basics

cold war

• A long period of tension between the United States and Soviet Union where they didn’t fight directly

Truman Doctrine

The U.S. promised to help countries stop communism

Marshall Plan

The U.S. gave money to rebuild Europe after WWII

Berlin Blockade & Airlift

The Soviets blocked West Berlin, so the U.S. flew in supplies

NATO

A group of Western countries that promised to protect each other

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist countries led by the Soviet Union.

Nuremberg Trials

Trials where Nazi leaders were judged for war crimes after WWII.

Christian Democrats

Political group in Europe that mixed democracy with Christian values.

Konrad Adenaure

First leader of West Germany after WWII.

Communist Revolution in China

Mao Zedong made China communist in 1949.

Joseph McCarthy / Red Scare

Fear in the U.S. that communists were everywhere

EEC (Common Market)

European countries joined to trade and work together economically.

COMECON

Soviet-led economic group for communist countries.

Nikita Khrushchev –

Leader of the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War.

Sputnik

First satellite in space, launched by the Soviet Union.

Boris Pasternak –

Writer who criticized Soviet society.

Decolonization

Colonies becoming independent countries.

Indian Partition

India split into India and Pakistan in 1947.

Korean War

War between North (communist) and South Korea (non-communist).

SEATO

Alliance to stop communism in Southeast Asia.

Ho Chi Minh –

Communist leader of North Vietnam.

Dien Bien Phu

Battle where Vietnam defeated the French.

Gamal Abdel Nasser –

Leader who modernized Egypt and opposed Western control

UN (United Nations) –

Group of countries working to keep peace

Vatican II

Church meeting that modernized the Catholic Church.

Albert Camus –

• Writer who focused on meaning of life

Jean-Paul Sartre

• Philosopher who believed people create their own meaning.

Simone de Beauvoir

Writer who focused on women’s rights.

Brown v. Board of Education –

• Ended school segregation in the U.S.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Leader who fought for equality using peaceful protest.

Christian Dior

Famous designer who influenced modern fashion and beauty standards

John F. Kennedy

U.S. president during the Cold War.

Fidel Castro

• Communist leader of Cuba.

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

U.S. agency that gathers secret information.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

• Failed U.S.-backed attempt to overthrow Castro in Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Time when the U.S. and Soviet Union almost had nuclear war over missiles in Cuba.