a French word meaning: a relaxation of tensions or strained relations
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Domino Theory
theory in US foreign policy after WW II stating that the “fall” of a state to communism would precipitate the fall of governments in neighboring states – as a row of dominoes: one falls, others fall
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Glasnost
greater openness
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Perestroika
restructuring
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SALT - Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
agreements between the US & USSR aimed at limiting the production/deployment of nuclear weapons
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Watergate
a building in Washington, DC - scene of a bungled bugging attempt during the 1972 election campaign
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United Nations:
Security Council – 5 permanent members
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the 5 permanent members of the UN:
possess veto rights
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the “liberating” Soviets (Red Army)
supported the establishment of communist regimes after WWII
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Eastern Europe
was to be a “buffer zone”
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Cold War definition:
a state of existing tension between the Soviet Union & US
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war was termed “cold” because:
it falls short of a shooting war directly between the USSR & the US
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Cold War aspects:
a bipolar alliance system developed
becomes a conflict through proxy
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After WWII, Germany was:
a divided land – carved into 4 occupation zones by the victorious Allies
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Berlin was:
was located inside the Soviet zone – also divided into 4 sectors
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Winston Churchill gives his “Iron Curtain” speech:
“an Iron Curtain has descended across the Continent”
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Truman pronounces what becomes known as the “Truman Doctrine”:
it will not be applied to Eastern EU nations that have already fallen
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The Marshall Plan:
Foreign Assistance Act announced -- proved to be highly successful
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Containment
thus became the core of US policy toward the Soviet Union
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Berlin Blockade & then Berlin Airlift
Stalin closes surface access leading to W. Berlin -- answer: an aircraft
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NATO is formed (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
an alliance that regards an attack on one as an attack on all
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Mutual Assured Destruction
Cold War arms race - a policy termed: “MAD” will dominate
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China
civil war raged between Communists (Mao Tse-Tung) & Nationalists (Chiang Kai-Shek)
defeated, Chiang withdrew his forces to the island of Formosa (Taiwan) – Mao/Communists win
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Senator Joseph McCarthy ignites a Red Scare
he claims to have a list of communists employed by the State Department
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The Korean War
in a surprise attack, communist North Korea attacked non-communist South Korea & pushed far south
Chinese troops entered the war on the NK side
fighting stabilized - an armistice signed
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Warsaw Pact
a treaty of mutual defense & military aid
represents the USSR’s formalized military alliance
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USSR
Nikita Khrushchev openly denounced Stalin
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USSR – Sputnik
world’s first manmade satellite launched into orbit
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Russian Yuri Gagarin
the first man launched into space (& orbit)
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Berlin Wall is started
will encircle West Berlin - designed to stop defections to West Berlin
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Cuban Missile Crisis
US intelligence detects offensive nuclear missile sites in Cuba
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JFK wants:
the missiles/bases removed & imposes a strict quarantine (blockade) of materials to Cuba
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Khrushchev ordered:
ordered the Soviet ships to turn back
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US - “Escalation”
Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution – allowed President Johnson
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President Nixon
1972 “surprise” visit to China
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Iran Hostage Crisis
Iranians seized US Embassy in Tehran taking 66 US citizens hostage
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Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Afghan guerrillas (Mujahidin) with US arms waged jihad against troops armed/supported by the USSR
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France
held colonial domination in Indo-China (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia)
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Dien Bien Phu
France was decisively defeated at:
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Ho Chi Minh
controlled communist North Vietnam which was based from Hanoi
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Saigon
the US supported a non-communist South Vietnam which was based from:
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a new Vietnamese War began:
began when communists in South V rebelled against the South V govt.
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Viet Cong
communist guerrilla group operating in South V
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Containment:
was to be applied in Vietnam (“Domino Theory”)
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Tonkin Gulf Resolution
made it the era of “escalation”
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China & the Soviet Union
supported North Vietnam
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the TET Offensive
Viet Cong & North V forces seized urban areas in South V
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US signs a:
cease-fire agreement - troops removed in 60 days
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Saigon falls to communist forces
renamed: Ho Chi Minh City
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Ronald Reagan elected president
to achieve favorable weapons agreements, the US had to be in a position of negotiating from strength
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Reagan offers the “zero option” to the Soviets
the US would not proceed with the deployment of missiles in Europe
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Flashcard (61)