Unit 6: Ideologies, Innovation, and Interconnection - Modern World History

A comprehensive vocabulary review of Unit 6: Ideologies, Innovation, and Interconnection, covering the origins of the Cold War, decolonization, and global cultural and economic shifts from 1945–1989.

Satellite states

Countries that were formally independent but under major economic political and military influence.

Policy of containment

US foreign policy strategy that was targeted to stop the spread of communism.

Arms race

Competition between two countries for superiority in the creation and gathering of new weapons.

Communes

Collective communities where land and property were owned by the state.

Permanent revolution

An idea formed with Mao Zedong informing that class struggle must continue even after the creation of socialist state to disallow new bourgeoisie and to achieve true communism.

Little Red Book

A book of quotes and statements from Mao Zedong.

Proxy war

A conflict between two states or groups in which military force is used but not directly at war with one another.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

An unsuccessful military invasion of Cuba in 196.

Domino Theory

A theory that if one nation comes under communist control then the nations around will also come under communist control.

Paris Peace Accords

An agreement that was goaled to end the war and restored peace in Vietnam.

NATO

A military alliance created by Canada and many western European countries to provide security.

Warsaw Pact

A defense treaty signed between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republics; a direct response to the integration of West Germany into NATO.

Mao Zedong

Chinese communist revolutionary who led the revolution against the nationalist government.

Ho Chi Minh

A Vietnamese revolutionary leader who was the prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem

A Vietnamese politician, prime minister of the State of Vietnam, and president of the Republic of Vietnam until his assassination.

Truman Doctrine

A policy that gave aid to countries that might be affected by communism.

Marshall Plan

A policy that gave financial aid for rebuilding Western Europe after WWII.

Principle of nonalignment

A policy where countries chose not to side with either the US or the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Discrimination

The unfair treatment of people based on religion, ethnicity, or other differences.

Pan-Arabism

The idea that all Arab countries should come together and share a common identity and government.

Six-Day War

A 1967 war where Israel quickly defeated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan and gained territory.

Yom Kippur War

A 1973 war when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel to regain lost land.

Intifada

Uprising by Palestinians against Israeli control involving protests and violence.

al-Qaeda

A terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden responsible for attacks like 9/11.

Apartheid

A system of racial segregation in South Africa that separated and oppressed nonwhite people.

HIV/AIDS

A deadly disease that spread widely in Africa causing major health, social, and economic challenges.

Privatization

When the government sells business to private companies to improve efficiency.

Trade embargo

A government order that restricts or stops trade with another country.

Cartels

A powerful criminal organization that controls drug production and trafficking.

Megacities

Very large cities with populations over 10 million often facing overcrowding and poverty.

Jawaharlal Nehru

The first leader of independent India who helped establish a democratic government and promoted the policy of nonalignment.

Indira Gandhi

Leader who strengthened India's central government but was criticized for using authoritarian power during the emergency period.

Aung San Suu Kyi

A global symbol of democracy who opposed military rule in Myanmar and spent years under house arrest.

Pol Pot

Leader of a communist regime in Cambodia that caused the death of over 1 million people through genocide and forced labor.

Corazon Aquino

Leader of a peaceful revolution that overthrew a dictatorship and restored democracy in the Philippines.

Abdel Nasser

A key leader who promoted pan-Arabism and worked to unite Arab nations while reducing Western influence.

Golda Meir

One of Israel’s first female leaders who guided the country during the Yom Kippur War.

Ayatollah Khomeini

Leader of the Iranian Revolution of 1979 who overthrew the Shah and established an Islamic government.

Saddam Hussein

Ruler of Iraq with an authoritarian government responsible for the Iran-Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War.

Osama bin Laden

Founder of Al-Qaeda who organized terrorist attacks in the United States and other countries.

Nelson Mandela

Leader who fought against apartheid, spent years in prison, and later became South Africa’s first black president.

Fidel Castro

Leader of the communist revolution in Cuba who ruled for decades and was a major figure in Cold War tensions.

Welfare state

A system where the government provides a key role in the economic and social aspects of its citizens.

European Economic Community

An international organization created to bring economic integration to the countries of Europe.

Real wages

The inflation prices of labor.

Consumer society

A society where the buying and selling of goods and materials is the most important priority.

de-Stalinization

The process of removing the idolization of Joseph Stalin.

Detente

The lessening of tensions in political situations.

Prague Spring

A period of liberalization in Czechoslovakia.

State capitalism

Economic system where the state undertakes business activities.

Asian Tigers

The higher developed economy of south korea, Hong Kon and, Singapore.

Charles de Gaulle

A French general who led the Free French forces during WWII.

Nikita Khrushchev

A Soviet statesman who led the Soviet Union during the Cold War and initiated de-Stalinization.

Dissidents

People that oppose an established political system or a policy.