Cold War Beginnings and Mao’s China

1. Cold War

• A period of political and ideological tension (1947–1991) between the United States and the Soviet Union.

• No direct fighting—conflict through proxy wars, arms race, and propaganda.

2. Denazification

• The process of removing Nazism and its influence from Germany after WWII.

• Included trials, removing Nazi officials, and re-education.

3. Truman Doctrine

• A policy by Harry S. Truman to contain communism by supporting countries resisting it.

• Marked the start of U.S. containment strategy.

4. Iron Curtain

• A term describing the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.

5. Marshall Plan

• U.S. economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe after WWII.

• Helped prevent the spread of communism.

6. Berlin Airlift (Berlin Crisis)

• A massive airlift by Western Allies to supply West Berlin after the Soviet blockade (1948–49).

• Avoided direct conflict while resisting Soviet pressure.

7. NATO

• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed in 1949.

• Members agreed to defend each other against attacks.

8, Warsaw Pact

• A military alliance of communist countries led by the Soviet Union (1955).

• Response to NATO.

9. United Nations

• An international organization formed in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation.

• Includes most countries in the world.

10. Mao Zedong

• Leader of communist China and founder of the People’s Republic of China.

• Came to power in 1949 after civil war.

11. Great Leap Forward

• An economic campaign (1958–1962) led by Mao Zedong to rapidly industrialize China.

• Resulted in widespread famine and millions of deaths.

12. Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

• A movement (1966–1976) led by Mao Zedong to enforce communist ideology.\

• Caused chaos, persecution, and destruction of culture.

13. Little Red Book

• A collection of quotes from Mao Zedong.

• Used as propaganda during the Cultural Revolution.