Cold War Beginnings and Mao’s China

Cold War

Definition: A period of political tension between the USA and the USSR without direct fighting.
Example: The Cold War led to an arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Denazification

Definition: The process of removing Nazi influence from Germany after World War II.
Example: Denazification aimed to punish former Nazis and rebuild German society.

Truman Doctrine

Definition: A U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism by helping other countries.
Example: The Truman Doctrine provided aid to Greece and Turkey.

Iron Curtain

Definition: The division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.
Example: Winston Churchill said an Iron Curtain had fallen across Europe.

Marshall Plan

Definition: A U.S. program that gave money to rebuild Western Europe after WWII.
Example: The Marshall Plan helped European countries recover quickly.

Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

Definition: An operation where the U.S. and allies flew supplies into West Berlin during a Soviet blockade.
Example: The Berlin Airlift delivered food and fuel to people in West Berlin.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Definition: A military alliance of Western countries formed to defend against attacks.
Example: NATO members agreed to protect each other if one was attacked.

Warsaw Pact

Definition: A military alliance of communist countries led by the Soviet Union.
Example: The Warsaw Pact was created in response to NATO.

United Nations

Definition: An international organization formed to promote peace and cooperation.
Example: The United Nations works to prevent conflicts around the world.

Mao Zedong

Definition: The communist leader who founded the People’s Republic of China.
Example: Mao Zedong introduced major changes to China’s economy and society.

Great Leap Forward

Definition: Mao’s plan to rapidly industrialize China through farming and industry changes.
Example: The Great Leap Forward caused widespread famine in China.

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

Definition: A campaign led by Mao to remove capitalist ideas and enforce communism.
Example: During the Cultural Revolution, many schools and traditions were destroyed.

Little Red Book

Definition: A book of Mao Zedong’s sayings used as propaganda in China.
Example: Citizens were expected to carry the Little Red Book everywhere.

MAD

Mutually assured destruction - Both the US and the USSR don’t attack because they have very big nuclear power.

Detterence

Using threads to make sure people don’t mess with you.