Cold War Review

The Cold War

The battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (USSR) due to opposing ideologies: capitalism vs. communism. It is not a physical fight, but both countries try to get other countries to embrace their ideology.

Capitalism

An economic system in which trade and industry are privately owned and products and prices are determined by competition (A Free Market)

Containment

The idea the U.S. followed in which they would contain and stop the spread of communism to other countries.

Arms Race

The buildup of nuclear weapons between the U.S. and Soviet Union because it provided more safety.

Long Telegram

An 8,000 word report from George F. Kennan which was about how the Soviet Union’s expansion of communism to other countries poses a threat, so the U.S. should adapt a policy of containment.

NSC-68

The guidebook for how the U.S. was going to fight in the cold war. They would defend South Korea and build up their nuclear weapons.

Doolittle Committee

The U.S. will gain closer ties to the CIA and the military with the goal to exploit Soviet defectors which will prevent the spread of communism.

Truman Doctrine

Containment, and provide military force or aid

Marshall Plan

Economic aid to Western Europe

Berlin Blockade

The split of Berlin into west (capitalist) and east (communism)

NATO

Capitalist pact to stop the spread of communism and if one country was attacked, the others would help fight them off

Warsaw Pact

Soviet pact, direct response to NATO

India’s Independence Movement

Gandhi used nonpeaceful protests against the British since their resources were depleted after the war. In the end India became an independent country.

Domino Theory

If one theory falls to communism, the rest will

Chinese Communist Revolution

Containment fails and China becomes communist

The Korean War

The war between South and North Korea due to opposing ideologies. The war ends with a draw and is considered pointless.

The Vietnam War

South Vietnam and the U.S. is attacking communism in North Vietnam.

Battle of Dien Bien Phu

Ho Chi Minh surrounds the French ending the French Indochina War

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

U.S. has the right to send troops to Vietnam and attack them

TET Offensive

A huge offesive against the U.S. from the Vietcong. In the end, Americans find out the U.S. government has been lying about their position in the war

Khmer Rouge

Marxist leader of Cambodia, Pol Pot, caused many people to die because of physical or mental distress

CIA and KGB

Secret groups that would overthrow governments that did not follow their ideology

Operation Ajax (Coup in Iran, 1953)

The U.S. overthrows Mossafegh, leader of Iran, by showing their citizens he is a bad person. After, they installed the Shah of Iran.

Cuban Revolution

Fidel Castro overthrows Batista, the president of Cuba, making Cuba a communist country.

Operation Mongoose

The plan to assassinate Fidel Castro

Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuba has missles aimed towards the U.S. but is resolved by the removal of misslies on both sides (U.S. and USSR).

1954 Guatemalan Coup (Overthrow of Jacobo Arbenz)

The U.S. creates false news to display how Arbenz is a bad leader, leading to his resignation. This coup causes great instability in the country

Detente

It was the easing of tensions between the U.S. and USSR due to the shared fear of a nuclear war.

Collapse of the Soviet Union

The glasnost or openess caused criticizm from the west after realizing how poor the second world is