Cold War Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key terms and concepts related to the Cold War.

Containment Policy

The U.S. tried to stop the spread of communism to other countries, especially in Europe and Asia.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Established in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union and the spread of Communism. Members would protect each other if one of them got attacked by the Soviet Union.

Marshall Plan

Giving economic aid to Europe because of the devastation that Europe faced after WWII. The Soviet Union opposed because it saw the U.S. economic aid to Western Europe as a way to spread American influence and contain communism.

Korean War (America's Position)

The US deployed troops to Korea to contain communism, supporting S. Korea.

Domino Theory in Vietnam

U.S. believed the fall of North and South Vietnam to communism would trigger all of Southeast Asia to become communist.

Sputnik

First satellite in space, launched by the Soviet Union.

Space Race (US vs. Soviet Union)

A competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to do most in space, like launching rockets and landing on the moon.

Apollo Space Mission

NASA's mission to go to the moon in 1969. Apollo 11 landed the first men on the moon.

How did the US respond to the launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union?

The U.S. created NASA, spent more on education, and worked hard to catch up in technology.

How did Americans respond to the engagement in the Vietnam War?

Americans protested

The map below best represents a significant turning point in history–The start of the Cold War

The map shows Europe after WWII split between communist (East) and non-communist (West) countries.

Why did the US support and defend South Vietnam?

LBJ was trying to convince Americans that it was important to continue American involvement in the Vietnam War to stop the spread to S. Vietnam

What were the main factors that influenced the decision for the United States to exit Vietnam?

Because too many American soldiers died, protests at home, war was too expensive, no clear win.