Cold War F+C

Satellite Nations

The name given to the Eastern European nations that were under the control of the Soviet Union.

Iron Curtain

The name given to the place that divided democratic West Europe and communist East Europe.

Cold War

1945-1991; The cold war was caused by the conflicting aims of the US and the USSR. There was never any direct confrontation on the battlefield.

Marshall Plan

The US provided aid to 16 European countries to prevent "hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos."

Berlin Airlift

Flew food and supplies to West Berlin after Stalin closed all roads/routes that led into the city. Flew a total of 2.3 million tons total.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; A defensive military alliance with the West European nations and the US.

Warsaw Pact

Soviet Union version of NATO; comprised of Soviet Union and other satellite nations.

38th Parallel

Divided communist North Korea and Democratic South Korea.

Korean War

1950-1953; Fought between North and South Korea along the 38th parallel. US and the UN aided the South, while China aided the North.

Sputnik

First satellite launched into space; Launched by the USSR, making the US feel inferior.

Domino Theory

The theory that countries that were on the brink of communism were like dominos waiting to fall on top of each other (Eisenhower).

Vietcong

Communist opposition group in South Vietnam who attacked the Diem government and assassinated thousands of South Vietnamese government officials.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

A network of paths along the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, where arms were supplied to the Vietcong.

Communism

A form of government when the government of a country controls the distribution of property and all economic activities. Totalitarian Government (no opposing parties).

Collective Security

When countries came together to form military alliances. First seen with the US/West Europe forming NATO, and then seen with the USSR/East Europe in the Warsaw Pact.

Brinkmanship

Willingness to go to the edge of war; greater nuclear dependence.

Détente

The policy that Nixon adopted to help ease Cold War tension. Nixon visited China and Moscow, using this as a guideline.

OPEC

Controlled and combined petroleum companies under the power of Middle Eastern countries (Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, etc.). Raised oil prices and contributed to inflation.

Berlin Wall

Concrete barrier topped with barbed wire that was designed to separate East and West Berlin