SECTION I — TERMS (Social Studies Study Guide 2025–26 (“From Yalta to Malta”).)

What is Containment?

A U.S. foreign policy designed to stop the spread of communism by providing political, economic, and military aid to threatened nations.

Who developed it? (Containment - U.S. foreign policy)

George F. Kennan in his 1946 "Long Telegram."

Why significant? (Containment - U.S. foreign policy)

It became the cornerstone of U.S. Cold War strategy (Truman Doctrine, Korean War, Vietnam War).

What does "Iron Curtain" refer to?

The symbolic and physical boundary dividing communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe after WWII.

Who coined the term "Iron Curtain"?

Winston Churchill in his 1946 Fulton, Missouri speech.

What was the Marshall Plan?

The U.S. program (1948) providing over $13 billion in aid to rebuild Western Europe's economy after WWII.

Why important? (Marshall Plan)

Revived Europe's economy, contained communism, and strengthened U.S. influence.

What did the Truman Doctrine pledge?

U.S. support for countries threatened by communism (first applied to Greece and Turkey in 1947).

What did it mark? ( Truman Doctrine )

The official start of U.S. containment policy.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

Western Allies' response to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin (1948-1949), airlifting supplies to the city.

Outcome? (Berlin Airlift)

Soviet blockade ended; symbolized Western resolve.

When and why was NATO formed?

1949 — to create a mutual defense alliance among Western nations against Soviet aggression.

Founding members? (of NATO )

12 original members including the U.S., U.K., France, Canada, and others.
{Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United State}

What was the Warsaw Pact?

A 1955 Soviet-led military alliance of Eastern Bloc countries, formed in response to NATO.

Significance? (of Warsaw Pact)

Institutionalized the Eastern Bloc's military unity under Moscow's control.

What is the Domino Theory?

The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring nations would follow.

When was it influential? ( Domino Theory)

During the 1950s-70s, especially in Southeast Asia (Vietnam War justification).

Define Brinkmanship.

A policy of pushing dangerous situations to the edge of conflict to achieve favorable outcomes.

Who championed it? (Brinkmanship)

U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles under Eisenhower.

What was the Massive Retaliation doctrine?

Eisenhower's policy promising large-scale nuclear response to any Soviet aggression.

Purpose? (of Massive Retaliation doctrine)

To deter war by fear of overwhelming retaliation.

What is MAD?

The concept that both superpowers possessed enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, ensuring deterrence.

Why significant? (MAD-The concept that both superpowers possessed enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, ensuring deterrence.)

Prevented direct nuclear conflict but escalated the arms race.

What is the Nuclear Triad?

The three delivery systems for nuclear weapons: land-based ICBMs, submarine-launched missiles, and strategic bombers.

Purpose? ( Nuclear Triad)

To ensure second-strike capability and maintain deterrence.

What was NSC-68?

A 1950 U.S. National Security Council document calling for massive military buildup to counter Soviet expansion.

Significance? (NSC-68 A 1950 U.S. National Security Council document calling for massive military buildup to counter Soviet expansion.)

Militarized containment and expanded U.S. defense spending.

What was the Korean War?

A 1950-1953 conflict between communist North Korea (backed by China/USSR) and South Korea (backed by UN/U.S.).

Result? (Korean War)

Armistice at the 38th parallel; no peace treaty signed.

What is McCarthyism?

The anti-communist witch-hunt led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the early 1950s.

Effect? (McCarthyism - The anti-communist witch-hunt led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the early 1950s.)

Heightened fear, blacklisting, and violation of civil liberties in the U.S.

What was De-Stalinization?

Khrushchev's policy of reforming the USSR after Stalin's death (1953), denouncing purges and relaxing censorship.

What was the Space Race?

Competition between the U.S. and USSR for space exploration dominance.

Key milestones? (Space Race)

Sputnik (1957), Yuri Gagarin's orbit (1961), U.S. moon landing (1969).

What was the U-2 Incident?

1960 — Soviet shootdown of an American spy plane and capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers.

Result? ( U-2 Incident)

Collapse of Paris Summit and setback in U.S.-Soviet relations.

What was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Failed 1961 U.S.-backed operation to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Outcome? (Bay of Pigs invasion)

Strengthened Castro's regime and Soviet-Cuban alliance.

When was the Berlin Wall built and why?

1961, to stop East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin.

What did it represent? (Berlin Wall)

The tangible division of Europe and ideological conflict.

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

A 1962 standoff over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Resolution? (Cuban Missile Crisis)

USSR removed missiles from Cuba; U.S. removed missiles from Turkey.

What was the Hotline Agreement (1963)?

Established direct communication between Washington and Moscow to prevent future crises.

What was Détente?

The relaxation of U.S.-Soviet tensions (1969-1979).

Key results? (Détente)

SALT I Treaty, Helsinki Accords, and Nixon's visit to Moscow.

What did SALT I do?

Limited the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers.

Why important? (SALT I )

First major arms limitation treaty between U.S. and USSR.

What did the Helsinki Accords achieve?

Recognized postwar borders in Europe and affirmed human rights commitments.

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

Soviet policy stating that once a country became socialist, it could not leave the bloc.

Application? (Brezhnev Doctrine)

Used to justify the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

What was Vietnamization?

Nixon's policy to withdraw U.S. troops and transfer responsibility to South Vietnamese forces.

What does Realpolitik mean?

Politics based on practical and strategic interests rather than ideology or ethics.

Who applied it? (Realpolitik - Politics based on practical and strategic interests rather than ideology or ethics.)

Henry Kissinger during Nixon's administration.

What was the Sino-Soviet Split?

The deterioration of relations between China and the USSR in the late 1950s-1960s.

Causes? (Sino-Soviet Split)

Ideological disputes, border clashes, and competition for communist leadership.

What was Operation Condor?

1970s program of coordination among South American dictatorships to suppress left-wing movements.

Supported by? (Operation Condor)

The U.S., as part of anti-communist strategy in Latin America.

When and why did the USSR invade Afghanistan?

1979, to support a communist government against Islamic insurgents.

Impact? (USSR invasion of Afghanistan)

Sparked U.S. boycott of 1980 Olympics and prolonged proxy war.

What was SDI?

Reagan's 1983 plan for space-based missile defense system ("Star Wars").

Purpose? (SDI - Reagan's 1983 plan for space-based missile defense system ("Star Wars").)

To protect the U.S. from nuclear attack and pressure the USSR economically.

What does Glasnost mean?

"Openness" — Gorbachev's policy allowing freedom of speech and press in the USSR.

What does Perestroika mean?

"Restructuring" — Gorbachev's economic reforms introducing limited market practices.

What was Solidarity?

An independent Polish trade union formed in 1980 under Lech Wałęsa.

Why important? (Solidarity - An independent Polish trade union formed in 1980 under Lech Wałęsa.)

First non-communist labor movement in the Eastern Bloc; inspired democratic change.

What was the INF Treaty?

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by Reagan and Gorbachev.

Goal? ( INF Treaty - Eliminate all intermediate-range nuclear missiles.)

Eliminate all intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

When did the Berlin Wall fall?

November 9, 1989.

Symbolism? (of Berlin Wall fall)

Collapse of communist regimes and nearing end of the Cold War.

What was the Malta Summit?

December 2-3, 1989 meeting between Bush and Gorbachev declaring the Cold War's end.