APUSH 8A

Cold War

A period of political tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, lasting roughly from 1947 to 1991.

United Nations

An international organization established in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

Soviet satellite (buffer) states

Eastern European countries controlled by the Soviet Union after World War II, serving as a buffer zone between the USSR and Western Europe.

Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech

A speech delivered by Winston Churchill in 1946, highlighting the division of Europe into Western and Soviet-controlled areas.

Containment/Truman Doctrine

The policy of containing Soviet expansionism, outlined in the Truman Doctrine, which pledged support to nations resisting communist influence.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative to aid Western Europe's post-World War II recovery by providing economic assistance and promoting stability.

Berlin Airlift

A humanitarian and strategic operation in 1948-1949 to supply West Berlin with necessities after the Soviet Union blocked land access.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed in 1949 among Western nations to defend against Soviet aggression.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance established in 1955 by the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite states in response to NATO.

Arms Race (for atomic weapons)

Intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to develop and stockpile nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Chinese Civil War

A conflict between the Chinese Nationalist Party (led by Chiang Kai-shek) and the Communist Party (led by Mao Zedong) from 1927 to 1949.

Chiang Kai-shek/Nationalists

Leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and rival to the Communist Party during the Chinese Civil War.

Mao Zedong/Communists

Leader of the Chinese Communist Party and eventual founder of the People's Republic of China after the Chinese Civil War.

Korean War

A conflict from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea (backed by the Soviet Union and China) and South Korea (supported by the United Nations, primarily the United States).

Dwight D. Eisenhower

34th President of the United States (1953-1961) and former Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II.

John Foster Dulles and "brinkmanship"

Dulles was the U.S. Secretary of State known for his policy of brinkmanship, advocating for aggressive tactics to confront communist threats.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader who succeeded Stalin, known for his policy of de-Stalinization and involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Hungarian Revolt, 1956

A nationwide uprising in Hungary against Soviet influence and the Communist government, brutally suppressed by Soviet forces.

Sputnik

The first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the beginning of the space age and the space race.

National Defense and Education Act

A U.S. law enacted in 1958 to enhance scientific and technical education, particularly in response to the Soviet Union's technological advancements.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

A U.S. government agency established in 1958 for civilian space exploration and research.

U-2 Incident

The 1960 crisis when a U.S. spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory, leading to increased tensions between the two superpowers.

Fidel Castro/Communist takeover of Cuba

Cuban revolutionary leader who established a communist regime in Cuba after overthrowing Fulgencio Batista in 1959.

Military-industrial complex

A term coined by Eisenhower referring to the alliance between the military establishment and defense contractors, raising concerns about its influence on policy.

John F. Kennedy

35th President of the United States (1961-1963), known for his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis and civil rights advocacy.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Failed U.S.-backed attempt in 1961 to overthrow Castro's regime in Cuba, leading to embarrassment for the Kennedy administration.

Berlin Wall

Barrier built by East Germany in 1961 to prevent East Berliners from defecting to West Berlin, symbolizing the division between East and West during the Cold War.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Agreement signed in 1963 between the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom, limiting nuclear testing in the atmosphere, space, and underwater.