Cold War Beginnings and Mao’s China

Cold War

Period of tension (1947–1991) between the USA and USSR without direct war; conflict based on capitalism vs communism

Denazification

Process of removing Nazi influence from Germany after WWII; included trials

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism; provided aid to Greece and Turkey

Iron Curtain

Imaginary line dividing Eastern and Western Europe; symbol of Cold War division

Marshall Plan

U.S. financial aid to rebuild Western Europe; aimed to prevent communism

Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

Airlift of supplies to West Berlin during Soviet blockade (1948–49); kept West Berlin from communism

NATO

Military alliance formed in 1949 by Western countries; members defend each other

Warsaw Pact

Communist military alliance led by USSR (1955); created in response to NATO

United Nations

Organization founded in 1945 to maintain peace; works on global issues

Mao Zedong

Leader of communist China after 1949; founded the People’s Republic of China

Great Leap Forward

Plan to rapidly industrialize China (1958–1962); caused famine and deaths

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

Movement (1966–1976) to enforce communism; caused chaos and persecution

Little Red Book

Collection of Mao’s quotes; used as propaganda