Overview of Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to Unit 8 of AP World History, focusing on the Cold War, decolonization, and social changes in the late 20th century.

Cold War

An ideological and geopolitical struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Proxy War

A conflict in which larger powers support opposing sides without direct engagement.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from imperial powers.

Non-Aligned Movement

A group of nations seeking neutrality during the Cold War.

Glasnost and Perestroika

Soviet reforms under Gorbachev aimed at promoting openness and restructuring.

Apartheid

A system of racial segregation in South Africa.

Neocolonialism

The continued economic dependence of former colonies on imperial powers.

Containment Policy

U.S. strategies aimed at stopping the spread of communism.

First wave feminism

Focus on suffrage rights and legal equality.

Second wave feminism

Focus on workplace equality and reproductive rights.

Environmental activism

Movement advocating for the protection of the environment through awareness and policy.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation that brought the U.S. and Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war.

Iron Curtain

The term used to describe the division between the Soviet bloc and the West.

Nationalist movements

Movements aimed at gaining independence or self-determination for national groups.

Military Alliances

Treaties of mutual defense and assistance among nations, such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Globalization

The integration of economies through trade, technology, and international cooperation.