The Cold War AQA

Grand Alliance

The alliance formed by Britain, the USA, and the USSR during World War Two to defeat Nazi Germany.

Yalta Conference

A meeting held in February 1945 in the Soviet Union where the big three (USA, USSR, and Britain) discussed Europe's future post-World War Two.

Iron Curtain

Term coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the ideological and physical division between Western and Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

The Marshall plan

Announced in 1947, promising $17 billion of aid to European countries to help rebuild their economies in exchange for support for the USA

Truman Doctrine

A policy announced in March 1947 by President Truman to support nations threatened by communist takeover.

Cominform and comecon

Cominform - an organisation which brought together all European communist parties, and placed them under USSR control

Comecon - industry and agriculture put under state control, and satellite states were offered economic aid as an alternative to the Marshall plan

Berlin blockade

Stalin blockaded west Berlin from east, trying to make the west withdraw, due to the west showing how strong capitalism was compared to communism. he ordered all roads, rail and canal links with the outside world to be shit. caused shortages and meant travel was severely limited

Berlin Airlift

A humanitarian operation from 1948 to 1949 where Western powers flew supplies into West Berlin during the Soviet blockade. The west also imposed counterblockades on the east, cutting of supplies

USSR and China

China became communist and a treaty of friendship was signed between the USSR and China leaders

Korean war

Communist North backed by USSR vs capitalist South backed by USA. ended in a stalemate and both sides remain with their views to this day

Vietnam war

Previously owned by France, but was taken over by Viet Minh. USA sent aid to help France defeat them, Vietnam was divided into communist north and capitalist south, but rebels in the south (Viet Cong) fought back and France and USA withdrew, Vietnam becoming communist

arms race

race between USA and USSR to develop nuclear weapons first

NATO

military pact formed by many Western countries including USA and UK

Warsaw Pact

Military alliance formed in 1955 by the USSR and its satellite states in response to the creation of NATO by Western powers.

Space Race

Competition between the USA and the USSR to achieve milestones in space exploration, such as the first satellite or man in space. USA had first man on the moon so ‘won’

Thaw

A period of reduced tension during the Cold War, particularly under Khrushchev's leadership in the USSR.

Hungarian Uprising

A revolt in Hungary in 1956 against Soviet control, which was violently suppressed by the USSR.

U2 crisis

USSR shot down a USA spy plane over Soviet territory, which had been collecting information about USSR’s military facilities. USA denied it but due to evidence, they admitted it. USSR demanded an apology which USA denied, causing USSR to walk out if Peace Summit

Berlin Wall

Wall built by USSR between east and west Berlin to keep people living in the east there. This was good propaganda for USA as it showed how unpopular communism was. Wall ell Nov 8 1989 due to the propaganda victory for the West

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the USA and the USSR over Soviet missiles in Cuba, bringing the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war.

Bay of Pigs

Rebels landed in Cuba in April 1961 but were easily defeated, leading to humiliation for the USA and closer ties between Cuba and the USSR.

Prague Spring

A 1968 movement in Czechoslovakia for more freedom from Soviet influence, crushed by a Soviet military intervention.

Brezhnev Doctrine

Policy stating the USSR's right to intervene in any socialist country where communism was under threat, demonstrated during the invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Détente

A period in the 1960s characterized by a relaxation of tensions between the USA and the USSR, leading to agreements to reduce arms and cooperate.