AP_EURO_14.HANDOUT.Cold_War.docx

Page 1: Cold War Overview

Objectives 1 – 3

• The “Cold War”: A geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States post-World War II, characterized by political, military, and ideological rivalry.

• Winston Churchill: British Prime Minister known for his pivotal role during WWII and his famous "Iron Curtain" speech.

• “From Stettin in the Baltic…”: Refers to Churchill's speech outlining the division of Europe into Eastern (Soviet influence) and Western (democratic influence) blocs.

• The “Iron Curtain”: Symbolizes the division between the Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the democratic Western Europe.

• George Kennan: An American diplomat and historian who advocated for the policy of containment to prevent the spread of communism.

• “Whether tsarist or communist…”: Kennan's assertion that Russia's traditional expansionism threatened the West, regardless of its political system.

• Containment Policy: A strategic foreign policy aimed at preventing the expansion of communism beyond its existing borders.

• Greece & Turkey: Key nations that received U.S. support under the Truman Doctrine to counteract communist influence.

• Truman Doctrine: U.S. policy to provide political, military, and economic assistance to countries resisting communism.

• “Resisting subjugation by armed minorities…”: Highlights the U.S. commitment to support nations under threat from insurgent factions or terrorist groups.

• Secretary of State George Marshall: Key figure in U.S. post-war recovery efforts in Europe.

• Marshall Plan / European Recovery Plan: An American initiative providing economic aid to Western European countries for recovery post-WWII.

• Post-war Germany: Divided into East (Soviet-controlled) and West (democratic) with different political and economic systems.

• Konrad Adenauer/ West German Miracle: Adenauer’s leadership that resulted in West Germany’s rapid economic recovery and democratic governance.

• Berlin Blockade (1948): Soviet attempt to cut off West Berlin from Western allies, prompting the Berlin Airlift.

• Berlin Airlift (1948-49): Allied operation to supply West Berlin during the Soviet blockade, showcasing U.S. commitment to protect West Berlin.

• Berlin Wall (1961): Barrier built by East Germany to stop the emigration from East to West Berlin.

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - 1949: Military alliance formed by Western countries for mutual defense against aggression.

• Warsaw Pact (1955): Military alliance of Eastern bloc countries in response to NATO.

• Second Red Scare: A period of intense anti-communist sentiment in the United States during the late 1940s to the 1950s.

• Joseph McCarthy/ “McCarthyism”: Senator known for his anti-communist investigations and hearings, which led to widespread paranoia and the persecution of alleged communists.

• Communist China: Establishment of the People's Republic of China under Mao Zedong in 1949 which shifted the dynamics of global communism.

• Mao Ze Dong: Leader of the Chinese Communist Party who directed significant social and political changes in China.

Unit 14: The Cold War Portfolio Process

• Learning Objectives: Understanding the context, economic impacts, and fallout from the Cold War era in Europe.

Page 2: Key Cold War Events

Objectives 4 – 6

• Post-war Korea/ 38th parallel: Division of Korea into North (communist) and South (democratic) at the 38th parallel.

• Democratic South Korea: Established following WWII, supported by the U.S.

• Communist North Korea: Established under Soviet influence, led by Kim Il-sung.

• General Douglas MacArthur: U.S. General in charge of Allied forces during the Korean War.

• “Police action”: Term used to describe the limited military engagement in Korea without a formal declaration of war.

• Korean War: Conflict from 1950-1953 between North and South Korea with U.S. involvement.

• Dwight D. Eisenhower: U.S. President following Truman, promoting a more aggressive stance towards communism.

• Korean Armistice/ DMZ: Ceasefire agreement establishing the Korean Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea.

• NSC-68/ “arms race”: National Security Council report advocating for increased military spending and readiness against communism.

• De-Stalinization: Process initiated by Nikita Khrushchev to reform the Soviet Communist Party after Stalin's death.

• Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet Premier who led during a tense period in the Cold War and promoted peaceful coexistence.

• Hungarian Crisis: 1956 revolt against Soviet control, ultimately suppressed by Soviet military action.

• Polish Crisis: Similar to Hungary, a movement for reform in Poland that resulted in limited independence from Soviet control.

• Secretary of State John Foster Dulles: Advocate for aggressive anti-communist policies, including brinkmanship.

• Brinkmanship: The strategy of pushing dangerous situations to the brink of conflict to achieve favorable outcomes.

• Massive Retaliation: Dulles's policy threatening nuclear response to any act of aggression.

• Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.): Doctrine suggesting that the full-scale use of nuclear weapons would result in complete annihilation of both the attacker and defender.

• Sputnik: First artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the start of the space race.

• “Space race”: Competition between the U.S. and the USSR for supremacy in space exploration.

• ICBM: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile capable of delivering nuclear warheads across continents.

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): U.S. agency established for the nation’s civilian space program and aeronautics research.

• “Peaceful coexistence”: The idea promoted by Khrushchev to coexist with capitalism without conflict.

• Spirit of Geneva (1954): Attempted thaw in Cold War tensions initiated during the Geneva Summit, promoting international cooperation and understanding.

• Unrest in the Third World: Growing nationalist movements and anti-colonial sentiments influenced by Cold War dynamics.

