Cold War Exam Study Guide

Cold War Overview

1. Key Concepts and Themes

  • The Cold War is defined by a series of geopolitical tensions between the USA (United States of America) and the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) which grew after World War II.
    • Ideological Divide:
    • USA: Democracy and capitalism (Free market)
    • USSR: Communism and government-controlled economy

2. Major Cold War Events

A. Berlin Blockade & Airlift

  • Event: USSR blocked access to West Berlin.
    • Triggered a humanitarian crisis as the city was cut off from essential supplies.
  • Response:
    • The United States and Allies organized the Berlin Airlift to supply food, fuel, and medicine/coal to the stranded population.

B. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

  • Event: USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, escalating tensions.
  • Response by USA:
    • Imposed a naval blockade known as a quarantine to prevent further Soviet shipments of military equipment to Cuba.

C. Fallout Shelters

  • Development: Constructed in the context of fear stemming from the nuclear arms race and the threat of atomic attacks.
    • Indicative of the serious global implications of the nuclear threat.

3. Key Vocabulary Terms

  • Containment: Strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of communism.
  • Iron Curtain: Term used to describe the division between Eastern and Western Europe.
  • Marshall Plan: Program of aid initiated to help rebuild Western European economies post-World War II.
  • Proxy War: Indirect conflicts between superpowers, such as the USA and USSR.
  • Brinkmanship: Policy that involves escalating threats to achieve agendas; teetering on the edge of nuclear conflict.
  • Red Scare: Period of widespread fear of communist influence infiltrating the United States.
  • McCarthyism: Term referring to the anti-communist witch hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, often lacking substantial evidence and increasing public paranoia.
  • Blacklisting: The practice of denying individuals employment based on their perceived political beliefs.
  • Censure: Formal condemnation of actions or beliefs.

4. Social and Political Effects in the USA

A. The Red Scare

  • Concept: A climate of fear regarding possible communist subversion in the USA.
  • Government Actions:
    • The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated individuals suspected of Communist ties.
    • The Hollywood Ten: A group of filmmakers and actors who were blacklisted and jailed for their alleged communist affiliations.
    • Federal loyalty programs were implemented to scrutinize government employees.

B. The Influence of McCarthyism

  • Joseph McCarthy's Role:
    • Led the charge against alleged communists in the government, making unsubstantiated claims.
    • Public influence decreased following the televised Army-McCarthy Hearings in 1954, where his lack of credible evidence became apparent.
  • Key Espionage Cases:
    • Alger Hiss: Accused of espionage and being a spy, indicative of the fears surrounding communist influence.
    • Rosenbergs: Executed for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviets.

5. Cold War Expansion

A. China Turns Communist (1949)

  • Key Figures:
    • Communist leader Mao Zedong and Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek.
  • Outcome: The Nationalists fled to Taiwan.
  • Impact: This event broadened the scope of communism, influencing Korea and other regions.

B. Korean War (1950-1953)

  • Background: Korea was divided at the 38th parallel:
    • North Korea (Communist) supported by USSR/China.
    • South Korea (Democratic) supported by the USA and the United Nations.
  • Key Events:
    • North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, prompting UN/US troops to intervene.
    • China entered the war in support of North Korea.
  • Conclusion: The war ended in a stalemate and the division of Korea near the 38th Parallel was maintained.
  • Nuclear Arms Race:
    • USSR tested an atomic bomb in 1949, intensifying the arms race.
    • Brinkmanship: Willingness among superpowers to engage in military confrontation brings to the forefront the complexities of nuclear deterrence and warfare.