Vietnamese independence.

Mohandas Gandhi

Leader of the Indian independence movement known for nonviolent civil disobedience against British rule.

Partition of India

The division of British India into independent dominions, India and Pakistan, in 1947.

British Commonwealth

A political association of former British colonies that cooperate on various issues.

UN Partition of Palestine & Creation of Israel

A 1947 United Nations plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

The president of Egypt from 1956 until his death in 1970, known for Arab nationalism.

Nationalization of the Suez Canal

The 1956 decision by Egyptian President Nasser to take control of the Suez Canal.

Decolonization in the Belgian Congo

The process by which the Belgian Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

National Liberation Front

A political and military organization formed in 1954 for Algerian independence from French colonial rule.

Algerian War

A war of independence (1954-1962) in which Algeria fought against French colonial rule.

Fifth Republic

The French republic established in 1958 under Charles de Gaulle, with a strong executive presidency.

Neocolonialism

The practice of using economic and political pressures to control or influence a country after decolonization.

Growth of White-Collar Workers

The expansion of the professional, managerial, and administrative sectors in the post-WWII period.

Changes to the European Working Class

The transformation of the working class in Europe after WWII, with a shift toward skilled labor.

Patterns of Post-War Migration

The movement of people in Europe after WWII, including laborers and refugees.

Guest Worker Programs

Programs in Western Europe in the 1950s and 1960s that allowed foreign workers to fill labor shortages.

Postcolonial Migration

The movement of people from former colonies to Europe after WWII.

Rising Xenophobia

The fear or dislike of foreigners that increased in Europe in the post-WWII period.

Baby Boom

The significant increase in birth rates in many Western countries between 1946 and 1964.

Declines in Birth Rates in 1960s/70s

A demographic trend where birth rates began to fall significantly in the 1960s and 1970s.

Rising Rates of Working Women

The increase in women entering the workforce during the post-WWII period.

Double Burden

The phenomenon where women work both inside and outside the home, balancing paid employment with domestic responsibilities.

Teenager Culture

The emergence of a distinct youth culture in the post-WWII period, characterized by rebellion and new attitudes.

Willy Brandt

Chancellor of West Germany from 1969 to 1974, known for his policy of Ostpolitik.

Ostpolitik

A policy introduced by Willy Brandt aimed at improving relations between West Germany and Eastern communist countries.

Détente

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

Helsinki Accords

A series of agreements signed in 1975 aimed at improving East-West relations during the Cold War.

The Affluent Society

A term describing the post-WWII Western economy characterized by widespread prosperity and consumerism.

Americanization of Europe

The process by which European culture and societies became increasingly influenced by American ideas and products.

Second Vatican Council

A council of the Roman Catholic Church held from 1962 to 1965, which brought significant reforms.

Counterculture

A social movement in the 1960s that rejected traditional norms, advocating for alternative lifestyles and civil rights.

Impact of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement

The struggle for equal rights by African Americans leading to landmark legislation and global inspiration for social justice movements.

New Left

A political movement in the 1960s-70s focused on social justice, civil rights and opposition to the Vietnam War.

Sexual Revolution

A social movement advocating for greater sexual freedom and acceptance in the 1960s and 1970s.

Birth Control Pill

A contraceptive introduced in the 1960s that gave women more control over their reproductive choices.

Rock 'n' Roll

A popular music genre that emerged in the 1950s in the U.S., blending rhythm and blues with country.

The Beatles

A British rock band that became one of the most influential musical groups in history.

Vietnam War

A conflict (1955-1975) between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, with significant U.S. involvement.

Antiwar Demonstrations

Protests against military conflicts, particularly during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 70s.

Tet Offensive

A series of surprise attacks by North Vietnamese forces in 1968 that marked a turning point in the Vietnam War.

Vietnamization

A policy aimed at gradually withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam while transferring responsibilities to South Vietnamese.

May 1968 French Student Protests

A series of protests in France sparked by education reforms, expanding to broader social issues.

New Left Use of Terrorism

The use of violent tactics by some radical groups in the 1960s and 70s as part of their ideology.

National Organization for Women (NOW)

A feminist organization founded in 1966 advocating for women's rights and gender equality.

Abortion

The medical termination of a pregnancy, a contentious issue debated in many European countries.

Environmentalism

A social and political movement aimed at protecting the environment from human activities.

Chernobyl

A catastrophic nuclear disaster in 1986 that had widespread effects on health and the environment.

Green Parties

Political parties in Europe advocating for environmental protection and sustainability.

Greenpeace

An international environmental organization focused on addressing global environmental issues.

ETA Separatist Movement

A Basque separatist group that sought independence from Spain through violent means.

IRA (Irish Republican Army)

A paramilitary organization seeking reunification of Ireland and opposing British rule.

Time of Troubles

A period of political instability in Russia marked by famine and civil war from 1598 to 1613.

French National Front

A far-right political party in France advocating nationalism and anti-immigration policies.

Developed Socialism

A term describing the state-controlled economies and authoritarian systems in Eastern Bloc countries.

Life for Women in the Eastern Bloc

Women faced state control over personal lives but gained legal rights commonly denied in the past.

Issues in Soviet Economies

Inefficiency and stagnation marked the Soviet economy during the Cold War.

Václav Havel

A Czech writer and political leader who became President after the fall of communism.

Pope John Paul II

The head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005, opposed communism.