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): U.S. agency involved in covert operations against perceived communist threats.

• Kitchen Debate (1959): Series of impromptu exchanges between Nixon and Khrushchev during a U.S. exhibit in Moscow, highlighting ideological differences.

• U-2 Incident (1959): Downing of U.S. U-2 spy plane over Soviet territory, escalating tensions between the superpowers.

Objectives 7 – 8

• John F. Kennedy: U.S. President known for his leadership during critical Cold War events.

• Alliance for Progress: U.S. initiative to foster economic development and political stability in Latin America.

• Cuba: Site of significant Cold War conflicts, particularly under Fidel Castro.

• Fidel Castro: Leader of Cuba who established a communist regime, aligning with the Soviet Union.

• Bay of Pigs Debacle: Failed U.S.-sponsored invasion of Cuba that aimed to overthrow Castro in 1961.

• Cuban Missile Crisis: 1962 confrontation over Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba, bringing the U.S. and USSR to the brink of nuclear war.

• Reversal of the “missile gap”: Post-Cuban Missile Crisis realization that U.S. missiles outnumbered those of the USSR.

• French Indochina: Region of Southeast Asia involved in early Cold War conflicts, particularly with communist movements.

• Vietminh: Communist-led resistance group in Vietnam fighting against colonial rule.

• Dienbienphu: Decisive battle in Vietnam that led to French withdrawal.

• Geneva Conference (1954): Multinational meeting to discuss the future of Indochina following the conflicts between France and the Vietminh.

• Ho Chi Minh (Trail): Supply route used by North Vietnam to support guerrilla fighters in the South.

• Vietcong: Guerrilla fighters from South Vietnam supporting the North against U.S. intervention.

• Domino Theory: Belief that the fall of one country to communism would lead to the spread of communism in neighboring countries.

• 17th Parallel: The dividing line between North and South Vietnam established following the Geneva Conference.

• Lyndon B. Johnson: U.S. President who escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War following JFK.

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964): Congressional resolution that authorized military action in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.

• Vietnam War (1965 – 1973): Prolonged conflict between communist North Vietnam and the U.S.-backed South Vietnam.

Page 3: Later Cold War Developments

Objectives 9 – 10

• Guerilla Warfare: Tactics used during the Vietnam War characterized by hit-and-run attacks and ambushes.

• “Living Room War”: Term describing how the Vietnam War was televised directly into American homes, influencing public perception.

• Tet Offensive (1968): Coordinated series of attacks by North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnamese New Year, which shifted public opinion on the war.

• Richard Nixon: U.S. President who implemented Vietnamization and sought to end American involvement in Vietnam.

• Vietnamization: “Peace with Honor”: Nixon’s strategy to withdraw U.S. troops while increasing support for South Vietnamese forces.

• Treaty of Paris (1973): Agreement that officially ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

• Fall of Saigon: The capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces in 1975, leading to the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.

• Leonid Brezhnev: Soviet leader who focused on military build-up and the Brezhnev Doctrine.

• Prague Spring: Period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia that was suppressed by Soviet intervention in 1968.

• Brezhnev Doctrine: Policy asserting the USSR's right to intervene in countries to maintain communist rule.

• Détente: Easing of tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s.

• Nuclear Reduction: Efforts to decrease the number of nuclear weapons held by superpowers.

• Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty: 1972 agreement between the U.S. and USSR to limit missile defense systems.

• Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT I & II): Negotiations aimed to curb the arms race between the superpowers.

• Jimmy Carter: U.S. President who prioritized human rights in foreign policy and faced challenges in the Cold War context.

• Invasion of Afghanistan: Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan in 1979, leading to international condemnation and a boycott of the 1980 Olympics.

• Ronald Reagan: U.S. President known for a hardline stance against communism and initiating the Strategic Defense Initiative.

• “Evil Empire”: Reagan's term for the Soviet Union, denoting strong anti-communist rhetoric.

• Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)/ “Star Wars”: Proposed missile defense system intended to protect the U.S. from nuclear missile attacks.

• Military Expenses: Increase in defense spending during the Reagan administration intended to outpace Soviet military capabilities.

• Mikhail Gorbachev: Last leader of the Soviet Union, known for reforms like glasnost and perestroika.

• Glasnost: Policy of openness allowing more freedom of expression and information in the Soviet Union.

• Perestroika: Economic reform aimed at restructuring the Soviet economy.

• Soviet Satellite Revolutions: Movements in Eastern Europe leading to the fall of communist regimes during the late 1980s.

• Fall of the Berlin Wall: Symbolic end of the Cold War in 1989, marking the collapse of communist power in Eastern Europe.

• Collapse of the Soviet Union: The disintegration of the USSR in 1991, marking the end of the Cold War.

• “New Nationalism” of Western Europe: Emergence of national identities in the context of greater European unity post-Cold War.

• European Coal & Steel Community: Early form of economic integration among European nations post-WWII.

• European Economic Community / Common Market: Regional integration aimed at creating a single market among member nations.

• Maastricht Treaty: 1992 treaty establishing the European Union and setting the framework for future integration.

• European Union: Political and economic union of member states in Europe aimed at promoting integration and cooperation.

• Euro: Common currency adopted by many EU countries, symbolizing further economic integration.