Ap euro terms cause and effect

Iron Curtain Speech

Churchill's 1946 speech warning of Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe; caused by rising Soviet influence post-WWII and led to intensified Cold War rhetoric and support for containment.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

U.S. policy pledging to support nations resisting communism, especially Greece and Turkey; caused by fears of Soviet expansion and led to the start of U.S. containment strategy.

Marshall Plan (1947)

Massive U.S. aid package to rebuild Western Europe and prevent communism; caused by postwar economic collapse and led to Western recovery and deeper East-West division.

COMECON (1949)

Soviet economic alliance for Eastern Bloc countries; created in response to the Marshall Plan and led to tighter Soviet control and reduced economic growth in Eastern Europe.

Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948–49)

Soviet attempt to cut off Allied access to West Berlin; caused by Western currency reform and led to the successful Berlin Airlift and formal German division.

Creation of NATO (1949)

Military alliance between the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe; formed due to fears of Soviet aggression and led to increased militarization and Soviet countermeasures.

Warsaw Pact (1955)

Soviet-led military alliance in Eastern Europe; formed after West Germany joined NATO and led to the solidification of Cold War military blocs.

Division of Germany (1949)

Formal separation into West Germany (FRG) and East Germany (GDR); caused by Cold War tensions and led to long-term division of the German people.

De-Stalinization

Khrushchev’s reforms aimed at dismantling Stalin’s oppressive legacy; caused by the need to modernize the USSR and led to uprisings and temporary liberalization in Eastern Europe.

Khrushchev’s Secret Speech (1956)

Speech condemning Stalin’s purges; caused by Khrushchev’s rise to power and desire for reform and led to disillusionment in the Eastern Bloc and growing dissent.

East German Uprising (1953)

Worker-led revolt against harsh conditions in East Germany; caused by economic dissatisfaction and was violently suppressed by Soviet forces.

Hungarian Revolution (1956)

Failed attempt to liberalize and leave the Warsaw Pact; inspired by de-Stalinization and led to brutal Soviet intervention and thousands of deaths.

Polish October (1956)

Reform movement in Poland seeking greater autonomy; caused by economic hardship and Khrushchev's thaw and resulted in moderate reforms under Gomułka without Soviet invasion.

Berlin Wall (1961)

Concrete barrier separating East and West Berlin; built due to East German emigration and led to reduced defections and a physical symbol of the Cold War.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba; caused by Cold War arms race and led to a near-nuclear war, but resulted in future arms control agreements.

Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963)

Agreement banning nuclear tests in air, space, and water; caused by fallout concerns and Cuban Crisis fears, it marked the start of nuclear arms control.

Brezhnev Doctrine (1968)

Soviet policy justifying intervention in socialist countries; created in response to reform efforts and led to future invasions like Czechoslovakia’s.

Prague Spring (1968)

Movement for liberal reforms in Czechoslovakia; caused by dissatisfaction with Soviet-style communism and crushed by Soviet invasion, reaffirming hardline control.

May 1968 Protests (France)

Massive protests by students and workers against capitalism and conservatism; caused by educational rigidity and social unrest and led to national strikes and reforms.