COLD WAR

Chapter 15 Study Guide

Section 1

1. The Declaration of Liberated Europe
      - The Declaration of Liberated Europe stated that it was the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they would live.

2. Agreement between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin
      - The leaders agreed to divide Germany into four zones, which were controlled by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and France.

3. Arguments Leading to Tension (Pressure) between the United States and Soviet Union in Germany
      - The main argument was centered around whether Germany should adopt communism or reject it, creating tension between the two superpowers regarding Germany's political future.

4. Accusations of Soviet Union Violating the Declaration of Liberated Europe
      - The United States accused the Soviet Union of violating the Declaration of Liberated Europe due to their actions in exerting control and influence over other nations, undermining their right to self-determination.

5. Definition of the Cold War
      - The Cold War refers to a geopolitical tension that never escalated into actual warfare, characterized by political conflict between capitalist ideologies (primarily represented by the United States) and communist ideologies (led by the Soviet Union).

6. Soviet Union's Suspicion of Capitalist Nations
      - The Soviet Union was apprehensive and suspicious of capitalist nations due to fears that these nations would collaborate to eliminate communism and threaten the Soviet state.

7. Definition of Satellite Nations
      - Satellite nations are those countries that are politically and economically influenced or controlled by a more powerful state, in this case, the Soviet Union, to create a buffer against potential military aggression.

8. Definition of the Iron Curtain
      - The Iron Curtain is a term used to describe the physical and ideological division between Communist and Capitalist countries in Europe post World War II, signifying the boundary that separated Soviet-influenced Eastern Europe from the West.

Section 2

9. Definition of Containment
      - Containment was the United States' foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism beyond its existing borders, with the intent of limiting its influence until it could collapse on its own.

10. Overview of the Iran Crisis
       - The Iran Crisis involved the Soviet Union's attempt to extend its influence and gain access to oil supplies in Iran, highlighting the tensions of the Cold War.

11. Definition of the Truman Doctrine
       - The Truman Doctrine was a policy articulated by President Harry Truman in 1947, which declared the Soviet Union as a direct threat to global peace and security, leading to increased American involvement in foreign conflicts.

12. Definition of the Marshall Plan
       - The Marshall Plan was an American initiative launched in 1948 aimed at economic recovery in Europe by providing financial aid to help rebuild war-torn nations, with the additional motive of preventing the spread of communism.

13. Description of the Berlin Airlift
       - The Berlin Airlift was a response to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, wherein Allied air forces transported vital supplies to sustain the residents of West Berlin from June 1948 to September 1949.

14. NATO Agreements
       - The NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries agreed to admit West Germany into NATO, strengthening military alliances against the perceived threats from the Eastern Bloc.

15. Outcome of the Chinese Revolution
       - The Chinese Revolution resulted in the overthrow of the Nationalist government, leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China, which was governed by the Communist Party.

16. Reason for U.S. Troops in Korean War
       - The President sent U.S. combat troops to the Korean War primarily to halt the expansion of communism in Asia and to support South Korea against the communist invasion from the North.

Section 3

17. Definition of the Red Scare
       - The Red Scare refers to the period of heightened fear in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, in which there was widespread panic over the potential infiltration of Soviet agents and communists within American society.

18. Duty of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
       - The House Un-American Activities Committee was responsible for investigating and exposing suspected communist activity and influence within the United States, aiming to root out potential threats.

19. Definition of McCarthyism
       - McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason, often based on misleading or fabricated information, specifically targeting individuals alleged to be Soviet spies or supporters, leading to reputational and personal ruin for many innocent citizens.

20. School Drills for Atomic Bomb Attacks
       - Students in American schools participated in “duck and cover” drills, which were designed to prepare them for potential atomic bomb attacks by teaching them how to protect themselves in the event of an explosion.

Section 4

21. Presidency After Harry Truman in the Cold War
       - Dwight D. Eisenhower succeeded Harry Truman as president, leading the nation during significant developments in the Cold War era.

22. Definition of Brinkmanship
       - Brinkmanship is a foreign policy strategy that involves escalating a conflict to the brink of confrontation in order to compel an opponent to retreat or accede to one's demands, often with significant risks of escalation into broader conflict.

23. Outcome of the Korean War
       - The conclusion of the Korean War resulted in the division of North and South Korea along similar lines as the original 38th parallel agreement, thus solidifying the ongoing division between the two nations.

24. Description of Sputnik
       - Sputnik was the first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the beginning of the Space Race and demonstrating Soviet technological capabilities over the United States.

25. Event Increasing Tensions Between the U.S. and Soviet Union
       - Tensions escalated between the Soviet Union and the United States when the Soviets shot down an American U-2 spy plane, leading to increased animosity and distrust during the Cold War.

Short Essay Question

26. Description of How the Cold War Started
       - The Cold War commenced with the Soviet Union’s annexation of Eastern Europe, raising tensions with the United States. Tensions escalated with early proxy conflicts such as the Iran Crisis. Major incidents such as the U-2 Incident and the Cuban Missile Crisis further strained relations, bringing the two powers close to nuclear confrontation. The Cold War ostensibly concluded with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which resulted from an excess of freedoms and internal dissent against communist rule.

27. Description of McCarthyism's Unfairness
       - McCarthyism constituted a grave injustice towards citizens, representing a violation of individuals' rights and freedoms. This practice involved utilitarian deceit, coercive interrogation tactics, and the dissemination of false information in the pursuit of identifying Soviet spies. Individuals accused of espionage faced potential job loss, imprisonment, or even execution. Fear-mongering led to the erosion of free speech and personal liberties, as mere accusation could derail an innocent person's life.