Cold War Review

Flashcards about the Cold War

Cold War

A conflict or dispute between two countries that does not involve direct fighting. A war of ideas between the U.S. and USSR/Soviet Union.

Marshall Plan

Plan to help rebuild economies in all of Western Europe with $12 billion to aid Western European countries so they don’t become communist.

Truman Doctrine

Helps nations threatened by communist expansion by Providing $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey.

Containment

Policy of trying to prevent the spread of communism beyond what already existed.

Domino Theory

The idea that if one country in Asia fell to communism, the surrounding countries would as well.

Berlin Wall

Physical barrier built in 1961 by East Germany during the Cold War. It separated East Berlin from West Berlin.

Berlin Airlift

U.S., England, and France flew food, fuel, and supplies to West Berlin.

Guerrilla Warfare

Used by the Vietcong, where they hide in the jungle making it difficult to fight at night.

Korean War

1950–1953. Korea had been broken into two nations—Communist North and the free South. The UN and U.S. forces sent troops to aid South Korea.

Vietnam War

1954. Vietnam is split into Communist North and anti-Communist South. Americans witness the violence of the war.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Congress allows the U.S. to use military force in Vietnam, giving the president more power.

Suburbs

Smaller communities outside of a city. First example: Levittown.

Watergate

Burglars paid by Nixon’s campaign get caught breaking into the Democratic headquarters to steal info. Nixon tries to cover it up, gets caught, and resigns.

Vietnam War Protests

Caused by the media's ability to bring scenes of war, combat zones, and death into American homes.

Joseph Stalin

Leader of the Soviet Union during the early part of the Cold War. Wanted to spread communism, controlled East Berlin, supported North Korea.

Dwight Eisenhower

Ended the Korean War. Dealt with McCarthyism. Interstate Highway Act for evacuation in case of nuclear threat.

Ronald Reagan

Called USSR the “Evil Empire. ” Sent millions of dollars in arms to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets. Strengthened U.S. military.

John F. Kennedy

Bay of Pigs invasion, man on the moon, Cuban Missile Crisis. Assassinated in 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald.

Harry Truman

Sent aid to Europe so countries wouldn’t fall to communism. President during Korean War. Dropped the atomic bomb.

Richard Nixon

Policy of détente/easing tensions. First president to visit China. Signed SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty).

Cold War tensions rise

Differences in opinion over how their countries should be governed caused tensions. The U.S. supported democracy; the Soviet Union wanted to spread communism.

Life during the Cold War in the U.S.

Many Americans were worried about the threat of communism spreading, which led to the Red Scare.

Impact on U.S. foreign policy worldwide

The U.S. involved itself in foreign nations to help prevent the spread of communism.

Cold War

Economic ideas: capitalism vs. command economy.

Berlin Wall

Prevented people from the East from fleeing to the West.

Ronald Reagan

“Reaganomics”—cut taxes and government spending.