Chapter 21: The Cold War Begins

Cold War

tension and hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union

Potsdam

A 1945 meeting between Allied leaders in Germany to discuss

Satellite nation

a country that’s independent in name but controlled by another country

Iron Curtain

the division between the Soviet-controlled East and the Western world

Why did the U.S. leaders support international trade and free enterprise?

They wanted economic growth and believed free enterprise was the best way to achieve it.

What was decided at Yalta?

Post-war Germany was divided into four occupation zones.

How did the Potsdam conference hurt U.S. — Soviet relations?

It caused distrust due to disagreements over the division of Germany.

George Keenan

diplomat who suggested the U.S. should stop the spread of communism (containment)

Containment

U.S. policy to stop communism from spreading

Marshall Plan

U.S. economic aid to rebuild Europe after WWII.

NATO

a military alliance between North America and Europe

Limited war

a conflict where not all resources are used

What were the goals of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan?

The Truman Doctrine aimed to provide political and economic help, and the Marshall Plan gave economic aid to rebuild Europe.

What started the Berlin airlift?

The Soviet blockade of Berlin led to the U.S. airlifting supplies.

How did the Chinese revolution affect U.S. foreign policy with Japan?

The U.S. relied more on Japan as a key ally to contain communism.

How did Truman view the invasion of South Korea?

He saw it as a direct threat to global containment of communism.

Subversion

fear of communism in the U.S.

Loyalty Review Program

a way to check if federal employees were loyal

Alger Hiss

A U.S. official accused of being a Soviet spy

Perjury

lying under oath

McCarran Act

law to fight perceived communist threats

McCarthyism

accusations of disloyalty without enough evidence

Censure

formal disapproval

Fallout

radiation after a nuclear blast

Fallout shelter

A place to protect people from radiation

What was the purpose of loyalty review boards and HUAC?

They aimed to uncover un-American activities and communist threats.

What were the effects of McCarthyism?

Many people lost jobs due to accusations of being communists.

How did the Cold War affect life in the 1950s?

It created fear and influenced culture, politics, and daily life.

Massive retaliation

U.S. nuclear strategy to deter attacks by threatening a massive response

Sputnik

the Soviet Union’s first artificial satellite (1957)

Brinkmanship

pushing dangerous situations close to war to gain an advantage

Covert operations

secret actions taken by the U.S. government

CIA

U.S. agency for intelligence and counterintelligence

Developing nation

a country with less industrial development and lower human development

Military-industrial complex:

the close relationship between the military and defense industry

How did Eisenhower change defense spending?

He kept defense spending in check to avoid upsetting the federal budget.

What was brinkmanship?

It’s pushing a conflict to the edge of war to gain leverage.

Why did Eisenhower use covert operations?

To avoid public responsibility for controversial actions

Why did Eisenhower warn about the military-industrial complex?

He feared its growing influence could threaten American democracy.