WHAP Unit 8 Vocab Test

1. Marshall Plan – A U.S. program launched in 1948 to provide economic aid to Western European countries recovering from World War II, aiming to rebuild economies and prevent the spread of communism. It provided over $12 billion in assistance and strengthened ties between the U.S. and Europe.

2. Great Leap Forward – A campaign led by Mao Zedong from 1958 to 1962 to rapidly industrialize China and increase agricultural production through collectivization. It resulted in economic failure and a massive famine, leading to millions of deaths.

3. Cultural Revolution – A political movement in China from 1966 to 1976, led by Mao Zedong, to preserve communist ideology by removing capitalist and traditional elements from society. It caused widespread chaos, persecution, and the destruction of cultural artifacts and intellectual life.

4. Cold War – A geopolitical struggle from 1947 to 1991 between the United States and the Soviet Union, marked by ideological conflict, nuclear arms race, and proxy wars. It influenced global politics, leading to events such as the Korean War, Vietnam War, and space race.

5. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – A military alliance formed in 1949 by the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations to counter Soviet expansion. It promotes collective defense, meaning an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

6. Warsaw Pact – A military alliance established in 1955 between the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies in response to NATO. It strengthened Soviet control over Eastern Europe but dissolved in 1991 with the end of the Cold War.

7. Cuban Missile Crisis – A 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. It brought the world to the brink of nuclear war before both sides reached a negotiated settlement.

8. Decolonization – The process in the 20th century where former European colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean gained independence. It was often achieved through negotiations, movements for self-rule, or armed resistance.

9. Indian National Congress – A political party founded in 1885 that led India's struggle for independence from British rule. After independence in 1947, it became a dominant political force in Indian democracy.

10. Mohandas Gandhi – A leader of India's independence movement who used nonviolent resistance (satyagraha) to challenge British rule. His efforts led to India's independence in 1947, but he was assassinated in 1948.

11. Muslim League – A political organization founded in 1906 to represent Muslim interests in British India. It played a crucial role in the creation of Pakistan as a separate state for Muslims in 1947.

12. Mao Zedong – The founding leader of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and the head of the Chinese Communist Party. He led radical policies like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, shaping modern China.

13. Deng Xiaoping – A Chinese leader who took power after Mao Zedong’s death and introduced economic reforms that moved China toward a market economy. His policies led to rapid economic growth while maintaining strict political control.

14. Mikhail Gorbachev – The last leader of the Soviet Union, known for his reforms like glasnost (openness) and perestroika (economic restructuring). His policies contributed to the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

15. Syrian Civil War – A conflict that began in 2011 between the Syrian government and opposition forces, later involving extremist groups and foreign powers. It led to a humanitarian crisis, massive displacement, and ongoing instability.

16. Iranian Revolution – A 1979 uprising that overthrew the pro-Western Shah of Iran and established an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. It transformed Iran’s political system and increased tensions with the West.

17. Truman Doctrine – A U.S. foreign policy announced in 1947 that aimed to contain communism by providing military and economic aid to countries threatened by Soviet influence. It marked the beginning of the Cold War and justified U.S. involvement in global conflicts.

18. Iron Curtain – A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the ideological and physical division between communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe during the Cold War. It symbolized Soviet control over Eastern Europe until the fall of communism in 1989.

19. Prague Spring – A period of political reform in Czechoslovakia in 1968, led by Alexander Dubček, which aimed to introduce liberal policies within socialism. The movement was crushed by a Soviet-led invasion, reinforcing Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe.

20. Proxy War – A conflict where two major powers support opposing sides but do not directly engage in combat, as seen in the Korean and Vietnam Wars during the Cold War. These wars allowed superpowers to advance their interests without direct confrontation.

21. Jomo Kenyatta – A key leader in Kenya’s independence movement and its first president from 1963 to 1978. He promoted economic development and unity but maintained an authoritarian rule.

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