AP World History Unit 8 Cold War and Decolonization

The Cold War

40 year period of tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union

Latter half of the 20th century, Capitalist United States and the Communist USSR emerged as the two global superpowers competing to fill the power vacuums left behind by WWII.

They competed for global dominance through nuclear brinkmanship and proxy wars in the developing world.

Marshall Plan

U.S program to support the reconstruction of Western Europe after WWII by giving them a TON of money, farming and industrial equipment, and food.

Used as Cold War tool by USA to promote democracies and capitalism

NATO

Military alliance created in 1949 made up of 12 non communist countries including the United States that support each other if attacked

Warsaw Pact

The 1955 treaty binding the Soviet Union and countries of eastern Europe in an alliance against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Developing Country

Refers to countries that have not industrialized or are in the process of industrializing

Many countries were colonies and gained indepence after WW2

Nonalignment Movement

Refers to a group of developing countries that stayed neutrality in the Cold War... chose not to side with either USSR or USA

Proxy War

A war instigated by a major power that does not itself participate

Civil wars in which the superpowers backed different different sides that acted as substitutes for the superpowers themselves

Domino Effect

Idea that if the United States would let one country fall to communist control neighbouring countries would fall into communism

Containment Strategy

U.S policy to contain or restrict communism from spreading to stop the Domino effect

Nuclear Proliferation

The spread of nuclear weapons to nation's that doesn't have them

The rapid creation and stock piling of nuclear weapons

Vietnam War

Refers to America's involvement in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

Considered a proxy war as USA backed anti communist South Vietnam and USSR backed communist North Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh

Cuban Missile Crisis

The 1962 confrontation between US and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba. 13 day stand off

Trueman Doctrine

Policy to help other countries resist communism and think of it as a threat

Zionism

An international movement originally for the establishment of a Jewish national homeland in Palestine and later for the support of modern Israel... to protect the Jewish people

Religious Fundamentalism

Refers to the belief of an individual or a group of individuals in the absolute authority of a sacred religious text or teachings of a particular religious leader, prophet,and/ or God

Any religion can have fundamentals

Iranian Revolution

The overthrow of the shah of Iran in 1979 and the creation of an Islamic state

Delocalization

After WW2 and during the Cold war nationalism in European colonies led to a period of Independence movements. Independence was gained through violent struggle or negoteations. Powerful empires broke apart

Mahatma Gandhi

Played a key role in India's Independence movements with his policy of non violence and his leadership of the INC

Nehru

First prime minister of India

Partition of India

India gained it's Independence from Britain. Upon indepence tensions between Hindus and Muslims led to the country splitting into 2- Muslim Majority Pakistan and Hindu Majority India

African National Congress

A political organization that pushed for an end to apartheid in South Africa and equality between whites and blacks

Kenyatta

A nationalist leader who fought to end oppressive laws against Africans; later became the first Prime Minister of Kenya

Nkrumah

Nationalist leader of Ghana

Pan-Africanism

The idea that people of African descent, in all parts of the world, have a common heritage and destiny and should cooperate in political action.

Pan-Arabism

The idea that all Arabic speaking people should unite into one country

Pan-Islamism

A political movement advocating the unity of Muslims under one Islamic state

Muslim League

Indian Muslims who broke away from the Indian National Congress. Led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Secularism

The principle of separation of the state from religious institutions.